Facebook rolls out testing for Dark Mode for its iOS and Android apps five months after launching the feature on its desktop site
- Dark Mode reduces eye-strain in low-light areas and can save on battery life
- Facebook has already rolled out Dark Mode for Messenger and desktop
- Now it’s rolling out more widely on the Facebook app
- Before it was added to WhatsApp, Dark Mode was the most requested feature
Facebook has started rolling out broader Dark Mode support on its iOS and Android apps, five months after bringing the feature to the desktop.
Dark Mode is designed to reduce eye strain in low light environments and, according to Facebook, ‘help prevent those awkward moments where your phone lights up the room.’
The social media giant confirmed it was adding Dark Mode when it rolled out its new desktop redesign earlier this year.
Facebook broke the news it was publicly testing the feature on its apps in a tweet collaboration with industry insider Jane Manchun Wong.
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Dark Mode is designed to reduce eye strain in low light environments and, according to Facebook, ‘help prevent those awkward moments where your phone lights up the room’
The alternate mode minimizes screen glare in low-light environments while improving viewing of videos on Facebook Watch, the company’s video-on-demand service.
Facebook has been quietly testing Dark Mode with a few select users, reports 9 to 5 Mac, but Friday’s announcement means it’s being rolled out much more widely.
To use Facebook’s Dark Mode on your iPhone or other device, you must have the latest version of the Facebook app downloaded.
Click on the three lines on the corner of the navigation bar, then tap on ‘Settings and Privacy.’
Dark Mode consume less energy, making them more battery efficient. Facebook launched the feature for Messenger back in 2019, touting it offered ‘lower brightness while maintaining contrast and vibrancy.’
If the service is available on your account, you should see a Dark Mode option that can be toggled on or off.
On the desktop, Dark Mode is already available on Facebook by clicking the arrow icon on the upper-right side of screen.
Dark Mode is already available on Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, Gmail and on system-wide applications on Android and iOS.
On iOS and Android, it can change otherwise white menu screens to black and even activate dark modes in other apps automatically.
Aside from being more aesthetically pleasing to some, it’s designed to be easier on the eyes.
Dark Mode also consumes less energy, making it more battery efficient.
Facebook launched Dark Mode for Messenger back in 2019, touting the feature as offering ‘lower brightness while maintaining contrast and vibrancy.’
If Dark Mode is enabled on your Facebook app, click on the three lines on the corner of the navigation bar, and it should appear under Settings and Privacy.’
‘Dark mode cuts down the glare from your phone for use in low light situations, so you can use the Messenger features you love no matter when or where you are,’ the company said at the time.
It then added it to WhatsApp in March 2020, claiming it was the most requested feature from its users worldwide.
‘We know we took our time, but we wanted to make sure it was right,’ the company said.
‘We hope everyone enjoys Dark Mode, which is rolling out in the coming days on the latest version of WhatsApp.’
WhatsApp said it spent time ‘researching and experimenting’ with Dark Mode, with a particular focus on readability and ‘information hierarchy.’