Facebook introduced a new dark mode feature in 2020 that allows users to switch their Facebook interface to a darker color theme. While many users enjoy the darker aesthetic and find it easier on the eyes, especially at night, others may prefer the regular blue Facebook theme and want to turn dark mode off.
What is Facebook dark mode?
Facebook’s dark mode changes the background color of the Facebook website and app interface to black or dark gray instead of the usual white or light blue. Text and images will appear brighter on the darker background. Many apps and websites have added a dark theme option in recent years to provide an alternative aesthetic choice.
In addition to looking different, dark mode aims to make screens easier on the eyes by reducing brightness. Staring at bright screens, especially in dark environments, can cause eye strain. The lower brightness and darker colors of dark mode help alleviate this issue.
How to turn off Facebook dark mode on desktop
If you enable Facebook’s dark mode on the desktop website and want to revert to the normal blue theme, you can toggle dark mode off using just a few clicks:
- Go to Facebook.com and log into your account
- Click on the down arrow in the top right corner
- Select “Settings & Privacy” from the dropdown menu
- Click on “Settings” in the left column
- Click on “Dark Mode” on the General Account Settings page
- Toggle the button next to “Dark Mode” off
Toggling this button from “On” to “Off” will immediately change your Facebook theme from dark back to light. The blue background and white text will return.
How to turn off dark mode on the Facebook mobile app
The Facebook mobile app also includes a dark mode that you can disable if you prefer the regular white background:
- Open the Facebook app on your iPhone or Android device
- Tap the three-line menu icon in the top right
- Scroll down and select “Settings & Privacy”
- Select “Settings”
- Tap on “Dark Mode”
- Toggle the “Dark Mode” button to the off position
This will instantly change the in-app backgrounds back to light colors. The menu backgrounds will return to white and the main News Feed background will change back to light gray.
How to turn off dark mode on Facebook Messenger
The Facebook Messenger mobile app also has a separate dark mode that can be disabled:
- Open the Messenger app on your device
- Tap your profile picture in the top left
- Select “Dark Mode”
- Toggle the “Dark Mode” button to the off position
This will change the background of your Messenger app from black or dark gray back to white. The colors of your message threads will also revert to the default blue and white style.
Is dark mode better for battery life?
One popular myth about dark mode is that it will extend a device’s battery life. In reality, the battery impact is negligible on modern OLED screens. However, users with older LCD screens may see some modest battery gains from using dark mode.
| Screen Type | Dark Mode Battery Impact |
|---|---|
| LCD (older screens) | May improve battery life slightly |
| OLED (newer screens) | Very minimal/no improvement |
The reason dark mode can potentially improve battery life on LCD screens is that displaying black pixels requires less power than illuminating white pixels on an LCD display. True black pixels are turned off.
However, with modern OLED displays, the battery impact is negligible because displaying black versus white pixels requires about the same power draw. Therefore, you won’t see any significant battery life gains from OLED dark mode.
Other minor battery advantages
There are a couple other possible minor advantages to dark mode in terms of battery efficiency:
- Produces slightly less screen glare which requires less brightness
- Black pixels may allow processor to ramp down briefly while displaying dark backgrounds
However, these perks only translate to very minimal battery differences. The main advantage of dark mode remains the visual aesthetics and eye strain reduction, not extended battery life.
Are there any other benefits to dark mode?
Beyond the arguable battery effects, several other benefits exist for choosing a dark mode theme:
- Eye strain reduction – Staring at bright screens in the dark can strain your eyes. Dark mode alleviates this eye fatigue.
- Easy night viewing – Dark mode interfaces are easier on your eyes when using devices in the dark, such as at night or in a dark room.
- Improved contrast – Text and images stand out more on darker backgrounds for enhanced legibility.
- Distraction reduction – Some studies show dark interfaces are less visually distracting and improve focus.
- Aesthetic preference – Many users simply prefer the look and vibe of a darker color scheme.
The reduced eye strain and easier readability in low light tend to be the most practical advantages of using dark mode. But the aesthetic and contrast benefits also make dark interfaces appealing to many users, whether browsing at night or during the day.
Should I leave Facebook in dark mode?
Whether to keep Facebook’s dark mode enabled comes down to your personal preference. Consider these factors when deciding:
- Do you browse Facebook at night or in the dark often? Dark mode will provide a better viewing experience in dim environments.
- Do you find Facebook’s light mode strains your eyes or is too bright? Dark mode may help reduce eye fatigue.
- Do you simply prefer the aesthetic look of dark mode? If so, you’ll likely enjoy browsing Facebook more with dark mode on.
However, there are also reasons you may want to disable dark mode:
- You strongly prefer the classic, lighter Facebook aesthetic.
- You browse Facebook outdoors or in bright daytime light frequently.
- You find the lower contrast of dark mode harder to read.
In general, dark mode provides the best experience for nighttime use or if you have some eye strain or sensitivity to bright lights. During the day or if the high contrast of light mode works better for you visually, it may be best to turn dark mode off.
Conclusion
Facebook’s dark mode provides an alternative darker interface that many users find visually appealing and easier on the eyes when browsing at night. But it’s easy to revert to the normal light mode if you prefer. On desktop, just toggle the Dark Mode button off in the Settings menu. On mobile, turn off Dark Mode in the App Settings.
Dark mode may provide minor battery life improvements for devices with LCD displays but has negligible battery impact on modern OLED screens. Its main benefits are reduced eye strain, easier night viewing, distraction reduction, and aesthetic preferences.
Evaluate when and where you primarily browse Facebook. If it’s in the dark or you want to reduce eye strain, dark mode can be helpful. But if you strongly prefer the lighter look or read better with higher contrast, light mode may be the better choice for you.
