Dark mode was added to macOS Mojave (10.14) in 2018 and quickly became a favorite feature among Mac users. Dark mode changes the look of Mac screens and apps in a big way, making it easier to focus on work even when there isn’t much light. It also works with a lot of the most popular third-party Mac apps.
What is Mac Dark Mode?
Dark mode uses dark colors that are easier on the eyes so that you can work in places with less light. When you turn on dark mode on your Mac, you’ll notice that all the menu bars and controls are a little darker. This makes it easier to stay focused on your work.
Positive polarity is what most computer users are used to. This means that the background is light and the text is dark. This is the view that most computers start out with. Dark mode is also called “negative polarity,” and it just means that if you have a dark background, your text will be light (opposite contrast).
Why Enable Dark Mode on Your MAC?
Dark mode has quickly become cool. It looks cool, and Mac users are quickly switching to dark mode as soon as the sun goes down. But when should you use dark mode and when should you keep your screen settings the same?
If you use dark mode at night or when there isn’t much light, the screen will be less bright and it will be easier to stay focused. One good example is reading in bed at night when you don’t want the white light from the screen to fill the room. In this case, it’s great to turn on dark mode so that the background is dark and the text is white, which is easier on your eyes.
Studies have shown that it’s easier for the eye to read text that is black on a white background, so it’s best to keep your screen in its normal (positive polarity) mode during the day.
We’ll show you how to set up dark mode in Ventura, and then we’ll show you how to do the same thing in older operating systems.
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How to Make Mac Dark Mode (Ventura)
If your Mac is running Ventura, then follow these steps to set up dark mode:
- Click on the ‘Apple’ menu, then ‘System Settings’
- Click on ‘Appearance’ on the left, then select from one of the appearance options to the right:
- Light: Use the light appearance (positive polarity – best for daytime use or in light and bright environments)
- Dark: Use the dark appearance (negative polarity – best for use in low-light environments)
- Auto: Automatically switches between the light appearance during the day, and the dark appearance at night (a handy option so you don’t forget)
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How to Make MAC Dark Mode (Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey)
Follow the steps below to set up dark mode on macOS Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, or Monterey. If your Mac’s operating system is older than Mojave, you’ll need to upgrade to be able to use dark mode across the whole system.
Here’s how to switch a Mac to dark mode:
Here’s how to enable dark mode on a Mac:
- Click on the ‘Apple’ menu, then ‘System Preferences’
- Click on the first icon ‘General,’ then select from one of the appearance options at the top of the window:
- Light: Use the light appearance (positive polarity – best for daytime use or in light and bright environments)
- Dark: Use the dark appearance (negative polarity – best for use in low-light environments)
- Auto: Automatically switches between the light appearance during the day, and the dark appearance at night (a handy option so you don’t forget)
If you choose the Auto mode, the mode will switch between the light and dark settings on its own. Depending on where you are, sunrise and sunset times tell this switch what to do. It’s a great feature, but if you’d rather, you can also set the times yourself.
Let’s look at how to do this in the Ventura operating system and then in older ones.
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Set Dark Mode to Your Preferred Schedule
If you choose the Auto mode, the mode will switch between the light and dark settings on its own. Depending on where you are, sunrise and sunset times tell this switch what to do. It’s a great feature, but if you’d rather, you can also set the times yourself.
Let’s look at how to do this in the Ventura operating system and then in older ones.
How to Change Dark Mode Schedule (Ventura)
Here’s how to manually set up dark mode switching times (Ventura):
- Click on the ‘Apple’ menu, then ‘System Settings
- Find ‘Displays’ on the left, then choose ‘Night Shift’
- Make sure the ‘Schedule’ menu is set to ‘Custom’, then choose your times and click on ‘Done’
How to Change the Dark Mode Schedule (Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey)
Here’s how to manually set up dark mode switching times (Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey):
- Go to the System Preferences panel by clicking the ‘Apple’ logo, then click ‘System Preferences’ and back to the first icon ‘General’
- Next to Appearance, select ‘Auto,’ then click the ‘back’ arrow to return to System Preferences
- Click on the ‘Displays’ icon and select the ‘Night Shift’ tab
- From the ‘Schedule’ dropdown menu, select ‘Custom’
- Now you can manually enter the dark mode activation times you want
All done! Now that you know how to set your Mac to dark mode and make the switch happen automatically, you’ll be able to look at your screen for longer without straining your eyes. We spend a lot of time on our Macs, so this is a very important feature. Thanks, Apple!
If you want to learn more about how to make your Mac better, we have an app we think you’ll love. It’s called CCleaner for Mac, and here are some of the things it can do:
- Analyzes photos – it scans your hard drive to find photos you probably want to discard but never have the time to go through (e.g. blurry, badly-lit, identical-looking photos)
- Spots duplicates – it finds duplicate files you can get rid of to clear space
- Finds junk – it searches for temporary files and cache that you can do away with
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FAQs
How Do I Turn Dark Mode on Mac?
Ventura’s Dark Mode can be turned on by going to “System Settings,” “Appearance,” and then “Dark.” To turn it on in Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, or Monterey, go to “System Preferences,” then “General,” and choose “Dark.”
How Do I Turn Off Dark Mode on Mac?
To turn off Dark Mode in Ventura, go to “System Settings,” then “Appearance,” and choose “Light.” To turn it off in Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, or Monterey, go to “System Preferences,” then “General,” and choose “Light.”
Can I Put Safari in Dark Mode on Mac?
Yes, Safari on Macs can be set to “Dark Mode.” If you turn on Dark Mode on your Mac, Safari and many other popular apps will also show Dark Mode by default. If you set up a schedule under Night Shift, it will also follow that.