How to Disable Dark Mode in Windows 10, macOS, Android, and iOS

Quick Tips

• All operating systems offer a Dark Mode toggle in their settings, allowing you to easily disable it if need be.
• You can even disable dark mode from Quick Settings or by using a voice assistant.
• On iOS, you can just say “Hey Siri, turn off dark mode”, and it’ll disappear

Disable Dark Mode in Windows 11

The system-level color scheme is customizable so that it can display darker tones on menus and backgrounds, making it easier on your eyes. Additionally, the dark theme applies to several apps, such as Microsoft Edge, Calendar, Mail, Store, Settings, Calculator, Alarms, and Clocks, to dark mode. That said, disabling Dark Mode or Dark Theme in Windows 11 is super simple.

Step 1: Press the Windows + I keys together on your keyboard to launch Settings. Here, navigate to Personalization, and then click on Colors.

Step 2: Inside the Colors settings, find the setting for ‘Choose your mode‘. Change this to Light.

And that’s it. Windows should switch to the light mode, making it easier to view, especially under direct sunlight.

Disable Dark Mode in macOS

Like Windows, Apple’s dark mode is a system-level setting in macOS that works with all the default apps. While Dark mode was introduced in macOS 10.14 Mojave, it isn’t enabled by default. Thankfully, turning it on is as easy as turning it off.

If your Mac runs macOS Mojave or later version, take the steps below to turn off the dark mode:

Step 1: Click the Apple Menu and select System Preferences.

Step 2: In the System Preferences screen, click General preference.

Step 3: Click the Light icon next to Appearance to return to Light Mode.

Alternatively, if you’re running El Capitan or OS X Yosemite, dark mode turns the background darker, and the fonts become white, and the effect is spread across the menu bar and its items, dock, and drop-down menu. You can disable it using the steps below:

Step 1: Click the Apple Menu and select System Preferences.

Step 2: In the System Preferences screen, click General.

Step 3: You’ll see a checkbox: Use dark menu bar and dock. Click to deselect it, and you’ll immediately see the light effect restored in the menu bar, menu bar items, and a transparent light gray background at the dock.

Disable Dark Mode on Android

Most Android phones come with a Dark Mode or a Dark Theme, which might have been enabled by you. Thankfully, switching to the Light Mode on Android is super easy. In fact, there are two simple ways to go about it.

Method 1: Using Settings

On your Android device, navigate to Settings > Display. Here, disable the toggle next to Dark Mode, or any other similar name depending on your Android skin.

Method 2: Using Quick Settings

Alternatively, you can swipe down from the Quick Settings tray and tap on the Night Mode (or Dark Mode) tile. This should immediately switch your Android to Light Mode.

Note: The Night Mode/Dark Mode quick settings tile might not be available on all Android skins.

Disable Dark Mode on iOS

iPhones and iPads also got the dark mode feature with the release of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13. For iPhones with OLED displays, the dark mode setting helps maximize battery life, though other models also experience some improvement. That being said, if you’re not a fan of the dark mode feature, you can disable it in three ways: from Settings, Control Center, or using Siri.

Method 1: Using Settings

On your iPhone or iPad, navigate to Settings > Display & Brightness. Here, you’ll see two options in the Appearance section: Light or Dark. Select Light to disable Dark Mode.

Method 2: Using Control Center

Step 1: Open Control Center on your iOS device. Touch and hold down the brightness control icon.

Step 2: Tap Dark Mode Off to leave Dark Mode.

That’s it. Simple, right?