DeviceHowTo
iPad (iPadOS)⏱ 1 min

How to Enable Dark Mode on iPad (iPadOS)

Switch the system to dark theme to reduce eye strain and save battery.

Last verified: February 21, 2026

iOS dark mode is toggled under Settings > Display & Brightness, and adding it to Control Centre via Settings > Control Centre makes switching instantaneous without opening Settings at all. The Automatic option (also in Display & Brightness) uses location data to shift from Light at sunrise to Dark at sunset, or you can set custom times for the transition if you prefer a fixed schedule. Dark mode on iOS affects the entire system UI including the lock screen, status bar, keyboard, and all Apple apps, while third-party apps need to declare support in their code — most major apps have been dark-mode compatible since iOS 13.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and select Dark under Appearance. Or use the Dark Mode control in Control Center.
  2. 2Enable Auto schedule to switch automatically at sunset or at custom times.
  3. 3For apps that do not follow system dark mode, enable dark theme inside each app settings manually.

Still Not Working?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does dark mode save battery on iPad (iPadOS)?
Yes, but only on OLED/AMOLED displays. Dark mode turns off individual pixels for true black areas, which saves measurable battery. On LCD screens (common in older or budget phones), dark mode has minimal battery impact since the backlight is always on.
Can I schedule dark mode to turn on automatically on iPad (iPadOS)?
Yes. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Automatic and set a Light to Dark schedule based on sunset or custom times.
Why don't some apps follow dark mode on iPad (iPadOS)?
Older apps and some web apps have not implemented support for the system dark mode signal. Check those apps' own Settings > Appearance menu for a built-in dark theme option. Web apps in a browser respond to dark mode if the browser passes the system preference, which most modern browsers do.
Does dark mode affect screenshots on iPad (iPadOS)?
Yes. Screenshots capture the screen exactly as it appears — if dark mode is active, the screenshot reflects dark mode colours. Switch to light mode before capturing demonstration screenshots if you need a consistent light-mode appearance.

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