How To Enable Dark Mode on Safari

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:

1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your Mac.
   
2. Click on System Preferences.
   
3. Click on General.
   
4. Click Dark under the Themes option.
   
5. Open Safari. Webpages will not appear in Dark Mode.
   

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:

1. Open Safari and visit a website.
   
2. Tap the Reader tab, then tap aA. Select the dark view.
   

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.

1. Launch Safari from your iOS device.
   
2. Go to the website you want to access in dark mode.
   
3. Tap on the “Reader Mode” button found in the search bar.
   
4. Tap on the “Text button.”
   
5. Select the theme you want to use. The available options are Normal, Grey, Slightly Yellow, and Dark.
   
6. Select “Dark,” and the screen will turn dark right away.
   

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.

1. Open the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”
   
2. Select “General.”
   
3. 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?