How to Change Safari’s Dark Mode on iPhone?

Ever Wondered Why Safari Looks So Dark at Night? You’re browsing Safari late at night, maybe catching up on some reading or scrolling through news articles before bed-and suddenly, your screen turns dark. Not just dim, but the whole browser takes on a moody, shadowy theme. That’s Safari’s Dark Mode kicking in.

Now, for some users, this is a dream. For others? Not so much. Maybe the contrast feels off, maybe images look strange, or maybe you just want your good ol’ bright browser back. Either way, you’re not alone. iPhone users across the globe are constantly asking the same question:

“How do I change Safari’s dark mode on my iPhone?”

Well, good news-you’ve landed on the right page. Whether you’re a fan of light, dark, or something in between, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Let’s dig in.

Why Does Safari Go Dark in the First Place?

Before we jump into the how-to part, it’s helpful to understand why Safari switches to dark mode in the first place.

Safari doesn’t have its own dedicated dark mode toggle (as of iOS 17). Instead, it follows the system-wide appearance settings of your iPhone. When your phone is in Dark Mode, Safari joins in.

Here’s when this typically happens:

• You enable Dark Mode manually from Control Center or Settings.
• You set Dark Mode to turn on automatically at sunset.
• You’re using a third-party app or reading mode that adjusts content to dark backgrounds.

And sometimes, it’s even trickier­­-Safari’s Reader View and certain websites can adopt dark backgrounds even when Dark Mode is off.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed? Don’t worry. We’re about to clear all this up with easy-to-follow steps. Whether you want to enable, disable, or control it better-I’ve got your back.

Change Safari Dark Mode on iPhone

Ready to take control? Here are four ways to manage Safari’s dark appearance based on what exactly you’re trying to change.

Method 1: Toggle iPhone Dark Mode On or Off

This is the most direct way to affect Safari’s theme.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Tap Display & Brightness.

3. You’ll see two options at the top: Light and Dark.

4. Tap Light to switch Safari and the entire system back to a bright interface.

Bonus Tip: You can also use the Control Center:

Swipe down from the top-right corner.

Press and hold the brightness slider.

Tap the Appearance button to switch between Light and Dark Mode instantly.

Method 2: Schedule Light/Dark Mode Automatically

Prefer your Safari to go dark only at night? You can set your iPhone to switch modes based on the time of day.

1. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness.

2. Turn on Automatic under the Appearance section.

3. Tap Options to choose between Sunset to Sunrise or Custom Schedule.

Now, Safari will match your vibe-bright in the day, dark at night.

Method 3: Turn Off Dark Reader View in Safari

Sometimes, it’s not Dark Mode-it’s Reader View giving your pages a dark background.

Here’s how to disable it:

1. Open Safari and load any article.

2. Tap the aA icon in the top-left of the address bar.

3. If you’re in Reader View, tap “Hide Reader”.

4. If you want to customize Reader View’s appearance:

Tap the aA icon, then choose “Website Settings”.

Toggle off Use Reader Automatically.

This keeps your Safari content looking exactly how the website intended.

Method 4: Use Smart Invert Instead of Full Dark Mode

Want a pseudo-dark mode without flipping everything?

Try Smart Invert, a feature that reverses most colors without affecting images or videos.

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size.

2. Scroll down and toggle on Smart Invert.

Use this if you want a dark-ish look without committing to full Dark Mode.

Method 5: Third-Party tools

And the last method will be to use a third-party application. For this one, you will open the Apple App Store. There you will search for the dark mode theme. Once found, you will select and apply it. This is for users with the earlier versions of macOS or iPhone.

Newer versions don’t require any theme by a third party, as the option is already there. Those users who can’t find any reliable dark mode can use this link to download one.

Related: How to Install Windows 3.1 on iPhone or iPad?

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Question: Does Safari have Dark Mode iPhone 8 Plus?

Yes, dark mode is present in iPhone 8 Plus. However, earlier versions than this can’t support dark mode. You can use the built-in options or use third-party themes from the App Store.

Question: How to get dark mode on Safari iPhone?

To enable dark mode on Safari on iPhone, you will enable it by going through Settings > Display & Brightness. There, you will select the Dark option, and this will enable the dark mode. For users who can’t find this option, they will need to update their system first. If you are still unable to use the option, then you will need to upgrade your current iPhone to a newer version.

Question: How to turn the dark mode off in Safari on iPhone?

Enabling or disabling the dark mode on iPhone is totally the same. To change the option, you will navigate through Settings > Display & Brightness. Here, instead of using the Dark, you are going to select Light, which will make your screen bright again.

Question: Is There a Safari-Specific Dark Mode Setting?

No! as of iOS 17, there is no Safari-specific dark mode.

This is a common myth. As of now, Safari doesn’t have a built-in dark mode toggle. Instead, it adapts based on your iPhone’s system settings, as mentioned earlier.

However, Apple has been consistently updating iOS, so this could change in future versions. If you’re someone who wants granular control over Safari’s look, stay tuned to iOS update notes.

You can also use Safari extensions or bookmarklets to force dark themes on websites, but these are usually more relevant on macOS than iOS.

And there you have it. You’ve officially learned how to change Safari’s dark mode on iPhone like a pro. Whether you want to turn it off completely, set a schedule, or fine-tune how it looks in Reader View-now you’ve got options.

No more squinting at your phone late at night.

Got more iPhone or Safari questions? I’m always here to help you troubleshoot, tweak, and take control of your tech. Until next time-happy browsing!