Lorene Melone
How To Enable Dark Mode on the YouTube App in 2025
Dark Mode is a feature that makes watching videos more comfortable by reducing the glare and eye strain, especially in dim lighting. If you’ve been trying to find it, here’s what usually works. Sometimes it’s a bit hidden, or the app needs a quick restart to show the option.
Step 1: Access the Settings Menu
Open the YouTube app on your device. Look for the profile icon in the top right corner of the screen; some versions might have a gear icon instead. Tapping that opens up the menu and gives access to your settings. If you don’t see a gear, tap your profile picture — the option should be somewhere around there.
- Tap the profile icon or gear icon to get into settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Appearance or General Settings
In recent versions, instead of a dedicated ‘General’ menu, you might find a section called Appearance or similar. On some setups, it’s buried under Settings → Appearance. If you’re on mobile, it could be under Settings > General or Appearance.
- Tap on Appearance or look for a toggle related to theme.
Step 3: Enable Dark Theme
Find the option labeled Dark theme or Dark mode. It’s usually a toggle switch. Flip it on. On some devices or app versions, toggling it might happen inside a menu — so don’t panic if it’s not immediately obvious.
Note: Sometimes, on exact versions, this toggle doesn’t appear unless your app is updated. So, if you don’t see it, check for updates in your app store.
- Toggle the switch to on.
Once switched on, the interface should turn darker pretty quickly. If it doesn’t change immediately, try closing the app completely (swipe it out from recent apps) and reopen it. Sometimes it’s just a caching thing.
Step 4: Confirm and Enjoy
Go back to the main screen of the app or even restart your device if needed. The theme should now be in dark mode. It’s a subtle change, but makes a big difference in reducing eye fatigue.
On some devices or app versions, you might need to enable ‘Use device theme’ or sync your system theme to get it to match. For example, some Android phones let you set your device-wide theme in Settings → Display → Dark theme, and the app follows suit. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Additional Tips & Common Issues
Here’s what’s helped some folks when it’s being stubborn:
- Make sure the app’s updated: Go to your Play Store or App Store and check for an update. Sometimes the Dark Mode toggle is only added in newer versions.
- Restart the app: Just close it completely (depending on your device, double tap or swipe away) and reopen.
- Check device settings: Especially on Android or iOS, system-wide themes can override app-specific ones. If your device is set to light mode only, the app might not switch fully to dark. For Android, head over to Settings → Display → Dark theme. Same on iOS under Display & Brightness.
Why it helps
This feature is mainly for less eye fatigue during late-night binge sessions or if you just prefer a sleeker look. On OLED screens, it can even cut down on battery use, but that’s a bonus, not the main reason people go dark.
When it applies: If your eyes get tired easily or you prefer a more subdued interface, this should do the trick. Also, if the toggle isn’t appearing, chances are your app needs an update or system-wide dark mode is disabled.
What to expect: The app interface turns darker, menus, backgrounds — everything. Sometimes, icons or text look crisper, which is a bonus.
And on some setups, you might need to toggle ‘Use device theme’ in app settings or force dark mode via system settings. No biggie, just a bit of trial and error at first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enable Dark Mode on all devices?
Most likely. Android, iOS, Windows — they all support dark modes for the app, but the steps vary. The main trick is updating the app and checking the system theme settings if it doesn’t show up.
Will enabling Dark Mode help save battery life?
On OLED screens, yes — darker pixels use less power. On other displays, not so much. Still, it’s more comfortable for night owls or anyone tired of bright screens.
What if I don’t see the Dark Mode option?
First, update the app. If it’s still missing, check your device’s main display settings. Sometimes, the app only follows the system’s theme if set to do so.
Summary
- Find the right menu — usually profile icon or settings gear.
- Look for Appearance or Dark theme options.
- Toggle it on and restart if needed.
- Make sure your app and device are updated.
Fingers crossed this helps. Seems simple, but some devices and apps just don’t want to cooperate the first time around.