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macOS⏱ 1 min

How to Enable Dark Mode on macOS

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

Last verified: February 21, 2026

macOS dark mode is applied in System Settings > Appearance with three options: Light, Dark, and Auto, where Auto switches between modes based on your location's sunrise and sunset times. When Dark is selected, macOS applies the theme system-wide — including the menu bar, Dock, Finder, and all native Apple apps — and the majority of third-party apps from the Mac App Store follow the system appearance automatically via the native API. The Night Shift feature (System Settings > Displays > Night Shift) is separate from dark mode and adjusts the colour temperature rather than the contrast scheme, so they serve complementary purposes and are ideally used together.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Open System Settings > Appearance and click the Dark option.
  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 macOS?
On laptops with OLED displays, dark mode provides a small battery saving. On IPS/LCD displays used in most Windows laptops and Macs, the saving is negligible.
Can I schedule dark mode to turn on automatically on macOS?
Yes. Go to System Settings > Appearance and select Auto to switch between Light and Dark based on sunrise and sunset automatically.
Why don't some apps follow dark mode on macOS?
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 macOS?
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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