Snapchat has become one of the most popular social media apps, with over 265 million daily active users. The app allows users to send photo and video snaps, chat, make video calls, and more. One of the top requested features for Snapchat has been a dark mode option. Dark mode provides an alternative interface with a black background and white text, which can be easier on the eyes in low light environments. Many other apps including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have added dark modes, but Snapchat has yet to add an official built-in dark theme.
Why Dark Mode is Useful
There are several benefits to using dark mode on apps and devices:
- Reduces eyestrain – Staring at bright screens, especially in dark environments, can cause eye strain and headaches. Dark mode gives your eyes a break.
- Saves battery life – Dark mode interfaces require less power to display on phone and tablet screens.
- Aesthetically pleasing – Many users find dark mode more stylish and visually appealing.
- Easier to use at night – Dark mode makes using apps at night easier and doesn’t negatively affect sleep patterns as much.
Given these benefits, it’s no surprise that dark mode for Snapchat is in high demand. Unfortunately Snapchat has not yet provided an official way to enable it universally. However, there are a few workaround methods users have found to activate dark mode on Snapchat.
How to Get Dark Mode on Snapchat (Unofficially)
Since Snapchat doesn’t have a built-in dark theme option in its settings, users need to use certain tricks and third party apps to try and simulate dark mode. Here are a few ways you can get something resembling dark mode on Snapchat for iPhone and Android devices:
Method 1: Use Android’s System-Wide Dark Theme
If you have an Android 10 or newer device, you can enable system-wide dark theme. This will make most apps with white backgrounds to turn dark automatically. To turn it on:
- Go to Settings > Display.
- Tap on Dark theme.
- Toggle it On.
This will make Snapchat dark as long as you have the latest version installed. A limitation is that it won’t impact Snapchat’s camera interface – that will remain bright.
Method 2: Use a Dark Mode Enabling App
There are third party Android apps like Night Mode Enabler and Dark Mode that can override individual apps to show their dark version. After installing one of these apps:
- Open the dark mode app.
- Find and select Snapchat from the list of apps.
- Toggle on dark mode for Snapchat.
This will force Snapchat into dark theme. However, like the system-wide option, Snapchat’s camera viewfinder will remain bright.
Method 3: Use Eclipse Dark Mode on Jailbroken iPhones
For iOS users, the only way to manually activate dark mode for Snapchat is to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad. This gives you access to tweaks like Eclipse Dark Mode that can force individual apps into dark theme.
- Jailbreak your iPhone using Unc0ver or checkra1n.
- Add the Packix repository source in Cydia.
- Search for and install the Eclipse Dark Mode tweak.
- Launch settings, go to Eclipse settings, and enable for Snapchat.
This will make Snapchat dark everywhere, including the camera screen, but keep in mind performance may suffer from all the customization. Jailbreaking also comes with major security and stability risks.
| Dark Mode Method | Platform | Downsides |
|---|---|---|
| Android System Dark Theme | Android 10 or newer | Camera remains bright |
| Dark Mode Apps | Android | Camera remains bright |
| Eclipse Jailbreak Tweak | Jailbroken iPhones | Jailbreaking risks, performance issues |
Why Snapchat Still Lacks a Native Dark Mode
With so many users demanding a dark theme, why hasn’t Snapchat added one natively? There’s a few possible reasons:
- Development Resources – Snapchat may have prioritized other features and updates over creating a dark mode.
- Code Architecture – Changing color schemes in apps is more complex than it seems. Snapchat may have difficulty implementing it.
- Business Reasons – Snapchat makes money by showing ads between stories. Dark mode could potentially decrease ad revenue.
Companies also sometimes avoid adding highly requested features on purpose – to maintain hype. By not giving users what they want, demand grows even more. Snapchat may be employing this tactic to build anticipation for an eventual official dark mode release.
When Will Snapchat Release a Dark Mode?
There is no official timeline for if or when Snapchat will release a built-in dark theme option. However, looking at when other major apps added dark modes can give us clues on what to expect for Snapchat:
| App | Date Dark Mode Added |
|---|---|
| Messenger | March 2019 |
| Gmail | September 2019 |
| March 2020 | |
| October 2020 | |
| March 2021 |
As we can see, many top apps have added dark mode support over the past 2-3 years. With user demand for a Snapchat dark theme continuing to build, it’s likely only a matter of time until Snapchat follows suit. We predict Snapchat will finally release a native dark mode option sometime within the next 1-2 years.
Conclusion
While Snapchat still lacks an official integrated dark mode, Android users can get an approximation through the system-wide setting or third party apps. Jailbroken iPhones can also get full dark mode support through tweaks like Eclipse. However, these workarounds come with disadvantages and risks.
The best solution is still for Snapchat to add a built-in dark theme option in a future update. This would provide the maximum coverage, compatibility, and performance. There are technical and business challenges to overcome first before Snapchat dark mode becomes a reality. But with pressure mounting, Snapchat will need to prioritize adding it soon in order to match user expectations and compete with alternative social apps.