How to Change TikTok to Dark Mode on iPhone and Computer

Scrolling TikTok at night with a bright white screen is nobody's idea of fun. If you post, reply to comments or check your analytics late in the evening, dark mode makes the app easier on the eyes, and it can look a bit more polished when you're screen-recording a walkthrough for customers.

TikTok's help centre has a dedicated page on this, so I've followed it closely. The big thing to know first is where dark mode is offered, because that decides which steps apply to you.

Where TikTok dark mode is available

TikTok's help page says dark mode is only available on iOS devices and on your computer. If you're on an Android phone and can't find the setting, that's why, and I've listed some other things to try near the end.

TikTok also says dark mode gives the app a dark background with light text, and that it doesn't change the way videos look. So your clips stay exactly as you made them.

Where you use TikTok	Dark mode available?	Where to look
iPhone or iPad (iOS)	Yes, according to TikTok	Settings and privacy, then Display
Computer, logged in	Yes	Your profile picture at the top
Computer, logged out	Yes	More options at the top
Android phone	TikTok says dark mode is only available on iOS and computer	Not offered in the help page

Turning on TikTok dark mode on iPhone

1. In the TikTok app, tap Profile at the bottom.
2. Tap the Menu button at the top.
3. Tap Settings and privacy.
4. Tap Display.
5. Select Dark to turn on dark mode, or Light to turn it off.

That's the whole job. The change applies straight away, and you can flip back at any time by choosing Light.

Making TikTok follow your iPhone's appearance automatically

If you'd rather not switch by hand, TikTok says you can match your device's appearance settings. When it's on, the Display setting in TikTok changes automatically to match your phone.

1. Go to Profile, then the Menu button, then Settings and privacy.
2. Tap Display.
3. Turn Use device settings on or off.

This suits people whose phones already switch to dark in the evening. Your phone's own appearance settings live in the phone's Settings app, not in TikTok.

Turning on TikTok dark mode on a computer

TikTok says that on a computer, dark mode applies to a list of areas:

• The For You feed
• The Following feed
• Search results
• Your profile
• Hashtag results
• The Sounds page
• A video page

When you're logged in

1. Select your profile picture at the top.
2. Turn Dark mode on or off.

When you're not logged in

1. Select the More options button at the top.
2. Turn the Dark mode setting on or off.

TikTok dark mode and comments

TikTok's accessibility help also mentions dark mode as a way to view comments on a dark background with light text. It follows the same route: Profile, Menu, Settings and privacy, then Display, where you choose Dark or Light, with Use device settings to match your phone.

What TikTok dark mode doesn't change

• Your videos look the same, because dark mode only changes the app's background and text.
• What your followers see on your posts is unaffected.
• It's a display choice for you, so changing it won't change your account settings or privacy.

If you're a creator checking how a thumbnail or caption looks, remember your viewers might be in either mode. It's worth glancing at both.

Other TikTok display settings to try beside dark mode

If your eyes still find the app tiring, TikTok's accessibility help lists a few more display options. They live in a different place from dark mode, under Settings and privacy and then Accessibility.

• Increase color contrast: TikTok says this changes the contrast between colours in the TikTok app only. It's separate from your device's own contrast setting, although a device setting that's already on will raise contrast in TikTok by default.
• Animated thumbnail: you can turn animated video thumbnails on or off if moving previews are distracting.
• Bold text: TikTok says that if your device's bold text setting is on, text in the app appears bolder automatically.

None of these change your videos, and you can combine them with dark mode. Try one at a time so you know which helps.

Dark mode for TikTok creators who work late

Plenty of small business owners batch their posting at night. Dark mode helps while you answer comments, check messages and read your notifications, and it stops a bright screen waking up a quiet room. If you film on the same phone, remember that dark mode doesn't change your video, so you can switch freely without worrying how it affects what you publish.

If you can't find TikTok dark mode

• Check which device you're on. TikTok says dark mode is only available on iOS and computers.
• Update the TikTok app, then look under Settings and privacy and Display again.
• Restart the app, because the menu can reload with new options.
• Remember TikTok sometimes tests features with a limited number of users first, so an option may not have reached you yet.
• If you're still stuck, use Report a problem inside the app's settings.

Menus can also look different if the app is in another language. My guide to changing the language on TikTok shows how to get back to English, and if you use TikTok on a computer to manage your profile links, my walkthrough on adding Linktree to TikTok is worth a look.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change TikTok to dark mode?

On iPhone, go to Profile, Menu, Settings and privacy, Display, then select Dark. On a computer, select your profile picture and turn Dark mode on.

Does TikTok dark mode work on Android?

TikTok's help page says dark mode is only available on iOS devices and on your computer, so it isn't described for Android.

Does dark mode change how my videos look?

No. TikTok says dark mode doesn't change the way videos look on TikTok.

Can TikTok match my phone's dark mode automatically?

Yes. Under Display, turn on Use device settings and TikTok matches your device's appearance.

Can I use dark mode when I'm logged out on a computer?

Yes. TikTok says to select More options at the top and turn the Dark mode setting on or off.

Where is dark mode on TikTok?

In the app it's under Settings and privacy, then Display. On a computer it's by your profile picture, or More options if you're logged out.