How to Change Twitter (X) to Dark Mode on iPhone, Android and Web

If you scroll X (formerly Twitter) late at night, or spend hours a day on it posting for your business, a dark background is kinder on the eyes and often easier to read. The platform now goes by X, but plenty of people still search for Twitter, so you'll see both names around.

I've followed X's own help pages for the steps below. The wording of menus changes from time to time, so if a label on your screen differs slightly, go with the closest match.

The two dark options on X: Dim and Lights out

X doesn't offer just one dark theme. Its help pages describe two dark modes, plus the default white background:

• Dim: the first dark choice.
• Lights out: the second dark choice.
• Default: the white background you get to start with.

X's pages simply name the two choices without describing them. Try both. They take seconds to swap, and it's a matter of taste.

Turning on X dark mode on an iPhone

X's help page for its iOS app gives this route:

1. Open your profile menu and tap Settings and privacy.
2. Tap Accessibility, display and languages.
3. Open the Display and sound tab.
4. Tap the Dark mode slider to switch it on.
5. Choose Dim or Lights out.

To turn it off again, tap the Dark mode slider a second time. On the same screen there's a font slider if you want text bigger or smaller, which is handy if you read a lot on a small phone.

Using the light bulb shortcut in X on iPhone

There's a quicker way into the same settings. X's help page says to tap your profile menu and then the light bulb icon, which opens the Dark mode settings. Tap the Dark mode slider to turn it on, then tap Dim or Lights out. If you flip between modes a lot, say light by day and dark in the evening, this is the faster route.

Turning on X dark mode on Android

X's help page for Android lists these steps:

1. Tap your profile icon at the top.
2. Select Settings and privacy.
3. Select Accessibility, display and languages.
4. Select Display.
5. Select Dark mode.

There's also the shortcut: tap your profile icon, then the light bulb icon at the bottom left, and select Dark mode. Under Dark theme, choose Dim or Lights out. To turn the feature off, select the Dark mode option again.

Making X dark mode follow your Android phone schedule

X's Android help page mentions one extra option: Use device settings. If you've already scheduled your phone to turn dark mode on automatically, enabling it means X can follow along, so you don't need to flip anything by hand. It's worth setting up if your phone already switches theme at sunset.

Changing Twitter to dark mode on x.com in a browser

On a computer the route is different. X's help centre says to manage your font size, text colour and background through x.com like this:

1. Sign in to x.com.
2. Click More in the sidebar menu.
3. Select Display.
4. Choose your preferred font size and colour.
5. Use the radio buttons to choose the default white background, Dim or Lights Out.

That Display screen is also where you pick an accent colour, so it's a good place to spend a minute if you want X to match your brand. My guide to X header sizes pairs well with it, because a dark background changes how a header image reads.

Dark mode on the X app versus a browser on your computer

Device	Where to look	Options named by X
iPhone app	Settings and privacy, Accessibility, display and languages, Display and sound	Dark mode slider, Dim, Lights out
Android app	Settings and privacy, Accessibility, display and languages, Display	Dark mode, Dim, Lights out, Use device settings
x.com in a browser	More, then Display	Default white, Dim, Lights Out

Your choice is tied to where you set it. If you change it on the website, don't be surprised if your phone app still looks different until you change it there too. That's my reading of how the separate settings pages are laid out, so check your own screens.

Why a dark Twitter might not look right to your audience

If you post images or logos with a transparent or white background, check how they look in both themes before you publish. A black logo can vanish on a dark background. Many of your followers may use dark mode, so a quick look in each theme is a good habit for anyone who runs a business account. If you also need to change your handle at the same time, my guide to changing your username on X on mobile covers that.

If you can't find the dark mode setting on X

• Update the X app, because menu names change between versions.
• Look under Display or Display and sound, rather than Notifications.
• On the website, use More in the sidebar and then Display.
• Try the light bulb icon in the profile menu on iPhone or Android.
• If your phone's own dark mode is on and X has Use device settings enabled, X may already be following it.

If none of that works, X's Help Center is the place to ask. Please only use X's official support for account problems.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change Twitter to dark mode on an iPhone?

Open your profile menu, tap Settings and privacy, then Accessibility, display and languages, then the Display and sound tab. Tap the Dark mode slider and choose Dim or Lights out.

How do I turn on dark mode on X in a browser?

Sign in to x.com, click More in the sidebar, select Display, and use the radio buttons to choose the default white background, Dim or Lights Out.

What is the difference between Dim and Lights out?

They are X's two dark choices. X's help pages name both without describing them, but you can switch between them in seconds to see which you prefer.

Can X follow my phone's dark mode schedule?

On Android, X's help page says to enable Use device settings if you've already scheduled your phone to turn on dark mode automatically.

How do I turn dark mode off again?

On iPhone, tap the Dark mode slider again. On Android, select the Dark mode option again. On x.com, choose the default white background in Display.