To get a black background in the Reddit iPhone app, tap your avatar, tap the three-line menu, choose Settings, scroll to Dark Mode, and turn the Dark Mode switch on. The app changes right away, and you can turn it off the same way.
These are the steps Reddit lists in its Official Reddit App FAQ for iOS. The rest of this guide explains each step, what to do if the setting is not where you expect, and how the Reddit setting relates to the Dark Mode setting on your iPhone.
What You Need Before You Start
- The official Reddit app. These steps are for the Reddit app from the App Store, not for third-party Reddit apps or the Reddit website in Safari.
- A current app version. Reddit moves menus from time to time. If your screens look different, update the app in the App Store first.
- Nothing else. Dark mode is a free display setting. Reddit’s instructions do not list a subscription or any other requirement.
Dark mode is a display style that uses a dark background with light text. Reddit used to call it night mode, so you may still see that name in older guides.
How to Turn On Dark Mode in the Reddit iPhone App
- Open the Reddit app.
- Tap your avatar icon. This is the small picture for your account. Reddit says this takes you to your profile page.
- Tap the hamburger menu, which is the icon with three lines near the top-right corner of the screen.
- Tap Settings. The app settings screen opens.
- Scroll down until you reach the Dark Mode section.
- Turn on the Dark Mode switch.
The background should change from white to a dark color as soon as you flip the switch. You do not need to save anything or restart the app.
A Possible Shortcut
Some versions of the app also show a small dark mode icon at the bottom of the menu that opens when you tap your avatar. Reddit mentions this icon in its help article about dark mode in mod mail. If you see it, tapping it switches dark mode on or off without opening Settings. If you do not see it, use the Settings path above, which is the one Reddit documents for the iOS app.
How to Confirm It Worked
Go back to your home feed. The feed, the comments, and the menus should all have a dark background with light text. Open a post and scroll through the comments to check that everything is easy to read.
If part of the app is still white, close the Reddit app completely and open it again, then check the Dark Mode switch one more time.
How to Go Back to the White Background
Follow the same path: avatar, three-line menu, Settings, Dark Mode. Turn the Dark Mode switch off. The app returns to its light appearance right away. Nothing else in your account changes, so you can switch back and forth as often as you like.
Reddit Dark Mode vs. iPhone Dark Mode
Your iPhone has its own Dark Mode, and it is a separate control from the one inside Reddit. Reddit’s accessibility page says you can choose light, dark, or follow your device’s system setting. That means the result depends on which option is active in the Reddit app.
| Setting | Where it is | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Reddit Dark Mode | Reddit app > avatar > three-line menu > Settings > Dark Mode | Only the Reddit app |
| iPhone Dark Mode | Settings app > Appearance (Display & Brightness in iOS 26 and earlier) | The iPhone system and apps that follow the system setting |
If you want your whole iPhone to be dark, Apple explains the system setting in Use Dark Mode on your iPhone and iPad. You can also read our guide on how to turn on Dark Mode on an iPhone.
The Dark Mode section in Reddit may include extra options, such as a choice to follow the iPhone setting automatically or a choice between dark themes. Reddit’s iOS help article only describes the main Dark Mode switch, so treat any other options as version-dependent. If an automatic option is turned on, Reddit can change between light and dark when your iPhone does. Turn that option off if you want Reddit to stay dark all the time.
Troubleshooting
You cannot find Settings
Make sure you tapped the three-line menu on your profile page, not the three-line menu on the home feed. Reddit’s help page describes a separate menu near the top-left corner of the home feed that holds other items. If the layout still does not match, update the Reddit app and look again.
Reddit switches back to light on its own
This usually points to an automatic option. Check the Dark Mode section in Reddit for a setting that follows your iPhone. Then check your iPhone. Apple says an Automatic appearance can switch on a schedule, so the phone may be changing to light in the morning and taking Reddit with it.
The switch is missing or will not move
If the main switch seems unavailable, look for an automatic option in the same section and turn it off first. Then try the Dark Mode switch again. If that does not help, update the app, then close and reopen it.
Reddit is dark in the app but white in Safari
The app setting does not control the Reddit website. Reddit’s website has its own Display Mode choice with Light, Dark, and Auto options. Reddit says Auto matches your system setting.
A community looks different from the rest of the app
Moderators can set colors for their community, including separate colors for dark mode. Some color differences between communities are normal and are not a sign that your setting failed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Reddit iPhone app have a dark mode?
Yes. Reddit’s help page for the iOS app confirms it. You turn it on from your avatar, the three-line menu, Settings, and then the Dark Mode switch.
Is the background pure black or dark gray?
It depends on the theme the app is using. Some versions of the app have offered more than one dark theme, with one darker than the other. Reddit’s current iOS help page does not list theme names, so check the Dark Mode section in your app to see which choices you have.
Will dark mode in the app change Reddit on my computer?
Do not count on it. Reddit documents the app setting and the website’s Display Mode setting separately. Set each one where you use Reddit.
Can I make the text bigger in dark mode?
Yes, but not inside Reddit. Reddit says its iOS app uses the font size from your iPhone settings. On the iPhone, open Settings, tap Accessibility, then Per-App Settings, add Reddit, and choose Larger Text. Reddit notes that this path may vary by model.
Does dark mode save battery?
Reddit does not make a battery claim for dark mode. Its help page describes the feature as easier on the eyes, especially in low light. Any battery effect depends on your iPhone’s screen and brightness.
Is dark mode the same as Night Shift?
No. Dark mode changes the colors of the app. Night Shift is an iPhone feature that makes the whole display warmer. You can use both together. See our guide to using Night Shift on an iPhone.
Next Step
While you are in the Reddit settings, you may want to adjust a few other things. You can turn off autoplay in the Reddit iPhone app so videos do not start on their own, or clear your local history in the Reddit iPhone app. You can also change the web browser the Reddit iPhone app uses for links. For another social app, see how to enable night mode in the X (Twitter) iPhone app.
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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