WhatsApp For Android To Get Its Own Dark Mode

Currently in beta, the feature is likely to show up in the regular app soon

by
Rob LeFebvre
Rob LeFebvre
News Editor
Rob LeFebvre has been a freelance technology writer for 10 years and an educator for 20. His articles have appeared in 148Apps, Cult of Mac, Engadget, and many others.
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Rob LeFebvre
Published January 22, 2020
Updated January 22, 2020 04:53PM EST

What: Dark mode is coming to WhatsApp for Android, a popular chat app that boasts end-to-end encryption.

How: Android beta users with version 2.20.13 of the app via the Google Play Beta Program can use the mode now

Why Do You Care: Dark mode may see like a “who cares” feature, but it can be super useful to those who need to look at their screens in dark environments.

Person holding Android phone with WhatsApp Dark mode on screen
Unsplash

Whether you’re a huge fan of “dark mode” or not, it’s hard to say the feature isn’t important. Dark mode has been implemented on Windows 10, macOS, iOS, and Android in general, and on a host of third-party apps for these platforms, like Gmail. It helps with eye strain when ambient light is dim, and it can save your battery, too.

According to WhatsApp enthusiast site WABetaInfo, the 2.20.13 beta version of WhatsApp, available through the Google Play Beta Program, now has its own dark mode. It’s likely that the feature will show up in the regular app as an update, soon, as well. Even though the beta program isn’t accepting new sign-ups, the site offers an APK that you can download and install (or sideload) onto your Android device to get the feature. Simply navigate to Settings, then Chats in your WhatsApp app to turn it on.

Once enabled in WhatsApp, you’ll be able to set a Light theme, a Dark theme, or have WhatsApp manage the two via your System defaults (Android Q supports Dark mode across the system). If you have an earlier Android OS, you can choose to set Dark mode in WhatsApp via your Battery Saver settings.

Via: Engadget.