How to turn on Instagram dark mode on a PC

If you use Instagram in a desktop browser, start with the website’s own appearance menu. Sign in at Instagram.com, open More in the side navigation, and look for Switch appearance or a similarly named display option. If your version shows a dark-mode control, turn it on and check the page. Menu labels and availability can change, so use the options you actually see rather than looking for an exact label that may have moved.

The old advice to add ?theme=dark to the Instagram URL is not a dependable setup method. A browser address can change without saving a preference, and we could not verify that parameter as a current supported Instagram control. It should not be presented as the required way to use the site.

Try the Instagram website control first

1. Open Instagram.com in your usual desktop browser and sign in.
2. Expand More or the main menu near the side navigation.
3. Look for an appearance or theme option. If Switch appearance is present, open it and choose the dark option.
4. Reload the page once and verify whether the background and navigation changed.

If you do not see an appearance control, that alone does not mean your account is broken. Web interfaces can differ by account, browser, and rollout. It is more useful to check the current menu than to follow a screenshot from an older app version.

If the control is missing, check your computer theme

Your operating system has its own dark appearance setting. On Windows 11 or 10, open Settings → Personalization → Colors and choose Dark under the color-mode control. Microsoft notes that individual apps can use different modes and that some apps do not support the system dark mode. Return to Instagram and refresh the tab to see whether its page follows the new setting. Changing Windows colors does not guarantee that every website will change.

On a Mac, open System Settings → Appearance and choose Dark. Apple also offers Auto and Light. Return to the browser and refresh Instagram. As on Windows, the system setting changes macOS appearance; whether a particular website responds is something to check on your own screen.

If you use a browser-level feature or extension to darken websites, treat that as a browser display change, not an Instagram account setting. Review the extension’s permissions before installing it. Forced darkening can change the way photos, controls, and contrast look, so compare the result with the normal page before relying on it for visual work.

How to switch back to light mode

If Instagram’s appearance option is visible, return to the same menu and select the light option. If you changed Windows or macOS instead, switch its color mode back to Light or Auto, then refresh Instagram. If only one browser shows a dark page, inspect that browser’s theme or extensions as well.

Dark appearance is a viewing preference. It does not alter the colors in your uploaded photos or guarantee relief from eye strain. Choose the theme, text size, brightness, and contrast that work for your display and surroundings.