The messaging app is finally rolling out its darkened version with promises to reduce eye strain in low-lit environments and avoid those awkward moments when a device lights up a room (If you’re doing that in the cinema, there’s an Odeon service that encourages you to lock your phone away during a film so you won’t be tempted).
The app admits it has taken a while to get to this stage. Apple and Google both rolled out dark mode as part of their respective mobile software updates last autumn, whilst Instagram followed suit in October.
It says it took its time researching and experimenting on how dark mode would work on the app in two particular areas: readability, so it would minimise eye fatigue; and information hierarchy, so it’s easier for users to focus their attention on the information they need on each WhatsApp screen.
Nevertheless, it has finally arrived and here’s how to set it up on your phone.
How to turn on WhatsApp dark mode
- Make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed. Go to either the App Store on iOS or Google Play Store on Android and search for the app to see if you need to update it.
- Once this is done, go into the app and hit Settings.
- In the Chats section, click on Theme and then select ‘Dark’.
- If you have iOS 13 or Android 10 installed on your phone, then if you choose the dark mode in your phone’s settings, your WhatsApp app should automatically turn dark too.
WhatsApp says the new feature is rolling out in the coming days so if it isn’t available on your device just yet, don’t worry.
It’s claimed dark mode has many benefits: as well as preventing eye strain, it’s also supposed to mitigate the effects of blue light which can keep you up at night. It’s also expected to boost battery life by 30 per cent, which certainly comes in handy.
