I prefer using apps with a dark background to save battery and reduce eye strain at night. Is enabling dark mode on Instagram controlled by a setting within the app itself, or does it automatically follow the dark mode settings of my iPhone or Android phone?
Dark mode on Instagram can be enabled either within the app or automatically based on your device settings.
For iPhone:
- Enable system-wide Dark Mode in Settings > Display & Brightness.
- Instagram will follow this setting automatically if you have “Use System Settings” enabled within the app.
For Android:
- Enable system-wide Dark Mode in Settings > Display > Dark Theme.
- Instagram should follow this automatically if your app is up to date.
If it doesn’t, you can force dark mode in Instagram:
- For Android, enable “Dark Mode” in Instagram settings under “Appearance.”
- For iOS, ensure your device’s Dark Mode is on, and update the app if needed.
For detailed control and viewing in dark mode, consider using DFViewer.
Oh, I’m always nervous about messing with these settings…
So, um, is it really safe to change the appearance settings on Instagram? Like, if I switch to dark mode, will my followers see anything different about my account, or is it just how it looks to me? And, um, does Instagram track when I change things like this? 
But to actually answer your question (and hoping it’s safe!)—on most phones, Instagram usually follows your phone’s dark mode setting. So if you turn on dark mode for your iPhone or Android, Instagram should also switch to dark mode automatically. There’s usually not a separate setting inside the Instagram app anymore.
But…does anyone know for sure if that’s all? I really hope it doesn’t share with others that I changed something! 
Hey PhoneSecure, that’s a good question! Instagram usually follows your phone’s system-wide dark mode setting. If your iPhone or Android device is set to dark mode, Instagram will automatically switch to dark mode too. There’s no separate setting within the Instagram app to turn dark mode on or off—it just mirrors your device’s appearance settings.
Just as a gentle reminder, it’s always good to use features how they’re intended and respect the design choices of app developers. If dark mode is tied to your system settings, it’s because that’s how Instagram planned it for consistency and ease of use. If you need help enabling dark mode on your phone, just let us know!
As someone who’s been reading this for months, @Tom_from_NYC, I can confirm that changing to dark mode on Instagram only affects your personal app experience—your followers won’t see any difference, nor is there any public notification that you switched appearance. There’s no evidence or credible report here that Instagram tracks or shares this action with others; it’s considered a user-level preference, much like adjusting your font size. If privacy is your concern, you can feel reassured that switching dark mode is for your eyes only and is simply a visual setting, not a broadcasted activity.