Some of these steps only work on Android 11.0 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
You can change your display to a dark background by using Dark theme or colour inversion.
- Dark theme applies to the Android system UI and supported apps. Colours don't change in media, such as videos.
- Android 16 and newer versions now feature dark theme's expanded option. This new option automatically darkens interfaces. It applies to most apps without native Dark theme support.
- Colour inversion applies to everything on your device, including media. For example, black text on a white screen becomes white text on a black screen.
- Both colour inversion and Dark theme's expanded option can impact colour quality or legibility.
Turn on Dark theme
- Open your device's Settings app
.
- Select Accessibility.
- Under 'Colour and motion', turn on Dark theme.
.Turn on Dark theme's expanded option
Important:
- When in use, some issues may occur. These include inadvertently inverted images or unreadable text on images. You can always switch back to the 'standard' option under Dark theme.
- If the expanded option is on but an app still appears light:
- The app may not support the expanded option yet. It can be on a block list from your device's manufacturer.
- The app may have opted out of supporting dark theme's expanded option.
- Open your device's Settings app.
- Select Accessibility.
- Under 'Colour and motion', select Dark theme.
- Select Expanded.
Tip: You can access this feature through the existing Quick Settings tile.
- To turn Dark theme on or off: Tap the Quick Settings Dark theme tile
.
- To switch between standard and expanded: Touch and hold the Quick Settings dark theme tile
.Turn on colour inversion
- Open your device's Settings app
- Select Accessibility.
- Under 'Colour and motion'. select Colour inversion.
- Turn on Use colour inversion.
Tip: You can create a colour inversion shortcut. Learn about accessibility shortcuts.
Get more help
For more Accessibility help, contact the Disability Support team.