teen looking at computer screen in room at night with headphones on
Dark mode reduces the amount of bright white light on your screen.
ImagePatch/Getty Images
  • You can turn on the dark theme – YouTube's version of dark mode – on desktop or mobile.
  • On mobile, you'll go through the app settings to access the dark theme.
  • The process varies slightly depending on if you have an Android or an iPhone.
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When you spend a lot of time looking at screens, the blare of a white background can be an annoyance. So turning on dark mode can help, and it may even save battery. On YouTube, you can enable dark mode on the desktop site and the mobile app for iPhone and Android.

Here's what you need to know to get it done.

How to enable YouTube dark mode on desktop

1. Go to the YouTube website and log in to your account, if needed.

2. Click your profile icon, located in the top-right corner of the screen, and then choose Appearance: Device theme.

Screenshot of YouTube website profile icon drop-down menu
In the drop-down, click "Appearance: Device theme."
Devon Delfino

3. Select Dark theme. You can also choose Use device theme to have the app match your device's system settings.

Screenshot of theme selection pop-up on YouTube website
Click "Dark theme" or "Use device theme."
Devon Delfino

How to enable YouTube dark mode on iPhone or iPad

1. Open the YouTube app and log into your account, if needed.

2. Tap your profile icon, located in the top-right corner of the screen.

Screenshot of YouTube app homepage
Tap on your profile icon.
Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider

3. Scroll down and select Settings.

Screenshot of profile icon menu on YouTube app
Go to "Settings."
Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider

4. On the next page, choose General.

Screenshot of Settings page on YouTube app
Go to "General."
Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider

5. On the General page, tap Appearance.

Screenshot of General Settings page on YouTube app
Select "Appearance."
Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider

6. Tap on the Dark theme option, and a checkmark will appear beside it. You can also choose Use device theme to have the app match your device's system settings.

Screenshot of Appearance page on YouTube app
Select "Dark theme" or "Use device theme."
Grace Eliza Goodwin/Insider

How to enable YouTube dark mode on Android

If you have dark mode turned on via your Android system settings, then the YouTube app should automatically be dark mode. But you can also turn on dark mode for just the YouTube app from YouTube settings:

1. Open the YouTube app and log in to your account, if necessary.

2. Tap your profile icon, located in the top-right corner of the screen.

3. Scroll down and select Settings.

4. Tap General.

5. Choose Appearance.

6. Select Dark theme. You can also choose Use device theme to have the app match your device's system settings.

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