WhatsApp dark mode now available for iOS and Android

WhatsApp is finally getting a new dark mode on iOS and Android today. After months of beta testing on both mobile operating systems, the WhatsApp dark mode will be available for all users today. If you already have dark mode enabled at the system level on iOS 13 or Android 10, then WhatsApp will automatically switch over. Android 9 users can simply enable a new dark theme in the WhatsApp settings menu.

Facebook has tweaked its WhatsApp dark mode to ensure it lowers the brightness of a phone display. “During testing we found that combining pure black and white creates high contrast that can lead to eye fatigue,” explains a WhatsApp spokesperson. “So instead, you’ll notice a special dark gray background and off-white color that lowers the brightness of the screen, cuts down the glare, and improves contrast and readability.”

The WhatsApp dark theme will be mostly pure black on iOS devices and a darker gray on Android. It’s a long-awaited feature, one that WhatsApp acknowledges in a launch video (above) with lots of people squinting into their phones. The short video, entitled “Hello Darkness,” includes a previously unreleased version of “The Sound of Silence” by Paul Simon.

You can download the latest WhatsApp update from Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store to get the new dark mode option.

How to enable WhatsApp dark mode on Android
Step 1: Go to Settings > Display > Select theme > Dark
Step 2: Once the dark mode is turned on, go to Settings > About phone
Step 3: Scroll down to 'Build number' and tap on it seven times
Step 4: You will see a message pop-up saying 'Developers options is turned on'. Tap on 'Override force-dark' so that you can apply the dark theme to other apps
Step 5: Dark theme is now enabled on WhatsApp but the wallpaper in chat threads still needs to be changed to enjoy the dark mode to its fullest
Step 6: Go to WhatsApp Settings > Wallpaper > None and you are good to go

How to enable WhatsApp dark mode on iOS
For iOS phones, it is necessary that the device runs on iOS 11 or later versions.
Step 1: Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Display Accommodations > Invert Colours > Smart Invert
Step 2: You have now enabled dark theme across all the apps in the device
Step 3: Same as Android, you will have to choose dark or no wallpaper for WhatsApp chat threads. Go to WhatsApp Settings > Wallpaper> None
So there you have it. Whether you're using an Android or iOS device, you can enable dark mode in WhatsApp by following the above-mentioned steps.


source: https://www.theverge.com