To turn on night mode in the Twitter iPhone app, which is now called X, tap your profile picture, then go to Settings and privacy > Accessibility, display, and languages > Display and sound and turn on Dark mode. If your version of the app has no Dark mode switch, turn on Dark Mode for the whole iPhone instead, and the app should follow it.
Night mode and dark mode are the same feature. Older versions of the Twitter app called it Night mode, and the current X Help Center calls it Dark mode. Both names describe a dark background with light text, which many people find more comfortable in a dim room.
What to Know Before You Start
This guide covers the official X app for iPhone. The same steps apply to an iPad. You need to be signed in to an account to reach the settings menu.
There are two places that can make the app dark, and which one you use depends on your app version:
- The setting inside the X app. The X Help Center page for iOS lists a Dark mode control with two themes, Dim and Lights out.
- The iPhone system setting. Apple calls this Dark Mode. It changes the appearance of iOS and of apps that follow the system setting.
One caution about versions: reports from March 2026 say that X removed the in-app switch from its mobile apps, so that the app now simply matches the iPhone appearance. The X Help Center still lists the in-app steps, and we could not confirm the change in X documentation. Because of that, this guide gives both methods. Start with the app setting. If it is not there, use the iPhone setting.
How to Turn On Dark Mode in the X (Twitter) iPhone App
These are the steps the X Help Center gives for the iPhone app. Nothing here affects your account, your posts, or what other people see. It only changes how the app looks on your device.
- Open the X app. It is the app that used to be named Twitter.
- Tap your profile picture to open the profile menu.
- Tap Settings and privacy. In some versions you may need to expand a Settings and Support heading first.
- Tap Accessibility, display, and languages.
- Tap Display and sound. This screen also holds the font size slider.
- Tap the Dark mode switch to turn it on. The app should change color right away.
- Tap Dim or Lights out to pick a theme.
Dim vs. Lights Out
Dim is the older night mode look, a dark blue-gray background. Lights out is a black background. Neither one changes how the app works, so choose the one that is easier for you to read. Your app may show only one dark look if X has changed the themes in your version.
The Shortcut From the Profile Menu
The X Help Center also lists a faster route. Tap your profile picture, then tap the light bulb icon in the profile menu. That opens the Dark mode settings, where you can turn on the switch and choose Dim or Lights out. If you do not see a light bulb icon, use the full path above.
If you use a Bluetooth keyboard with your iPhone or iPad, X lists Command-M as the keyboard shortcut that turns dark mode on or off.
If There Is No Dark Mode Switch, Use iPhone Dark Mode
If Display and sound shows only font size and no dark setting, your version of the app most likely follows the iPhone appearance. In that case you control it from iOS. Keep in mind that this changes the look of the whole iPhone, including every other app that follows the system setting, not just X.
Apple gives these steps on its Dark Mode support page:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Appearance. On iOS 26 and earlier, tap Display & Brightness instead.
- Select Dark.
- Go back to the X app and check that the background is now dark.
You can also switch from Control Center. Open Control Center, touch and hold the brightness bar, then tap Dark Mode to turn it on or off. If you would like a separate button, touch and hold a blank area of Control Center, tap Add a Control, and choose Dark Mode.
Our guide on how to turn on Dark Mode on an iPhone covers the system setting in more detail.
Make It Dark Only at Night
If you want a light screen during the day and a dark one in the evening, use the iPhone schedule. In Settings > Appearance (or Display & Brightness on iOS 26 and earlier), select Automatic, then tap Options to set the schedule. An app that follows the system setting changes along with the iPhone.
Older versions of the X app also had their own automatic option that switched at sunset. The current X Help Center steps do not mention it, so do not count on finding it.
How to Confirm It Worked and How to Undo It
Open your Home timeline. With dark mode on, the background behind posts is dark blue-gray or black and the text is light. Open one post and the settings screen as well, to make sure the whole app changed.
To go back to the light look:
- In the X app: return to Display and sound and tap the Dark mode switch again to turn it off.
- On the iPhone: go to Settings > Appearance (or Display & Brightness) and select Light, or use the Dark Mode control in Control Center.
Nothing is lost either way. You can switch back and forth as often as you like.
Troubleshooting
The Dark Mode Setting Is Missing
First check that you are in Accessibility, display, and languages and not another section of Settings and privacy. If the setting is still not there, your app version probably follows the iPhone appearance. Turn on iPhone Dark Mode with the steps above.
The App Turned White or Dark on Its Own
This usually means the app is following the iPhone. Check whether the iPhone appearance is set to Automatic, because that changes the look on a schedule. Choose Light or Dark if you want it to stay one way all day.
You Cannot Find Settings and Privacy
Menu labels in the app change from time to time. Tap your profile picture to open the profile menu and look for Settings and privacy near the bottom. It may sit under a heading that you need to tap to expand.
The Menus Do Not Match These Steps
Install the latest version of X from the App Store, then close the app and open it again. The X Help Center describes the current release, so an old version can look different. If the newest version still does not match, rely on the iPhone Dark Mode setting.
The Screen Looks Orange Instead of Dark
That is Night Shift, not dark mode. Night Shift is an iPhone feature that warms the colors of the whole display. It does not change app backgrounds. See our guide on using Night Shift on an iPhone if you want to adjust it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is night mode the same as dark mode on Twitter?
Yes. Twitter first called the feature Night mode. The app, now named X, calls it Dark mode. Both mean a dark background with light text.
Can I keep X dark while the rest of my iPhone stays light?
Only if your app version still has its own Dark mode switch under Display and sound. If the app follows the iPhone appearance, it matches whatever the iPhone is set to. Some people set up an automation in the Apple Shortcuts app that changes the iPhone appearance when a certain app opens. Apple lists App among the automation triggers in Shortcuts, but that approach still switches the whole phone while the app is open.
Does dark mode change my account or what other people see?
No. It is a display setting on your device. Your posts, profile, and notifications stay the same, and other people see X in whatever appearance they have chosen.
Does the X website use the same setting?
Not necessarily. X lists dark display options for the web separately from the iOS app, so x.com in a browser can look different from the app on the same iPhone.
Does dark mode in X save battery?
X does not make a battery claim for dark mode in its help pages. Any saving depends on your iPhone screen type, brightness, and how you use the phone, so treat it as a comfort setting first.
Do I have to turn dark mode on again after an update?
Normally no, because the setting stays in place. If the app looks different after an update, check both Display and sound in the app and the appearance setting on the iPhone, since an update can change which one the app uses.
Next Steps
Once the app looks the way you want, you can adjust two more things from the same part of the settings. You can change the text size in the Twitter iPhone app, and you can turn off video autoplay in the X iPhone app so videos do not start on their own as you scroll. If a single account is cluttering your timeline, you can also mute that account in the X iPhone app without unfollowing it.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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