How to Change Pinterest to Dark Mode on iPhone and Android

If you scroll Pinterest late at night, or you simply prefer a darker screen, dark mode is the setting you want. The catch is that Pinterest doesn't give you a switch inside the app. It copies whatever your device is doing, which surprises a lot of people.

I run my business content across several platforms, and a quick check of the official help page is always worth doing before telling anyone where a setting lives. Everything below comes from Pinterest's help centre, and menu names can vary a little between phone makers and software versions.

Where the Pinterest dark mode setting lives

Pinterest's help centre says dark mode is available for the Pinterest app on Android and iOS, and that the app follows your device's dark mode settings. In other words, you turn it on for the whole phone, and Pinterest joins in automatically. There's no separate dark mode toggle to hunt for in the Pinterest account settings.

It also says changes save automatically, so you don't need to confirm anything or restart the app.

Switching Pinterest to dark mode on an iPhone or iPad

Pinterest says dark mode is available on iOS 13 or newer. If your device is older than that, the app can't follow a dark theme.

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Display & Brightness.
3. Tap Dark to turn dark mode on.
4. Open Pinterest and check the app has switched over.

To go back to the light look, follow the same steps and tap Light instead.

Switching Pinterest to dark mode on an Android phone

Pinterest gives two routes depending on your Android version.

Android 10 and newer

1. Open your device's Settings.
2. Tap Display.
3. Tap Dark to turn dark mode on.

Tap Light on the same screen to turn it off again.

Android 9 and older

Pinterest says the app follows your device's battery saver setting on these versions. Swipe down from the top of your screen and tap Battery Saver. I'd treat this as the older route, so if your phone offers the Display option above, use that.

Why there's no Pinterest dark mode on the desktop site

Pinterest's help page is plain about this: dark mode is not currently available on the desktop version of Pinterest. That covers using Pinterest in a browser on a laptop or desktop computer.

I'd rather tell you that than send you off to install something. Pinterest doesn't mention any official workaround, so I won't suggest one. If you need a darker screen at a computer, your computer's own display settings are the place to look, and Pinterest itself will stay in its light look.

If Pinterest dark mode isn't switching on

1. Check you're using the Pinterest app on a phone or tablet, not the website on a computer.
2. Confirm your device really is in dark mode, by looking at another app or the Settings screen.
3. On an iPhone, make sure your software is iOS 13 or newer.
4. Update the Pinterest app, since Pinterest's general troubleshooting advice is to use the latest version.
5. Close the app and open it again, then restart your device if it still looks light.

If the app still ignores your device settings after that, Pinterest's help centre has a contact form, and that's the route to take.

Pinterest dark mode for creators and small businesses

Here's the bit worth thinking about if you post Pins for your business. Many of your followers may now see your Pins against a dark background, so it's worth previewing your images that way. Open a few of your own Pins with dark mode switched on and look at them with fresh eyes.

• Text that looked crisp on a white page can feel different on a dark one, so check it's still easy to read.
• Images with white or very pale edges can stand out sharply against dark.
• Bold colours and clear subjects tend to hold up in both looks.

That's my own view and not a Pinterest rule, so treat it as a quick sanity check. If you're building a collection of boards for customers, my guide to making a secret board on Pinterest is handy for drafts you want to review privately first.

Pinterest dark mode compared with other things people confuse it with

Thing	What it does	Where Pinterest says it works
Dark mode	Gives the app a darker theme that follows your device	Android and iOS, not desktop
Battery saver (older Android)	Pinterest says the app follows this on Android 9 and older	Android 9 and older
Your board and Pin privacy	Controls who sees your boards, nothing to do with colours	All devices

Tidying up while you're in Pinterest

Since you're already in the app, it's a good moment to sort out the boards you no longer need. My guides to merging Pinterest boards and deleting a Pinterest board cover the options and the safety net Pinterest gives you.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change Pinterest to dark mode?

Turn on dark mode for your phone or tablet and the Pinterest app follows it. On iPhone use Settings, Display & Brightness, Dark. On Android 10 or newer use Settings, Display, Dark.

Does Pinterest have a dark mode on desktop?

Pinterest's help page says dark mode is not currently available on the desktop version of Pinterest.

Is there a dark mode switch inside the Pinterest app?

Pinterest says the app follows your device's dark mode settings, so the setting is on your device rather than inside Pinterest.

Which iPhone software do I need for Pinterest dark mode?

Pinterest says dark mode is available on iOS 13 or newer.

How do I turn Pinterest dark mode off?

Open your device's Settings and choose the Light option in the display settings. Pinterest says changes save automatically.