Dark mode is priceless when using your device at night or dimly-lit environment. Most apps and websites support dark mode, and YouTube has recently joined the club. Youtube’s dark mode lets you enjoy your videos without the annoying bright screen glare in the background. This way, you can watch videos for hours without straining your eyes. If you’d like to enable this feature but don’t know what to do, don’t fret. Our step-by-step guide will show you how to make YouTube dark mode.
#1. YouTube Dark Mode on Your Computer
Now that you know why YouTube dark mode is essential, it is time to learn how to go about it. Fortunately, this feature is available when using YouTube on your iOS device, Android device, or computer.
If accessing YouTube on your computer, you can turn it to dark mode either by adjusting YouTube settings, installing a dark mode extension, or changing your system’s default theme. Here is how to go about each of these modes.
Method 1: Adjusting YouTube’s Settings
Step 1: Log into YouTube.com
Open your browser and search www.youtube.com. If you are already logged on to that device, it opens directly to your YouTube home page. Otherwise, enter your Google account details to continue to YouTube.
Step 2: Open device themes
Click your profile icon at the top right corner of the YouTube home page. On the drop-down menu, select Appearance: Device theme.
Step 3: Set Dark Theme
Under Appearance: Device theme, you get a menu with three options. Select the middle option, which is the dark theme.
After selecting a dark theme, the YouTube page will reload and open with a dark background. However, YouTube follows the device theme by default. Therefore, this dark theme will apply only to this computer but is not saved to your Google account. You must update the setting when you use YouTube on another computer.
To see this method in action check out the video below which walks you through the process.
Method 2: Installing a Dark Mode Extension to Your Browser
You can install a dark mode extension on your browser that will make all your browser pages, including YouTube, in dark mode. Here are the steps for adding a dark mode extension like Dark Reader to your Chrome browser.
Step 1: Open Chrome’s settings
Open the Chrome browser and click on the three lines at the top right corner. On the menu, scroll down and select settings.
Step 2: Open the Chrome web store
Open the main menu.
Under settings, click extensions, the second last option on the left sidebar menu. The extensions open on a new tab. Click the three lines on the top left to open the main menu and select open Chrome web store.
Step 3: Search for the Dark Reader extension
On the Chrome Web Store, search for the dark reader extension in the search bar at the top left. Enter the name and hit enter to search, then select your choice among the results.
Step 4: Install the extension
After selecting your preferred option, click Add to Chrome on the new page to download and install the extension to Chrome.
Step 5: The extension is added to Chrome
The extension is automatically added to Chrome; with it, all your Chrome pages, including YouTube, open in dark mode. You can click the extension to make adjustments or specify sites you don’t want to open in dark mode.
Method 3: Changing Your Device Theme
By default, YouTube follows the system’s theme settings. Therefore, if your system is set to dark mode, YouTube will open in dark mode. Here is how to change your computer’s theme to dark mode on a Windows computer.
Step 1: Open the settings app
Click the search icon at the bottom left of your screen and type settings, then hit enter to open the settings application.
Step 2: Open color settings
Under settings, go to personalization, then select a color from the left sidebar menu.
Step 3: Set dark mode
Check the box to the left of Dark under ‘choose your default Windows mode’ and the one next to dark under “choose your default app mode.’ With this setting, most of your applications, especially those from the Windows store, will turn to dark mode. You can open the YouTube website to see if it obeys the system settings.
#2. YouTube Dark Mode on Android
If you are using the YouTube app on your Android device, you can turn it to dark mode by adjusting your device settings. However, if you need only YouTube in dark mode, you can adjust the setting in the app. Here is how to go about the two methods.
Method 1: Adjust the Phone’s Settings
Step 1: Open the display settings on your phone
Open the list of apps and click settings to access the phone’s settings. In the settings app, scroll down to display.
Step 2: Turn on dark mode
Under the display settings, scroll down until you see the dark theme option. This part may vary based on the type of your phone. Some will have it as a Dark theme, others in dark or even night mode. Whatever the setting is, turn it on to activate dark mode on your phone.
Method 2: Change YouTube Settings
Instead of changing the phone’s theme settings to dark mode, you can adjust YouTube settings through the app. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the app and select settings
Open the YouTube app and click on your profile icon at the top right corner. On the list of options that open, select settings.
Step 2: Open appearance settings
Under settings, select general, the second option on the list, then select Appearance.
Step 3: Set to dark theme
Under appearance, check the box next to the dark theme, and the app will immediately adjust to the dark theme.
How to Make YouTube Dark Mode on iPhone or iPad
In these steps, you can adjust the YouTube app settings on your iPhone or iPad to make YouTube dark.
Step 1: Open YouTube and turn on the settings
Open the YouTube app and click on your profile icon to open a menu. On the menu, click settings.
Step 2: Select Appearance
Under settings, select general, then select appearance on the next menu.
Step 3: Set the dark mode
Select the circle to the left of the dark theme to enable this theme on YouTube. Your app will instantly change its interface to dark mode.
Why Should You Use YouTube Dark Mode?
The dark mode seems cool and sleek, which is why many prefer it to the default light mode. Nevertheless, there are other reasons why switching to dark mode is a great idea. These are:
Boosts Sleep
Health experts advise avoiding screen time for about two hours before bedtime. Keeping up with this recommendation is easier said than done. By switching to dark mode, you reduce the effects caused by screen time before bedtime. Dark mode has less circadian rhythm interruption compared to light mode, making you sleep better when using your phone in this mode than in light mode.
Reduces Eye Strain in the Dark
Your eyes struggle to balance light when looking at a bright screen in the dark, thus causing eye strain. YouTube dark mode makes the video background and playlists dark, making it easier for your eyes to reduce eye strain.
Increases Battery Life
Ideally, your phone requires more battery power to display light than dark mode. Therefore, using YouTube dark mode on your phone is likely to use less battery power than you would when using YouTube light mode.
Reduce Photophobia
Photophobia is feeling uncomfortable in your eyes when you are in bright light. The condition is usually treated or controlled by avoiding bright light. Now that it could be impossible to quit YouTube, switching to dark mode will significantly reduce the light hitting your eyes, thus avoiding photophobia.
Conclusion
Dimming your YouTube platform enables you to enjoy the content in a more friendly way to your eyes. Additionally, using apps in dark mode prolongs your battery life and reduces the adverse health effects of long-term screen usage. Use the steps above to help you make YouTube darker on your device.
Up next
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The image featured at the top of this post is ©photobyphotoboy/Shutterstock.com.
