Starting in iOS 13, Apple made a systemwide Dark Mode option available, and the company has continued to build dark mode features into iOS since then. Most first-party apps and the majority of third-party apps support both Dark Mode and Light Mode, and there are options for automatically using Light Mode during the day and Dark Mode at night if preferred.
Enabling Dark Mode can be done through the Settings app on the iPhone (or iPad) under the Display & Brightness section. You can select Light or Dark mode, or choose to enable them based on the time of day (Sunrise to Sunset) or a custom-picked schedule. If you long press on the Brightness indicator in Control Center, you can toggle on Dark Mode from there if you don't want to use the Settings app, and there's also a full Dark Mode/Light Mode toggle you can enable.
To make sure you have that Dark Mode Control Center option, go to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls. From there, tap the green "+" next to "Dark Appearance" to add that button to Control Center.
Turning on Dark Mode changes the look of the entire operating system, darkening everything from the wallpaper and the Home screen to individual apps.
Select wallpapers, for example, can turn from light to dark based on which mode you have activated.
You'll see darker themes in all of your apps, from Settings and Photos to Apple Music.
Messages, Maps, Phone, and more have darker interfaces that are easier on the eyes when Dark Mode is activated.
The App Store, the Reminders app, and even the Health app have Dark Mode interfaces, as do other apps like Home and Wallet. Safari has a dark theme too, but it looks best when websites are in Dark Mode themselves, such as Apple's website.
Safari has a dark theme too, but it looks best when websites are in Dark Mode themselves, such as Apple's website. MacRumors has a dark theme as well for those who prefer to browse in Dark Mode.
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