How to use dark mode on Instagram for iOS

iPhone 14 Pro with Instagram app on homescreen — (Image credit: iMore)

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Switch on dark mode

When it comes to social media, Instagram has been a part of our daily lives for over a decade. Throughout the years, the app has evolved from only photos to adding video content and quick life updates through stories. Using Instagram’s dark mode is a surefire way to make your time on the app better and even save you some battery life.

When it comes to using Instagram’s dark mode, the initial benefit is zoning into your content by dimming down the surroundings so that photos and videos burst off of your screen — once you’ve tried dark mode you’ll be wondering why you’ve been staring into white Instagram backgrounds for so long.

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Instagram light mode and Instagram dark mode — (Image credit: iMore)

With our hectic daily lives, we use far more iPhone battery than ever before. It doesn’t matter if you have the best iPhone on the market or one of the best iPhone battery packs to get you through the day, any opportunity to save a little battery is an opportunity worth taking. If you own an iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro, using Instagram’s dark mode alongside iOS’s dark mode will make a world of difference to your OLED device. OLED displays utilize self-emissive technology which means that each pixel can turn on and off. So when your Instagram background is black, the pixels are completely off and your battery is more efficient.

How to use dark mode on Instagram

How to switch on Instagram’s dark mode

How to switch on Instagram dark mode via iOS settings

The Instagram app on iOS uses your system-wide display settings to determine between light and dark modes.

1. Open the Settings app

2. Scroll down and select Display & Brightness

3. Tap Dark to change your iOS appearance

4. Launch Instagram and enjoy the new aesthetic

This simple tweak to your iOS appearance will not only make Instagram better but also give you the benefits of dark mode across your device. This means that if you own an OLED iPhone, you’ll see some battery efficiency and hopefully be able to stay away from your charger that little while longer. If you haven’t upgraded to a newer iPhone yet fret not as dark mode also benefits your eyes after a long day of staring at your smartphone.

John-Anthony Disotto is the Editor of iMore, helping you get the most from your Apple products and fixing things when your technology isn't behaving itself.

Based in Scotland, where he worked as a Genius Bar technician repairing iPhones, John-Anthony has used the Apple ecosystem for over a decade and prides himself on closing his Apple Watch activity rings.

He leads iMore's work on AI in the newsroom, testing where it genuinely improves editorial work and where it doesn't. Every story is written, edited, and signed off by a person.

Previously in editorial at TechRadar and Tom's Guide, John-Anthony is an avid film geek who won the Edinburgh International Film Festival Student Critics award in 2019. Away from Apple, he tinkers with game emulation and Linux on his Steam Deck.