Instagram allows users to personalize their experience in many ways, and one of the most popular options is changing the app’s theme. The theme controls how Instagram appears on your device — whether you prefer a bright look or a darker interface. Changing the theme can make your browsing experience more comfortable, especially when using the app at night. Here’s how to change the theme on Instagram easily.
- Understand Instagram Themes
Instagram mainly offers two theme modes — Light Mode and Dark Mode. Light Mode gives the app a bright, white background, while Dark Mode switches it to black or dark gray. Many users prefer Dark Mode because it reduces eye strain, saves battery on OLED screens, and looks more stylish. Instagram follows your phone’s system theme by default, but you can change it manually.
- Change Theme on Android
If you’re using an Android phone, you can change Instagram’s theme directly through the app. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page by tapping your profile picture at the bottom right corner. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top right corner and select Settings and privacy.
Scroll down and tap on Accessibility and display or simply look for Theme (the wording may differ slightly depending on your app version). You’ll see three options: Light, Dark, and System Default.
- Select Light if you want the white background.
- Choose Dark for a dark background.
- Pick System Default to match your phone’s current theme.
Once you select your preferred option, the change takes effect immediately.
- Change Theme on iPhone
For iPhone users, Instagram doesn’t have a direct in-app setting for theme selection. Instead, it follows your iPhone’s system appearance settings. To change Instagram’s theme, go to your iPhone Settings and tap Display & Brightness.
Under Appearance, choose either Light or Dark mode. When you switch modes, Instagram automatically adjusts to match your phone’s theme. This means if you enable Dark Mode on your iPhone, Instagram will also switch to Dark Mode.
- Change Theme Using System Settings
If you prefer to change themes across all your apps at once, you can do so through your phone’s system settings instead of the Instagram app. On Android, go to Settings > Display > Dark theme, and toggle it on or off. On iPhone, use the Display & Brightness option mentioned earlier.
When your system theme changes, Instagram automatically updates to match. This is especially useful if you use the auto-switch feature that changes between light and dark themes depending on the time of day.
- Update the App If You Don’t See the Option
If you don’t see the theme option on Instagram, your app might need an update. Go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, search for Instagram, and tap Update. Updating ensures you have the latest features and settings.
- Benefits of Changing the Theme
Switching between Light and Dark Mode doesn’t just change the look of Instagram—it can improve your overall experience. Dark Mode helps reduce glare in low-light environments, saves battery on phones with OLED displays, and adds a modern look to your feed. Light Mode, on the other hand, provides better visibility in bright conditions.
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