Have you ever felt like Snapchat‘s bright white interface is too harsh on your eyes? Especially late at night, the glowing screen can disrupt sleep. Wouldn‘t it be nice if you could activate dark mode for a more comfortable viewing experience?
Well, the good news is you can enable dark mode for Snapchat on both iPhone and Android devices, even though Snapchat doesn‘t have an official built-in dark theme option yet.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll show you step-by-step how to get Snapchat dark mode up and running. I‘ll also discuss the benefits of using dark mode, why it‘s so popular, and some alternative options to get the sleek, battery-saving dark interface.
Let‘s dive in!
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What Exactly is Dark Mode?
For those unfamiliar with the term, "dark mode" refers to a setting available in apps and operating systems that switches the background from white to black or dark gray. The text and images will also change to a lighter shade to remain visible against the darker backdrop.
Dark mode has surged in popularity over the past few years. In 2018, Google reported a 12% increase in Android users activating dark mode[1]. Apple also debuted a system-wide dark mode in iOS 13 that can be enabled for all supported apps.
Nowadays, most major apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Slack, Gmail and more offer dedicated dark mode options. Users have come to embrace the stylish, sleek new look. But dark mode isn‘t just about aesthetics…
The Science-Backed Benefits of Using Dark Mode
There are some legitimate health and productivity reasons why people prefer browsing apps in dark mode:
1. Reduces eye strain
Staring at bright screens in the dark can cause digital eye strain. A 2020 study by the Schepens Eye Research Institute found that prolonged exposure to blue light from screens causes damage to the retina[2].
Dark mode provides significant relief for eye fatigue by eliminating glare. The dark background and lighter text create less contrast and make it easier to focus.
2. Improves sleep quality
Exposure to blue light before bed can severely disrupt your circadian rhythm and melatonin production.
A Harvard study found that reading on an iPad before bed delayed the circadian clock by over 1 hour compared to reading a physical book[3]. Dark mode reduces disruptive blue light exposure in the evenings.
3. Extends battery life
For OLED smartphone displays, dark mode pixels require less power to display than fully lit pixels. So dark mode interfaces drain less battery over time.
Tests show dark mode can extend battery life on OLED phones by up to 30%[4]!
4. Enhances concentration
Minimal contrast between text and backgrounds provides a more distraction-free reading experience.
Researchers have found that prolonged exposure to high visual stimuli environments reduces overall concentration[5]. Dark mode creates a calming, low contrast appearance perfect for focusing.
With all those benefits, it‘s no wonder people are clamoring for Snapchat to release an official dark mode. Now let‘s look at how you can manually activate dark mode for Snapchat on both major mobile platforms…
How to Enable Dark Mode for Snapchat on iPhone
The good news is that iPhone users can easily activate dark mode for Snapchat, even without an official toggle in the app. Here‘s how:
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Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
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Scroll down and tap on Snapchat.
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Under Snapchat settings, tap on App Appearance.
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Under App Appearance, there are 3 options:
- Light – Keeps app in light mode
- Dark – Enables dark mode
- Automatic – Follows system-wide light/dark mode setting
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Tap on Dark to instantly enable dark mode for Snapchat!
That‘s all there is to it. The Snapchat app will now switch to a dark background and all UI elements will adjust to light text.
One tip is that the Automatic setting is useful too. If you already have your overall iPhone system appearance set to dark mode, this will automatically make Snapchat follow suit.
So in just a few taps, iPhone users can apply the slick dark theme to enjoy a more pleasant scrolling experience. But what about Android?
Activating Dark Mode for Snapchat on Android
Unfortunately, the process is a bit more complicated for Android users. As of now, there is no built-in setting in the Android Snapchat app to change the theme.
However, that doesn‘t mean dark mode is impossible to achieve on Android. Here are a couple different methods to activate Snapchat dark mode on Android devices:
Use System-Wide Dark Theme
Many newer Android phones from Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and other manufacturers offer system-wide "dark theme" options.
For example, on the latest Samsung Galaxy phones:
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Go to Settings
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Tap Display
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Select Dark mode
This enables dark mode for the entire Android OS interface as well as most stock apps. Then when you open Snapchat, it should automatically adjust to reflect the system-wide dark theme.
However, one downside is that not all third party apps fully support the Android dark theme option yet. So system-wide dark mode may not work 100% perfectly for forcing Snapchat itself to go dark.
If you still see Snapchat in light mode after enabling system dark theme, try the next method…
Use Third-Party Apps to Force Dark Mode in Snapchat
To reliably apply dark mode specifically to the Snapchat app on Android, specialized third party apps get the job done well.
Some top options include:
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Hex Installer – Paid app but very powerful for customizing individual app themes.
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Swift Installer – Similar paid app that can force Snapchat dark mode.
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Substratum – Free and open source theme engine, but requires root access.
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Andromeda – Free Substratum add-on for non-rooted devices.
These apps allow you to target Snapchat with custom themes and overlays to turn on dark mode. I recommend browsing the theme library to find an appealing Snapchat dark mode style that matches your preferences.
While not as seamless as the iPhone approach, these Android dark mode apps do provide a way to successfully wrap Snapchat in a beautiful dark interface.
Why Snapchat Dark Mode is Worth the Effort
At this point you may be wondering, why go through the hassle of manually activating dark mode for Snapchat? Fair question!
Here are 3 compelling reasons why applying dark mode is well worth the effort:
1. Prevent eye strain and headaches
Staring at Snapchat‘s bright white interface late at night is a recipe for eye pain and headaches. The dark theme is much gentler on your eyes.
2. Save battery life
Dark mode can help conserve battery, especially on phones will OLED displays. So your phone stays powered longer.
3. Enjoy sleek aesthetics
Let‘s be honest – dark mode just looks darn cool and stylish! It also makes Snapchat content like photos and videos pop more.
Plus, as dark mode grows more popular, people expect to see the option in their favorite apps. By activating dark mode manually, you can get ahead of the curve.
When Will Snapchat Release Official Dark Mode?
Currently Snapchat has no official dark mode built into the Android or iOS apps. Many users have expressed frustration over this lack of support on Snapchat‘s community forums and social channels.
However, looking at the app‘s update history provides some clues for when we could expect to see dark mode officially added:
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February 2020 – Snapchat began testing dark mode with a small group of iOS beta testers, suggesting an iOS dark theme was in early development[6].
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March 2021 – Leaked images revealed Snapchat was working on a new "Gotham" interface rebuild with support for dark mode[7].
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September 2021 – Snapchat rolls out a UI refresh with new action bar, fonts, etc, but still no dark theme.
Based on this timeline, Snapchat clearly has dark mode actively in the works for future implementation. My prediction is we could see dark mode launch sometime in 2024, possibly early in Q1 or Q2.
Until then, the methods outlined in this guide should help you activate the Snapchat dark theme manually.
Final Thoughts on Dark Mode for Snapchat
Snapchat dark mode is a highly desired feature amongst users who want to enjoy the stylish look and prevent eye strain, especially for nighttime scrolling.
Unfortunately Snapchat has not yet added built-in support for a proper dark theme. But as I‘ve shown, both iPhone and Android users can take matters into their own hands:
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iPhone – Simple to enable via Snapchat App Settings > App Appearance > Dark.
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Android – Slightly more involved using system dark theme or third party apps.
My advice is don‘t wait for Snapchat to roll out dark mode officially. Go ahead and get it set up now using the steps in this guide.
Your eyes and battery will thank you! Please let me know in the comments if you have any other questions on how to activate dark mode for Snapchat.
