Quick answer
iPhone or iPad: turn on Dark Mode in your device’s settings (Settings > Appearance > Dark, or Display & Brightness on older iOS); Instagram follows it. Android: in Instagram, Profile > Menu > Accessibility and translation > Dark mode. Computer: More > Switch appearance. Mobile browser: profile > Settings > Switch appearance.
Which device are you using?
Does this match what you see?
- There’s no dark mode option in Instagram on your iPhone or iPad.
- Instagram on Android has no dark mode setting.
- Dark mode is on in the app but not on instagram.com, or the other way round.
- Other apps also turned dark when you switched it on.
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
Steps are from Instagram’s Help Center for computer, Android, iPhone, iPad and mobile browser, and Apple’s Dark Mode help for iPhone and iPad.
Why this happens: the possible causes
Why dark mode might not seem to work.
| What happens | What to check |
|---|---|
| No dark mode switch on iPhone or iPad | Use your device settings |
| No dark mode setting on Android | Android version |
| Dark on one device, light on another | Each device is separate |
- There’s no in-app switch on iPhone or iPadCheck this first
Meta says dark mode can’t be turned on or off in the Instagram app for iPhone or iPad, and can only be adjusted in your device settings.
- An older Android versionPossible
Meta says you may need to update your device to Android 10 to access the setting in the Instagram app.
- Each device has its own settingCheck this first
Meta says you choose dark mode separately for each device you use to access Instagram.
Try these 60-second checks first
- On iPhone or iPad, don’t look inside Instagram: use your device’s Dark Mode setting.
- Each device you use has its own setting (on iPhone or iPad, that’s the device’s Dark Mode).
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: iPhone or iPad: turn on Dark Mode in your device settings
Meta says dark mode can only be adjusted in your iPhone or iPad’s device settings, and that other apps may also turn dark, not just Instagram.
iPhone & iPad
- Open Settings and choose Appearance (on iOS 26 and earlier, Display & Brightness).
- Select Dark. To switch automatically, select Automatic, then tap Options to set a schedule.
- Or open Control Center, press and hold the brightness slider, and tap Dark Mode.
These are Apple’s steps. If Dark Mode isn’t in Control Center, Apple says to press and hold an empty area, tap Add a Control, and add Dark Mode.
Did it work? Instagram opens with a dark background.
Did Fix 1 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 1. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 2: Android: turn on dark mode in Instagram
On Android, Meta says dark mode is a setting inside the Instagram app.
Android
- Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right, then Menu in the top right.
- Below Your app and media, tap Accessibility and translation, then Dark mode.
- Tap Select next to On or Off, or choose System default to follow your phone’s setting.
Meta says you may need to update your phone to Android 10 to see this setting.
Did it work? Instagram switches to the look you chose.
Did Fix 2 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 2. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 3: Computer: switch appearance on instagram.com
On a computer, Meta says dark mode is set in Instagram’s More menu.
Computer (browser)
- Click More in the bottom left.
- Click Switch appearance, then click Toggle to turn dark mode on.
Did it work? instagram.com turns dark on that computer.
Did Fix 3 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 3. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 4: Mobile browser: switch appearance
In a phone’s browser, Meta says the setting is under your profile’s Settings.
Computer (browser)
- Tap your profile picture in the bottom right.
- Tap Settings in the top left, then Switch appearance, then tap Toggle to turn dark mode on.
Did it work? instagram.com turns dark on that device.
Did Fix 4 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 4. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Dark on one device but not another?
Meta says you choose dark mode separately on each device you use to access Instagram. Turning it on in the Instagram app for Android only changes the app; turning it on at instagram.com only changes instagram.com on that device. Our advice: set it on each device you use.
How to know it worked
- Instagram shows the look you want on each device you use.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Setting missing on Android? Update your phone’s software and the Instagram app, then check again.
- Instagram crashing or not loading? See Instagram keeps crashing.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no dark mode in Instagram on my iPhone?
Meta says dark mode can’t be turned on or off in the Instagram app for iPhone or iPad. Turn on Dark Mode in your device settings instead; Instagram follows it, and other apps may too.
Why can’t I find dark mode on Instagram for Android?
Meta says the setting is at Profile > Menu > Accessibility and translation > Dark mode, and that you may need Android 10 to see it.
Why is Instagram dark on my phone but not my computer?
Meta says dark mode is set separately on each device. Turn it on at instagram.com on your computer too (More > Switch appearance).
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- Turn on dark mode for Instagram (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Use Dark Mode on your iPhone and iPad (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 28 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 28 April 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 28 October 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or Instagram. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.