What is Dark Mode on Mac & Fix Dark Mode on Mac Not Working

Summary: This post from iBoysoft details Dark Mode on Mac. From this article, you can have a comprehensive understanding of Dark Mode, and learn about how to fix Dark Mode not working on Mac.

Is Mac Dark Mode better for your eyes? Sure, Dark Mode can reduce eye strain in nighttime and low-light environments, decrease screen blue light, and help improve sleep quality.

You may want to put Safari in Dark Mode or make your MacBook Air in Dark Mode. No matter how much you know about Dark Mode on Mac, you can understand Dark Mode comprehensively from this article, covering how to fix Dark Mode on Mac not working, change from Dark Mode to Light Mode on Mac, etc.

What is Dark Mode on Mac?

Dark Mode was first introduced as an official feature in macOS Mojave (10.14), officially released on September 24, 2018. This was the first time macOS supported Dark Mode at the system level, allowing users to switch the interface to a dark theme that extended from the menu bar to built-in applications such as Finder, Safari, and Notes.

Dark Mode is often configured in System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (macOS Monterey and earlier). You may wonder “Is there a shortcut for Dark Mode on Mac?” Of course, if your system is macOS Ventura or later, quickly toggle Dark Mode on or off by pressing Control + Option + Command + L.

How to change from Dark Mode to Light Mode on Mac?

Here's how to switch between Dark Mode and Light Mode.

Change from Dark Mode to Light Mode on Mac via System Settings

Open System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (macOS Monterey and earlier).
Click Appearance, then select Light or Dark.

Change from Dark Mode to Light Mode on Mac via Control Center

Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar.
Click Display, then toggle Dark Mode on or off.

Change from Dark Mode to Light Mode on Mac by set Auto Mode

In System Settings > Appearance.
Select Auto to automatically switch to Light Mode during the day and Dark Mode at night.

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Dark Mode on Mac not working, how to fix it?

Dark Mode on Mac not working? Don't worry, here are the tips to help you fix this problem.

Check System Preferences

Go to System Preferences > General.
Under Appearance, make sure Dark is selected. If it's set to Light or Auto, change it to Dark.
If set to Auto, macOS will switch between Light and Dark modes based on the time of day. You can manually set it to Dark to see if that resolves the issue.

Toggle Dark Mode

If Dark Mode is already set but not working, try to shift to Light Mode, and then back to Dark Mode.

Check for Updates

Ensure that your macOS is up to date. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update. If there's an update available, install it and restart your Mac to see if it fixes the issue.

Reset NVRAM/PRAM

Resetting the NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) can resolve display-related problems.

Shut down your Mac.
Turn it back on and immediately press and hold the Option + Command + P + R keys.
Hold them for about 20 seconds and then release them.
Your Mac will restart, and you can check if the Dark Mode on Mac not working has been fixed.

Safe Mode

Shut down your Mac.
Turn it on and immediately hold down the Shift key. Release the key when the login window appears. At this point, you are in Safe Mode.
Open System Preferences > General, and switch to Dark Mode on Mac. If Dark Mode works correctly in Safe Mode, the issue may be caused by third-party software or system cache.
If Dark Mode is restored in Safe Mode, restart the Mac to exit Safe Mode.

Note: If the issue is caused by third-party software, try uninstalling those applications to see if the problem is resolved. If it's due to a system cache, clear it for further troubleshooting.

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