How to Turn On Dark Mode on Snapchat (iPhone and Android)

If you check Snapchat last thing at night, that bright white chat screen can feel like a torch in your face. Dark mode swaps it for a darker look that's easier on the eyes in a dim room, and plenty of people simply prefer how it looks.

For a long time Snapchat was one of the few big apps that didn't offer it on every phone, which is why you'll still find old advice telling you it can't be done. Snapchat's help centre now has a short set of steps for it. Here's where the setting lives, how to switch it back, and the other ways to change how the app looks.

Switching Snapchat to dark mode in Settings

According to Snapchat's help article, the steps are the same on iPhone and Android:

1. Open Snapchat and go to your profile screen.
2. Tap the gear icon to open Settings.
3. Under the Shortcuts heading, tap App Appearance.
4. Choose System Dark.
5. Tap Apply Theme.

The change happens straight away, so you'll see the darker screens as soon as you go back to your chats.

Turning Snapchat dark mode off again

Changed your mind, or finding the dark screens hard to read in daylight? Go back the same way:

1. Profile screen, then the gear icon.
2. App Appearance under Shortcuts.
3. Choose System Light.
4. Tap Apply Theme.

If you run more than one Snapchat account, say a personal one and one for your business, it's worth logging into each and checking how it looks. Choosing a different appearance for each is a simple way to tell at a glance which account you're about to post from, and that small habit saves the classic mistake of sharing a personal Snap to your brand's followers.

Dark mode also tends to suit late-night checking of messages from customers. If you answer enquiries in the evening, a darker screen is gentler on your eyes when you've been staring at a laptop all day.

There's no penalty for switching back and forth, so try both for a day or two and keep whichever suits you.

If App Appearance isn't in your Snapchat settings

Snapchat updates its menus regularly, and older versions of its help used slightly different labels for the same choice. If you can't see App Appearance or the System Dark option, work through these:

1. Update Snapchat from the App Store or Google Play, then reopen it.
2. Scroll the whole Settings screen, not just the top. The Shortcuts section sits near the top, but labels move around between versions.
3. Use the search in Snapchat's help centre for Dark Mode, which always shows the current steps.
4. If it still isn't there, menus vary by app version and region, so check again after the next update.

Snapchat dark mode versus custom app themes

People sometimes mix these up. Dark mode is a light or dark choice that anyone can make in App Appearance. Custom App Themes are a separate Snapchat+ feature that changes the colours of the app more broadly.

Snapchat's help says Custom App Themes are rolling out slowly to Snapchat+ members and may not be available to everyone yet. If your account has them, you tap your Snapchat+ card at the top of your profile, choose Custom App Themes, swipe to preview, then tap Apply Theme. A Customize Theme option lets you adjust things like the Capture Button and the tab and badge colours.

Option	Who it's for	Where to find it
System Dark	Anyone	Settings, App Appearance
System Light	Anyone	Settings, App Appearance
Custom App Themes	Snapchat+ members, rolling out slowly	Snapchat+ card on your profile
Chat wallpaper	Anyone, per chat	The chat's profile, Wallpaper

Making individual Snapchat chats darker with wallpaper

If you want a single chat to feel different, or darker still, chat wallpapers are worth a look. Snapchat's help gives these steps:

1. Open the friendship or group chat profile.
2. Tap Wallpaper under Our Chat.
3. Tap Add Wallpaper or Change Wallpaper.
4. Check the preview and choose whether to blur the image.
5. Tap Confirm.

You can also press and hold a photo someone sent in the chat and tap Set as Chat Wallpaper. To remove one, tap the bin icon at the top right of the preview, or choose the empty option.

A darker photo with the blur switched on is easiest to read over, especially if you've already turned dark mode on.

Why dark mode on Snapchat matters if you post for a brand

If you create Snaps for a business, remember that your audience isn't all looking at the same screen. Some people will see your Stories and messages against dark backgrounds, others against light ones. It's worth checking text overlays and any logo with a transparent background in both modes before you post, so nothing disappears into the background.

Small checks like that add up. If you're planning how Snapchat fits into your wider content, my Snapchat marketing strategy guide covers what to post and how often, and my guide to using Snapchat filters and Lenses helps your Snaps stand out whichever mode your viewers use.

Quick Snapchat dark mode checklist

• Turn it on: profile, gear icon, App Appearance, System Dark, Apply Theme.
• Turn it off: same route, System Light, Apply Theme.
• Missing option: update the app and look again.
• Want colours too: Custom App Themes, if your Snapchat+ account has them.
• Want one chat darker: set a blurred chat wallpaper.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn on dark mode on Snapchat?

Go to your profile, tap the gear icon, tap App Appearance under Shortcuts, choose System Dark and tap Apply Theme.

Is Snapchat dark mode available on Android?

Snapchat's help gives the same steps for Android and iPhone. If you can't see the option, update the app, because menus vary by version.

How do I turn dark mode off on Snapchat?

Go back to App Appearance in Settings, choose System Light and tap Apply Theme.

Do I need Snapchat+ for dark mode?

No. Dark mode is in App Appearance for everyone. Custom App Themes, which change the app's colours more widely, are the Snapchat+ feature.

Can I change the background of a Snapchat chat?

Yes. Open the chat's profile, tap Wallpaper under Our Chat and add or change the wallpaper, with an option to blur it.