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How to turn on Safari dark mode on a Mac

How to turn on safari dark mode on an iphone or ipad, how to turn on safari's dark mode on any apple device to save battery life and reduce eye strain.

• You can enable dark mode for Safari on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, which can help ease eye strain and extend your device's battery life.
• Turn on dark mode for your Mac in System Preferences in the General section.
• For an iPhone or iPad, enable dark mode in the Settings app by going to the Display & Brightness section. 

In recent years, developers have been making it easier to enable dark mode for all your most common apps. That's good, because many people prefer dark mode because the palette is often easier on the eyes — especially at night — and it can even help extend your device's battery life by not illuminating the screen as brightly. Here's how you can turn on dark mode for the Safari browser on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. 

Safari automatically uses dark mode if you enable it in your Mac's System Preferences.

1. Click the Apple menu and then choose System Preferences…

2. Click General .

3. In the Appearance section, click Dark or Auto . 

If you choose Dark , Safari and all other compatible apps will switch to a dark color palette right away and stay that way until you change this setting. Auto , on the other hand, sets the palette to dark at night and switches it to light during the day. 

Just like on the Mac, Safari on your iOS device uses dark mode if you enable the feature in your iPhone or iPad's settings. 

1. Start the Settings app.

2. Tap Display & Brightness .

3. In the Appearance section, tap Dark . 

If you want Safari (and the rest of your device) to use dark mode automatically at night but switch to a light palette during the day, turn on Automatic by swiping the button to the right.

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How To Enable Dark Mode on Safari

Evan Gower With over a decade of experience in digital publishing. Evan leads our team with a keen eye for emerging tech trends. Read more September 15, 2022

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If you spend a lot of time on your iPhone or Mac computer reading articles on the web, chances are that your eyes will hurt after sitting in front of the screen for several hours. Bright light and small font lead to eye strain, headaches, and decreased focus.

Windows users have had the Dark Mode for a long time, and now it’s finally available for Safari users on iOS devices. You can get an extension for your Safari browser and read articles all night. Read on and learn how to activate Dark Mode on your iOS device.

Safari’s Native Dark Mode Function

Safari (even older versions) already has a built-in dark mode feature. This function won’t work for every website because it’s meant to help ease the strain on your eyes while reading.

Users who are running a newer version of macOS can follow these steps:

If you don’t have the option to use Dark Mode, you can use ‘Reader View’ within Safari. Here’s how you can use the Reader View to darken your screen:

If you don’t see the Reader tab, you can find it by clicking View and selecting Show Reader .

Of course, this won’t work for every web page. It will work for any blogs or articles you’re trying to read, so we have a few more options listed below.

Night Eye for Safari

This extension is another download available in the App Store for Safari’s lack of dark mode options.

Although this app is free to download, it will cost you $39.99 per year to use it. The free option, ‘NightEye Lite,’ will limit you to five websites. This is perfect for someone looking to activate only a handful of pages. The extension offers full image support and the ability to use the features on multiple platforms.

Download Night Eye for Safari

Visit your Mac’s App Store and download the extension.

Activate the Extension

Tap on the Night Eye extension and choose the dark mode option. If there’s a website, you’d like to view without dark mode, simply tap the extension again and choose “Normal.”

With great reviews and the 24/7 support team, this is definitely an add-on worth looking into.

Nightlight for Safari

Another great option available for Safari is the Nightlight browser extension . The extension is free and available for those using macOS 10.13 or later. This is an Excellent, lightweight addition to your browser.

With the optional timer settings, you can enjoy dark mode on Safari without ever having to toggle it on and off. The nightlight will automatically shift the color patterns when at night, then back again during the day.

Using Dark Mode in Safari on iPad and iPhone

On the iPad and iPhone, Safari comes with a built-in reader mode designed to ease the pressure on your eyes during night reading. Here is how to activate it.

Repeat the process for every website you want to read in dark mode.

Dark Mode on macOS Mojave & Catalina

Most Mac users had to wait for the macOS Mojave update to be able to activate the dark mode on their computers. Previous versions had to use shortcuts, and you had to make exceptions for every site you wanted to view in dark mode. So, if you have Mojave installed on your Mac, follow these steps to set the dark mode up.

• Select “Dark” in the “Appearance” options, and all websites on your Safari will switch to a black background.

Dark Mode and Other Apps

You can use the Dark Mode for other apps, not just your Safari browser. If dark mode is enabled, some apps will automatically have it activated. Here is a short how-to on toggling it on and off for the most popular apps on iOS.

Maps – If you want to use a dark background for maps with the Dark Mode activated, open the app and select “View,” and then select “Use Dark Map.”

Mail – If you want to use light mode when reading your emails, open your Mail and select “Mail,” then “Preferences.” Click on the “Viewing” tab and uncheck “Use dark backgrounds for messages.”

Notes – Your Notes will open with a black background if the Dark Mode is activated. You can disable it by selecting “Preferences” and then deselecting “Use dark backgrounds for note content.”

TextEdit – You can switch to the Dark Mode when working in TextEdit by selecting “View,” then “Use Dark Background for Windows.”

Safari – With the Dark Mode turned on; all websites will show as dark when you load them. If some website doesn’t support Dark Mode, you can use Safari Reader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to more of your questions about Apple Dark Mode.

Can I use Dark Mode with Chrome on a Mac?

Yes, but unfortunately, it isn’t an option provided natively. This means you’ll need to use a Chrome browser extension like the ones we’ve mentioned above. If you follow the steps above to activate Dark Mode on your Mac, it will have no effect on third-party apps and browsers such as Firefox or Chrome.

Can I enable Dark Mode with Mozilla Firefox on my Mac?

Fortunately, yes! Firefox makes many things simpler than other web browsers, and Dark Mode is one of them. Enabling Dark Mode on Firefox is the same on a Mac or a PC. All you need to do is click on the three horizontal lines in the upper right-hand corner of the browser. Then, click ‘Add Ons.’ From here, you’ll see a Themes option on the left; click it, then click on one of the options in the list that gives you Dark Mode.

There are several different color variations, so choose one that you like. Now, the Firefox system will show in Dark Mode, but not all of your websites will, so you may need to enable Night Eye for Mozilla or another add-on.

Ease the Strain on Your Eyes

Reading texts all night long can cause migraines, sore eyes, and unpleasant muscle strain; switching to Dark Mode is a great option. Your eyes will be grateful, and you will be able to focus for longer periods. Who doesn’t want to increase productivity while keeping themselves healthy?

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How to Force Websites to Enable Dark Mode in Safari on iPhone in iOS 17

It’s been a while since Apple introduced Dark Mode, however, there are still many apps that do not support dark themes yet. The same goes for a number of Safari websites like Wikipedia that are yet to implement it.

If you prefer to have the dark mode enabled while browsing the web at night, you would like to force websites to enable dark mode in Safari on your iPhone and iPad for a more convenient browsing experience.

Thankfully, there is a neat hack to get it done. And that’s precisely what I’m going to talk about in this short piece.

How Do You Activate the Dark Mode for Unsupported Safari Websites on iPhone? 

Before moving ahead, let’s sort out the confusion about how this hack works! Now, you must be wondering how to turn on the dark mode for websites that do not support it. Well, there is no built-in feature to do so. Hence, we will use a third-party Safari extension to activate dark theme for unsupported Safari websites. 

Don’t worry, the App Store has some really good extensions that are designed for this specific purpose. Having tried several extensions, I have found Nightfall up to the mark in most aspects. Even better, it’s also available for free.

That means you won’t have to shell out any bucks to get the most out of this app. On top of all, Nightfall supports not only iPhone and iPad but also Mac. 

Download Nightfall on Your iPhone and Enable It 

• To get going, download the Nightfall app on your device (direct link).
• After you have installed the app, open the Settings app -> scroll down and choose Safari .
• Under the General section, tap on Extensions .

• Find Nightfall and turn it on. 

Activate Dark Mode for Unsupported Websites 

Once you have successfully turned on the Nightfall on your device, you will need to activate it for the specific websites. 

• Launch Safari on your iPhone or iPad and then head over to the website where you wish to enable the dark mode. 
• Now, tap on the aA text button at the bottom of the screen -> select Nightfall . 
• Next, turn on the toggle for it and allow it to see and alter the webpage content and your browsing history.  

Important note:

• It’s worth bearing in mind that Nightfall can read and alter sensitive information on web pages, including your browsing history, credit cards, phone numbers, and passwords.
• Besides, it can also view the current tab’s webpage when you use the extension.
• While this extension is reliable, we would recommend you not use it on sensitive web pages. Keep it specifically for certain websites like Wikipedia for reading or browsing the web.
• Next up, customize Nightfall to your liking. For instance, you can choose to darken maps, dim images, adjust image brightness, invert PNG images, and even select a desired dark modes theme like dark gray, Molokai, and midnight.

In the end, make sure to hit Done at the top right to confirm the action. 

Voila! The change will come into play with immediate effect and the dark mode will be implemented across the website. 

There you go! So, that’s how you can use dark mode for all Safari websites on your iPhone. Now that you are familiar with this neat tip, make the most of it to enhance your reading experience at night. 

Do you have any doubts? If yes, send ‘em in the comments section below.

Ratnesh Kumar

Ratnesh Kumar is an experienced tech writer with over six years of experience. All this years he has written at TechYorker, BrowserToUse, Fossbytes, MakeTechEasier, SysProbs and several other publications. When not writing, he likes to listen Punjabi music or watch Cricket match.

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How to Enable Dark Mode in Safari on Mac, iPhone and iPad

Before introducing the Dark Mode feature in the macOS 10.14 Mojave release, the Safari browser on Apple devices already had similar functionality to this in its native settings: Reader View Mode.

Among other functions – such as changing the font size and font of the open website – the browser’s Reader Preview Mode also allows changing the background color of certain websites to a dark tone by selecting between gray- dark, and black.

With the recent introduction of the official Dark Mode in late 2018, some websites automatically switch to a dark tone if the feature is enabled on your iPhone, Mac , or iPad. However, for sites that don’t support the feature, a good native alternative – without downloading third-party extensions – is to use the browser’s Reader Preview Mode.

In the tutorial below, see how to enable Safari Reader Dark Mode:

Enable Dark Mode On iPhone/iPad

1. Open Safari on your device, and click the “aA” icon at the top left of the screen.

2. In the open options window, click “Show Reader Preview.”

3.  Reader View Mode will be activated in the browser. Now click once more on the same “aA” icon.

4. a new window will open with other options. Select one of the dark background colors between dark gray and black.

5.  When selected, the browser background color will be the selected dark color.

6. and that’s it; you’ve turned on Safari’s Reader Dark Mode.

Enable Dark Mode on Mac

1. Open Safari on your Mac, and click a document icon to the left of the browser’s URL field.

2.  Reader View Mode will be activated in the browser. Now click on the same “aA” icon on the right side of the browser’s URL field.

3. I n the open options window, select one of the dark background colors, between dark gray and black.

4. When selected, the browser background color will be the selected dark color.

5. and that’s it. You’ve turned on Safari’s Reader Dark Mode.

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• Set up and turn on Switch Control
• Select items, perform actions, and more
• Control several devices with one switch
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• Adjust audio settings
• Play background sounds
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• Set a passcode
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• Sign in with Apple
• Share passwords
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Customize your Safari settings on iPad

Customize your start page

Every time you open a new tab, you begin on your start page. You can customize your start page with new background images and options.

Scroll to the bottom of the page, then tap Edit.

Choose options for your start page.

Favorites: Display shortcuts to your favorite bookmarked websites. See Add a website to Favorites .

Frequently Visited: Go straight to the websites you visit most.

Shared with You: See links shared with you in Messages. See Find links shared with you .

Privacy Report: Stay updated on how many trackers and websites Safari blocked from tracking you. See View the Privacy Report .

Siri Suggestions: As you search, allow websites shared in Calendar and other apps to appear.

Reading List: Show webpages currently in your Reading List. See Add the current webpage to your Reading List .

Recently Closed Tabs: Go back to tabs you previously closed.

iCloud Tabs: Show open tabs from other Apple devices where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID and Safari is turned on in iCloud settings or preferences. See Organize your tabs with Tab Groups .

Note: Your custom start page settings are updated on all your Apple devices where you have Use Start Page on All Devices turned on, and you’re signed in with the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication .

Change the text size for a website on Safari

Tap the large A to increase the font size or the small A to decrease it.

Change the display controls for a website on Safari

You can hide the search field, switch to Reader, and more.

Hide the search field: Tap Hide Toolbar (tap the top of the screen to get it back).

See a streamlined view of the webpage: Tap Show Reader (if available).

To return to the normal view, tap Hide Reader.

See what the webpage looks like on a desktop computer: Tap Request Desktop Website (if available).

You can also adjust Safari settings in Accessibility settings. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Per-App Settings. Tap Add App, choose Safari, then tap Safari to adjust the settings.

Choose where to save downloads

When you download a file in Safari, you can choose whether to save it to iCloud or on your iPad.

iCloud Drive: Select this option to save downloads to the Downloads folder in iCloud Drive. This allows you to access the downloaded file on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID .

On My iPad: Select this option to save downloads to the Downloads folder on your iPad.

Share website passwords with a group

You can create a group of trusted contacts and share a set of passwords. Passwords stay up to date for everyone in the group, and you can remove someone at any time.

See Create shared password groups .

Adjust privacy settings for Safari

You can choose what privacy settings you want across Safari, and create individual exceptions for websites. See Browse privately .

You can navigate in Safari using keyboard shortcuts if you have an Apple external keyboard connected to your iPad.

To view available keyboard shortcuts, connect your keyboard, then press and hold the Command key.

• How to Enable Safari Dark Mode for iPhone on iOS 15

Enabling Safari dark mode for iPhone and iPads on iOS 15 isn’t just for the aesthetics. The dark mode is also pretty easy on the eyes. And when it comes to iOS devices with the recent OLED screens, one of the best ways to help save battery life is going full time on a dark mode while browsing apps and websites.

Unfortunately, the built-in browser inside iOS - Safari - lacks a dedicated dark mode functionality. This is a stumbling block for all of us who prefer browsing our favorite websites and apps with a dark mode turned on, especially late at night.

Thankfully, with the new iOS 15 update, which allows Safari Extensions, you can now get dark mode on Safari iPhone and iPad with the help of one extension - Night Eye. Let’s see how you can turn on dark mode on Safari iPhone and iPad.

Safari Extensions on iOS 15

The new ios 15 update is one that we have anticipated for three years already, and we could not be more excited about it..

If you are wondering why this fuss is all about, well, the next major iOS update will bring web extensions to the mobile version of Safari for iPhone and iPad. In other words, you will be able to enable dark mode on any website while browsing the internet, just like you do on your desktop.

This final step will allow iPhone and iPad users to enable a consistent dark mode experience on their devices.

Put Dark Mode on Safari iPhone and iPad and Go Easy on Your Eyes

Enable dark mode on safari ios 15 with night eye, our team effort make possible to enjoy dark mode on your iphones and ipads on ios 15..

To enable dark mode on Safari for iPhone and iPad, you need to install Night Eye from the App Store and enable it in Safari's options. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to turn on dark mode on Safari:

• Open Settings
• Scroll down to Safari and tap on the icon
• Under the General heading, tap Extensions
• Tap on Night Eye
• Check the box for Night Eye to allow it
• Set permission "All Websites" to Allow
• That's it! You are now ready to use Safari dark mode for iPhone on iOS 15

How-To Geek

How to enable dark mode on your iphone and ipad.

Dark mode in iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 is almost here! It's a system wide feature that works with supported apps and websites. Here's how to enable it on your iPhone and iPad.

Quick Links

How to enable dark mode on iphone and ipad, add a dark mode toggle to the control center, set dark mode on a schedule, dark mode works with compatible apps and websites, alternative to dark mode: smart invert.

Dark mode is everywhere from Mac, Windows, Android , and now on the iPhone and iPad. iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 finally brings the much-coveted feature to Apple's devices. It looks great, and it automatically works with supported apps and websites.

When you enable dark mode, the entire UI on your iPhone or iPad flips. You now see a black background and white text. Apple has gone with a true black theme which means that the background at most places is pure black instead of a dark gray.

This looks great on iPhones with an OLED display (iPhone X, XS, XS Max, 11, and 11 Max) as the pixels just don't light up . To maintain readability, Apple has gone for a gray background for some background elements. We've talked about the intricacies of the dark mode interface in detail before.

So let's get to the nitty-gritty. To enable the dark mode on your iPhone or iPad, first, open the Control Center .

If you have an iPhone X-style device with a notch, swipe down from the top-right edge of the screen. The same goes for iPad users. If you're using an iPhone with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center.

Here, tap and hold on the "Brightness" slider.

Now, tap on the "Dark mode" button to turn it on. If you want to disable the feature, you can tap on the icon again.

Alternatively, you can turn dark mode on or off through the Settings menu. You can do this by going to Settings > Display and tap on "Dark."

If you're like me, you'll want a dedicated switch for dark mode. It's available as an additional toggle in Control Center.

To enable it, go to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls.

From this screen, tap on the "+" button next "Dark mode."

This will enable the dedicated dark mode toggle at the end of the Control Center. Tap on the button to toggle dark mode on and off. There's no more need to go to the brightness menu!

Related: How iOS 13's Dark Mode Works on Your iPhone and iPad

You can also automate the dark mode feature by setting up a schedule. Open the "Settings" app and go to "Display and Brightness."

From the "Appearance" section, tap on the toggle next to "Automatic."

Then tap on the "Options" button to switch between the "Sunset to Sunrise" option and a "Custom Schedule" option.

If you choose the "Custom Schedule" option, you'll be able to specify the precise time dark mode should kick in.

Just like macOS Mojave , the dark mode on iPhone and iPad works with supported apps and websites.

Once an app updates for iOS 13 and supports this feature, it will automatically switch the app's theme to dark theme when you turn on the system dark mode from Control Center.

Here, for example, is the LookUp Dictionary app. In the left screenshot, the app is in the default light mode. And on the right, you can see what the app looks like in dark mode.

All I did between these two screenshots was to go to the Control Center and turn on dark mode. Once apps start supporting this feature, you won't need to find the dark mode feature in individual apps.

The same goes for Safari. If a website supports the dark mode feature in CSS, it will automatically switch between the light and the dark themes based on the system settings.

In the screenshot below, you can see the feature in action for the Twitter website in Safari.

Currently, there's no way to blacklist apps from this automatic theme switching feature.

But for websites, you can disable the feature altogether by going to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Experimental Features and turning off the "Dark mode CSS support" option.

The automatic dark mode will only work for apps that support the feature in iOS 13, iPadOS 13, and above. What if you want to enable dark mode in an app that doesn't support it? Use the Smart invert feature as a workaround.

Smart invert is an accessibility feature that automatically inverts the UI colors without touching the images and other media. With this workaround, you can get a decent white-text-on-black-background interface.

To enable it, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display and Text Size and then toggle on "Smart Invert."

You can see the difference between a website in light mode and with Smart invert turned on in the screenshots below. Although most of the website inverts correctly, some areas---such as the menu bar in the below example---don't look like they should.

Granted, the Smart invert feature doesn't work for everything, but it's a good alternative. If a developer doesn't add dark mode to their app(s), this (somewhat) works.

Related: How to Invert the Colors of Your iPhone’s Screen

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How to Enable Safari Dark Mode

Avoid eye strain with these settings

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What to Know

• Turning on dark mode in system preferences will enable the mode for compatible websites.
• If a website has a  Reader  button on the left side of the search field, click it to go dark.
• Use a Safari extension to enable dark mode on all websites. We recommend Night Eye and Dark Reader

This article covers three options to enable and disable Safari's Dark Mode on your Mac: via system preferences, by using Safari Reader View and using a browser extension.

How to Turn on Safari's Dark Mode via MacOS

At night, black text on white backgrounds is particularly tough on your eyes. It's very simple to switch on Dark Mode for your Mac. It doesn't just turn on Dark Mode for Safari, it does so for all your apps but that's perfect for protecting your eyes late at night or in dim lighting conditions.

Dark Mode is only available in macOS Mojave or later.

Click the Apple icon on the top left of your screen.

Click System Preferences.

Click General .

Click Dark .

If you want the dark appearance to only appear at night, you can click Auto for it to automatically adjust as the day progresses.

All websites that have been designed to support Dark Mode will now show in a darker form than before.

How to Switch off Safari Dark Mode

Switched on Dark Mode and realized you don't like it? It's simple to switch it back off.

As above, click the Apple icon on the top left of your screen and then choose System Preferences > General .

Click Light .

MacOS and Safari will now return to the light background permanently until you choose to switch it over again. 

How to Use Safari Reader View to Turn on Dark Mode

Depending on the website you're viewing, the only thing that may go dark with MacOS's Dark Mode is the buttons and menus around the website. To ensure the site goes fully dark to protect your eyes, you need to use Safari's Reader View.

Safari Reader View only works on certain websites. Often, this is restricted to blog posts and other text-heavy websites. It's worth using when able to though. 

On the website you want to view, click the Reader button on the left side of the search field.

This only appears on websites that support Safari Reader View.

Click the letter button on the right side of the search field.

Click the black background to change the background color. 

You can also adjust font size and font choice here.

The background has now been changed to a dark one with white text. 

Click away from the article to revert back to the original look or press the Escape key on your keyboard.

How to Use a Dark Mode Extension in Safari

The above solutions work only on a limited number of websites. If you want to enable Dark Mode for every website, you need to use a Safari extension. Many of these cost money but they can be useful. We recommend using either Night Eye which is free but limited or paying a one-off fee for Dark Reader. The process is the same for both extensions.

Install either Night Eye or Dark Reade r from the Mac App Store .

Open Safari then click Safari > Preferences .

Click the Extensions tab.

Check the box next to your newly installed extension to enable Dark Mode.

Both of these extensions should convert the vast majority of websites to Dark Mode as and when you need it.

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Force websites to comply with macOS Catalina’s Safari Dark Mode

By Charlie Sorrel • 11:00 am, November 13, 2019

• Top stories

I stopped reading white text on a black background the moment I left school, and I’ve never liked it since. Especially on a screen, where the black expanse becomes a dark mirror that reflects everything in its sight. But even I prefer Dark Mode late at night, when I want to read without disturbing other people.

The trouble is, many websites don’t support Dark Mode. Everything else in Safari is rendered in tasteful black, but the page itself is still rendered in glaring white. Happily, on the Mac at least, there’s a way to fix it. Here’s how to force any website to support Safari Dark Mode on Mac.

Dark Mode for Safari is an Apple-recommended Safari extension that forces Dark Mode on sites that don’t support it. Instead of pages flashing bright white when they load, they will open in restful white-on-black.

Just like Dark Mode on the rest of your Mac, the extension’s operation can be scheduled. You can activate it manually, run it on a schedule of your choosing, or set it to activate whenever Mojave/Catalina’s native Dark Mode is active .

How to use the Dark Mode for Safari extension

Enabling the Dark Mode Safari extension couldn’t be easier. Just download the extension from the Mac App Store, and activate it in Safari’s Preferences . The preference page is found in Safari, under the Safari menu bar item. Open it, click on the Extensions tab, and click the check box for the Dark Mode extension.

You can choose between three dark themes — Dark, Soft Dark and Mono — and you also can whitelist sites so they are not automatically darkened.

Dark Mode for Safari, from developer Denk Alexandru, seems essential for anyone using Mojave or Catalina’s Dark Mode. Nothing says “half-assed implementation” like a bright webpage popping out of your tastefully dim desktop. Apple chose not to build this in, but you can add it for just $2.

Price: $1.99

Download: Dark Mode for Safari from the App Store (macOS)

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How to turn on Safari's dark mode on any Apple device to save battery life and reduce eye strain

• You can enable dark mode for Safari on a Mac , iPhone , or iPad , which can help ease eye strain and extend your device's battery life.
• Turn on dark mode for your Mac in System Preferences in the General section.
• For an iPhone or iPad, enable dark mode in the Settings app by going to the Display & Brightness section.

In recent years, developers have been making it easier to enable dark mode for all your most common apps. That's good, because many people prefer dark mode because the palette is often easier on the eyes — especially at night — and it can even help extend your device's battery life by not illuminating the screen as brightly. Here's how you can turn on dark mode for the Safari browser on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.

How to turn on Safari dark mode on a Mac

Safari automatically uses dark mode if you enable it in your Mac's System Preferences.

1. Click the Apple menu and then choose System Preferences…

2. Click General .

3. In the Appearance section, click Dark or Auto .

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Apple Working on Safari Dark Mode Toggle for Viewing Specific Websites

Apple appears to be working on an upcoming Safari feature that will introduce a Dark mode user preference for individual websites, based on references found in open-source WebKit code.

Since Apple introduced Dark mode for iPhone and iPad with iOS 13, developers have updated their app interfaces to match the system setting or allow users to override it. The new per-website preference in Safari would extend this option to browsing sites, and also let users correct for sites that don't display properly in either Light or Dark modes.

In addition to the per-website display setting, Apple is developing another option to block modal popups on specific websites viewed in Safari. Modal popups must be dismissed by tapping a Cancel or other button, and can look like system alerts. Apple also has a new API in the works to manage the process of cookie consent that many websites use.

The new WebKit features are labelled as "TBA," or to be announced, so it's unclear whether they will become available to use in Safari via future iOS 15 and macOS 12 updates or later in the year when the new operating system versions are released.

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How to Get Dark Mode Everywhere in Safari for Mac

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer specializing in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google web apps. Besides Guiding Tech, you can read his work at iPhone Hacks, Online Tech Tips, Help Desk Geek, MakeUseOf, and Switching to Mac.

Browsing the internet late at night isn’t exactly a fun experience when you’ve got websites flashing white backgrounds and gnashing their teeth at you. If Safari is your go-to browser on the Mac, then I’m sure that is a problem. It’s natural to want the Dark Mode everywhere in Safari when you are browsing.

So, you have Night Shift . But sometimes, there’s nothing like dark mode to lessen the strain on your eyes . However, enabling dark mode in Safari is easier said than done. The browser does sport the ability to switch to a dark theme. But that doesn’t really have an impact on the majority of websites out there.

If you want dark mode everywhere, then let’s check out what you must do below. Let’s start with how to enable the dark theme in Safari.

Note: The following instructions apply to Safari v13.0 running on macOS Catalina.

Enable Dark Theme for Safari

On macOS Catalina, you have a built-in dark color scheme that renders the entire operating system along with native apps, including Safari and supported third-party programs in dark mode. I bet some of you already know how to enable it. If so, skip ahead to the next section. Otherwise, here’s how to turn it on.

Step 1: Open the Apple menu, and then click System Preferences.

Step 2: Click the tile labeled General.

Step 3: Click Dark in the top-most section named Appearance. That should switch the entire operating system to a dark color scheme.

Launch Safari, and you should see the browser theme rendered in dark as well. You should also find websites that sport native a dark theme rendered automatically in the dark mode. However, only a tiny minority of sites do sport a native dark theme, which means that you still have to deal with a ton of white pixels on the screen.

That leads us to the next obvious question. How do you get dark mode in Safari everywhere?

Enable Dark Mode for Websites in Safari

Thankfully, there are a couple of ways that you can easily use to get websites — the ones that don’t sport a native dark theme — to render in dark mode. The first method involves using Reader View. The second method requires you to use an extension.

1. Use Reader View

Reader View is a built-in Safari functionality that strips ads and other unwanted elements from webpages and presents them in an easily readable format. It also lets you change the default white background color to black. Couple that with Safari’s dark theme, and you’ve got full-fledged dark mode functionality in your hands.

But there’s a catch — Reader View can’t be enabled everywhere. Usually, it’s limited to blog posts and articles, such as the one that you are reading right now. Regardless, let’s check it out in action.

Step 1: Click the Reader View icon to the left-corner of the Safari address bar. Keep in mind that this icon will only show up on Reader View-supported web pages.

Step 2: Click the aA icon to the right corner of the Safari address bar, and then switch to the darkest background color. You only have to do that once since Safari remembers your preferences automatically.

And voila! That should render the page in complete dark mode. Perfect.

By default, you must enable Reader View manually each time you visit a webpage. If that gets tedious, you can set it to kick in automatically on supported webpages. Here’s how to do that.

Step 1: Click Safari on the menu bar, and then click Preferences.

Step 2: Switch to the Websites tab, and then click Reader on the left pane.

To enable automatic Reader View for websites that are open in Safari, click the menu next to each listed website underneath the Currently Open Websites section, and select On.

To enable other websites to always switch to Reader View, click the menu next to When Visiting Other Websites, and then select On.

Exit the Preferences window. Safari will automatically switch to Reader View whenever you visit a page that supports the functionality.

2. Use Safari Extension

Dark mode with Reader View works well, but it doesn’t function on all websites and webpages. It is apt if you read a lot at night, but not ideal for web browsing in general.

If you want dark mode just about everywhere, you must resort to using a Safari extension. However, almost every dark mode extension that I ran into on the Mac App Store required a fee. Sadly, this included the fantastic Dark Reader extension, which is available free of charge for Chrome and Firefox .

But eventually, I did come across an extension that didn’t ask me to pay upfront — Night Eye. Here’s how to install and enable it.

Step 1: Install Night Eye via the Mac App Store.

Install Night Eye

Step 2: Open Safari Preferences.

Step 3: Click the Extensions tab, and then check the box next to Night Eye.

And that’s it. Every website, except very few such as Google Docs , that you come across should now render in dark mode.

The extension works quite well, and even sports the ability to work alongside the system color scheme, controls to adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation, etc. To access these options, click the Night Eye icon to the left of the address bar.

However, Night Eye isn’t totally free. You need to pay to keep using some of the advanced features in the extension after three months. The supposed ‘Lite’ version that it switches to afterward limits you to using dark mode for up to five websites.

If you like the extension, you can buy it. But I don’t recommend doing that. Its price is quite steep at $8.99 for a one-year subscription or $39.99 for a one-off license. Instead, Dark Reader for Safari only requires a one-time fee of $4.99. There are also multiple other dark extensions — such as Dark Mode for Safari — that you can find on the Mac App Store for just $1.99.

Don’t Lose Your Bearings

Using Safari in complete dark mode is a treat for the eyes. I wish Apple would incorporate some built-in toggle that would forcibly render sites in dark mode so that we won’t have to rely on workarounds.

But for now, using Reader View or a dark mode extension is the way to go. If you plan to go the extension-route, be prepared for that ding to your wallet eventually.

Next up: Is Firefox better than Safari on the Mac? Read our comparison to figure out which is the better browser for you.

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 03 February, 2022

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

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Description.

Dark Mode makes your Safari browser more comfortable, enjoyable and cool by changing the colour scheme to make web pages easier to read. Works especially well for people working during the night, in low light environments or when you want to match your browser with the new iOS dark mode look. HOW TO USE IT • Once you activate the extension all websites will display a darker theme. You can start the extension manually, you can schedule it or turn it on automatically (when iOS dark mode is active) • Just press the toolbar button and you can change to a softer theme, an e-ink (paper) theme or cover the page with a translucent curtain • You can apply dark mode for some sites only and deactivate the theme for any site FEATURES • Apply a cool dark theme on any website • Perfect every time you want to read a long article, research a big page or make a presentation • A simple and powerful Safari extension (action), easy to activate and use • Choose between 5 themes: Dark, Mono Dark, Soft Dark, Dark Curtain and Paper (E-Ink) • Multiple ways to activate the extension: manually, schedule it for your preferred reading hours or when iOS dark mode is on • You can ignore any site or you can apply Dark Mode for some websites only SUPPORT We read your support emails every day, day by day. Write with confidence any question, feedback or complaint and you will receive an answer in a very short period of time.

Version 2.5.0

Bug fixes and improvements

Ratings and Reviews

How apps should be.

Doesn't collect data. √ Pay once use forever. √ Doesn't break my flow to ask for a review. So far... I've been using it for about five minutes and so far, I'm impressed. The available themes are pleasing, and the compatibility with the sites I most visit is excellent. It does a good job of maintaining contrast, and it doesn't invert colors, so, for example, on a system status dashboard, red still means bad, and green still means good.

I think Noir is the better buy.

I’ve now tried three different paid safari dark mode extensions, and they all have their quirks, but I think Noir is the better buy compared to this one. What I liked about this app was that the background is true black, and has several other themes, and they’re good picks. I also liked that it checks when you’re in dark mode and acts accordingly. What I didn’t like is that for dark mode to switch, the page must be manually refreshed. Noir switches pages in real time as dark mode is enabled or disabled (though sometimes it won’t darken everything until a refresh). I also didn’t like that multiple websites I checked had strange artifacts — images with colors shifted strangely, buttons that were black against black and therefore invisible, images being blacked out, and even some websites had accent colors become much lighter when this extension was enabled. Last, I didn’t like that the theme wasn’t customizable on a per-website basis — so I can’t set one website to true black and another to dark gray, and have the extension remember that. There were some websites that this extension performed better with than Noir, though, so it might make sense for some people to get both apps, just make sure you don’t enable both on the same websites, because they can interfere with each other.

Working great on iOS 15

Thank you for making this app! Been using it for an hour and I’m already in love lol. Dark mode all the things.

App Privacy

The developer, Denk Alexandru , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Not Collected

The developer does not collect any data from this app.

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

Family Sharing

Up to six family members can use this app with family sharing enabled., more by this developer.

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Turn off dark mode on Safari iPhone Software version 14.8.1

I have dark mode enabled on my iPhone but Safari has always been in light mode.

Recently a popup came up asking if I want Safari to be updated to dark mode. I was trying to swipe it away but accidentally enabled dark mode. Now I can't find the setting to change it back to light.

Is is possible to revert this change?

iPhone 12 Pro Max

Posted on Dec 1, 2021 9:21 AM

Posted on Dec 2, 2021 10:55 AM

Hey kominayu,

Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities! We understand when using Safari, its in Dark Mode and you'd like it turned back to Light Mode on your iPhone. Let's help.

To adjust between Dark Mode and Light Mode on iPhone, you'd typically follow these steps: Use Dark Mode on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

In Safari, are you using Google to search, and seeing that page as dark? If so, reopen that page and scroll down to the very bottom until you can't scroll any further. You should see 'Dark theme: on'. If you tap on that writing, it should change to 'Dark theme: off'.

Keep us posted if that doesn't work out.

Best regards.

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Dec 2, 2021 10:55 AM in response to kominayu

Your Guide to Private Browsing in Safari

Private browsing is often misunderstood, but it can be a helpful feature if you know what’s what.

Quick Links

What private browsing does in safari, how to use safari private browsing on iphone and ipad, how to use safari private browsing on a mac, how to disable safari private browsing on iphone and ipad, how to disable safari private browsing on a mac, key takeaways.

• Private Browsing in Safari hides browsing history, autofill details, downloads, and locks tabs after inactivity.
• Safari on Mac groups private and non-private tabs, while on iPhone it shows all tabs regardless of mode.
• To use Private Browsing in Safari, identify it by a dark address bar, "Private" indicator, or "Private" next to the site URL.

Most browsers offer a private browsing mode that aims to keep the websites you view off the record. But what exactly does it do in Safari and how do you get the best out of it?

First and foremost, Private Browsing keeps the website pages you visit out of your History . The aim is to prevent someone else from seeing which pages you have visited if they have access to your phone or computer.

In Safari, Private Browsing does a lot more than just hide URLs. It also:

• Prevents recent searches from showing up in your history.
• Stops remembering details you enter in forms for autofill.
• Keeps downloaded items from appearing in your Downloads list.
• Locks private tabs after a period of inactivity.
• Adds tracking and fingerprinting protection.

However, it’s important to note that Private Browsing does not stop you from being tracked altogether. Websites you visit will still be able to use various methods to track you, and will still have access to all data that you send them.

On macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, Safari groups private tabs together, and separates them from non-private tabs. On Mac, each Safari window is either private or non-private, and can have as many tabs as you want.

On iPhone, you can switch between private and non-private modes, each of which shows all tabs belonging to that mode.

You can spot when you’re viewing a private tab with these signs:

• The address bar has a dark background. This may be less noticeable if you’re using Dark Mode .
• On Mac, you’ll see a prominent Private indicator in the title bar.
• On iPhone, you’ll see Private alongside the site URL at the bottom of your screen.

The steps to enter Private Browsing mode are nearly identical on an iPhone and iPad. The only difference is that the tab icon is at the bottom of the screen on iOS and the top on iPadOS.

• Long-press the tab icon (two overlapping pages) on the bottom-right (iPhone) or top-right (iPad) of your screen.
• Tap the New Private Tab menu item.
• If locked, enter your passcode to unlock Private Browsing.

You can enter Private Browsing mode on macOS using either a menu item or a keyboard shortcut:

• Open the File menu and choose New Private Window .
• Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Cmd + n .
• Use the browser as you normally would. Any tabs you open from this window will open in the same window, in private mode.

You may want to prevent users of an iPhone or iPad from using Private Browsing mode at all. To do so:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap on Screen Time .
• Under RESTRICTIONS , click on Content & Privacy Restrictions .
• If not already enabled, press the toggle next to Content & Privacy Restrictions to enable.
• Tap Content Restrictions .
• Change the Web Content setting to Limit Adult Websites .

The option to enter private mode will now be gone.

On macOS, the wording of certain options differs slightly, but the overall process is near-identical to iOS:

• Open System Settings via the Apple menu.
• Click on Screen Time in the left panel.
• Under the Restrictions section, click on Content & Privacy .
• Click Content Restrictions .
• Change the Access to Web Content setting to Limit Adult Websites .

Private Browsing will now be unavailable in Safari, although any existing private windows will stay open.

Of course, anyone can re-enable Private Browsing using the same process, in reverse. However, you can use Screen Time’s Lock Screen Time Settings option to set a passcode and enforce the setting permanently.