From reducing eye strain to improving battery life, Dark Mode has varying benefits. It is available on macOS Mojave and later and can be turned on to work across the entire system. It will change the menu bar’s appearance and the stock apps to make things easier on the eyes. It’s especially useful when working at night and helps you focus. So here’s out how to turn on Dark Mode.
- How to Enable Dark Mode on Mac
- How macOS Dark Mode Works with Some Apps and Features
- Easily Control Mac Dark Mode with NightOwl
How to Enable Dark Mode on Mac
- Click on the Apple menu at the top of the screen and select System Preferences.
- Select General.
- Now, pick Dark from the Appearance options at the top of the window.
You will see two other options:
- Light: It will keep the default light appearance across the system.
- Auto (available in macOS Catalina): It will automatically use the light appearance during the day and switch to Dark Mode at night for optimal visual aesthetics.
Note: To turn off Dark Mode on Mac, you can follow the same steps above and choose the Light option.
How macOS Dark Mode works with Some Apps and Features
Some apps and features on your Mac have specific Dark Mode settings and options, as explained below.
Mail App
Even when in Dark Mode, you can use a light background for email messages.
Open Mail and click Mail → Preferences, then click the Viewing tab and untick “Use dark backgrounds for messages.“
Maps App
You can use a light background in maps even if Dark Mode is turned on.
Just click on View in the menu bar in Maps, then deselect Use Dark Map.
Notes App
You can use a light background for Notes while Dark Mode is enabled on your Mac.
At the top of the screen, select Notes → Preferences. Then untick “Use dark backgrounds for note content.”
Safari Browser
When Dark Mode is turned on on your Mac, Safari automatically displays webpages in Dark Mode provided that they are designed to support it. If this is not the case, you can use Reader Mode to read in Dark Mode.
TextEdit App
To have a light background in documents while Dark Mode is turned on, click on View in the menu bar in TextEdit, and deselect the option Use Dark Background for Windows. (Requires macOS Mojave 10.14.2 or later.)
Dynamic Desktop
If you enable Dark Mode while using Dynamic Desktop on your Mac, the desktop may change to the dark still image. You can change this setting by going to System Preferences → Desktop & Screen Saver.
As for third-party apps, many of them include the option to use Light Mode, Dark Mode, or match the system appearance. If supported, this feature can usually be found by clicking on the app’s name in the menu bar at the top left corner of the screen and clicking on Preferences.
How to Easily Control Mac Dark Mode with NightOwl
NightOwl is a free utility for macOS. For instance, it makes it possible to:
- Quickly change between Dark Mode and Light Mode right from the Mac Manu Bar
- Change Appearance automatically based on the time of day.
- Override Dark Mode in specific apps to selectively use the Light appearance instead.
Signing off
So, do you prefer to use Dark Mode on your Mac or not? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below. You might also like to check out how to use dark mode on iPhone or iPad.
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