Computers, Laptops & Tablets > Apple How to Turn Mac Dark Mode On or Off Protect your eyesight with this easy-to-use feature By Tom Nelson Tom Nelson Facebook Twitter Writer Tom Nelson is an engineer, programmer, network manager, and computer network and systems designer who has written for Other World Computing,and others. Tom is also president of Coyote Moon, Inc., a Macintosh and Windows consulting firm. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 11, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apple Macs iPad What to Know Go to the Apple menu and select System Preferences > General. Next to Appearance, select Dark from the available options.Switching to Dark Mode works on Apple-supplied apps (such as Photos, Mail, and Calendar) and the general Mac interface.Use a Dynamic Desktop image to help reduce light from the rest of your desktop. This article explains how to work with Dark Mode, a system-level setting that works with all the apps that come with the Mac. Third-party apps can opt to use the Dark Mode option, as well. Information in this article applies to Macs with macOS Mojave and later. How to Turn Dark Mode On or Off on a Mac Dark Mode is easier on your eyes, helping many users deal with eyestrain. Apple introduced Dark Mode with macOS Mojave. While Dark Mode isn't automatically enabled, it's easy to turn on and off. Go to the Apple menu and select System Preferences. Select General on the System Preferences screen. Next to Appearance, select Dark to turn on Dark Mode. (Select Light to return to Light Mode.) When enabled, Dark Mode is applied to menus, buttons, and windows, including the System Preferences window, immediately. Using Dark Mode The Apple-supplied apps, such as Photos, Mail, Maps, and Calendar, all support Dark Mode. However, if you were hoping for complete darkness to settle onto your Mac, there's another step to take: tone down the Mac's desktop. You can choose your own dark custom image for the desktop, but using one of the Dynamic desktop images or dark still images included with macOS Mojave and later is a better solution. About Dynamic Desktop Images Dynamic desktop images change appearance, tracking the time of day and producing darker wallpaper at night and brighter desktops during the day. However, the dynamic desktop images included with your Mac can be set to display a light or dark image continuously. If you choose the dark desktop image, you can further enhance the Dark Mode interface. Launch System Preferences and select Desktop & Screen Saver. Select the Desktop tab, and then find the Dynamic Desktop pictures. Select a Dynamic Desktop image, then select Dynamic from the drop-down menu next to the large thumbnail. These images move from light to dark as the day progresses. If you prefer the desktop to remain dark all the time, select Dark (still) from the drop-down menu next to the image thumbnail or choose one of the dark versions of Apple screens in the Desktop Pictures section beneath the Dynamic Desktop images. The desktop changes to show the image you select. Night Shift Can Ease Eyestrain Dark Mode isn't the only feature built into macOS that can help relieve eyestrain. Night Shift adjusts your display's brightness and white point balance depending on the time of day to reduce fatigue. It changes the colors of your display to be warmer after dark. Night Shift first appeared on iPhones and iPads and came to the Mac with macOS Sierra. It is often used with still desktop images, but when activated with a Dark Mode desktop, Night Shift keeps bright blue light at bay, easing eye strain and allowing you to feel more relaxed in the evening. Turn on Night Shift in System Preferences > Displays > Night Shift. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit