(Credit: Lina Chekhovich / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images; Apple)
Staring at your Mac screen for too long in a dark room can be hard on your eyes. Instead of subjecting yourself to bright colors and blinding white menus, you can turn on dark mode. The feature has been available since the release of macOS Mojave in 2018, so just as you can turn on dark mode in Settings menu of Windows 10 and Windows 11, you can do the same in System Settings on a Mac. Here's how to set up and customize the feature.
How to Enable Dark Mode on Mac
If you want dark mode on your Mac, all you have to do is open System Settings, click the Appearance tab in the sidebar, and choose the Dark option. We used a MacBook running macOS Sequoia, but the process should be similar for operating systems as far back as 2020's Big Sur. For older versions of macOS, go to System Preferences > General and choose the Dark appearance.
You can also choose accent and highlight colors to complete your preferred theme. If you want windows that are distinctly black, disable Allow wallpaper tinting in windows. Dark mode can also be quickly enabled from Control Center. Click the switch icon in the menu bar and open the Display menu, then choose Dark Mode to switch the feature on and off.
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)How to Set Up Dynamic Wallpaper
If you only want dark mode at certain times, head to System Settings > General and instead choose Auto, which will alter the color theme of your desktop with the time of day. The OS will use light mode during daylight hours and then switch to dark mode after hours. Apple also offers a collection of color-changing desktop backgrounds.
To change the default wallpaper, go to System Settings > Wallpaper and pick a theme from the Dynamic Wallpaper section. On older machines, open System Preferences > Desktop & Screen Saver and open the Apple folder. Some options will even change colors multiple times throughout the day. You can also mix and match dark and light themes for menus and wallpaper.
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)What Apps Are Affected?
When you change the the color theme on your Mac, it also changes many of the built-in apps included with the operating system. These include the App Store, Find My, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, News, Notes, Photos, Podcasts, Safari, System Settings, TV, and more. Some third-party apps will also support dark mode on your Mac, so check any other programs you use to see if they have options to change the color theme.