If you love Instagram, but find its interface too light for your liking, there are a few ways to make it darker and easier on the eyes. Most popular are dark themes and screen shaders, which turn most of an app’s interface black and help reduce eye strain.
Changing the theme of Instagram on PC can be done with ease. All you need is to download an extension for your browser. The best one for Chrome is Smartlink’s Night Mode for Instagram, but there are others available on Safari and Firefox too.
Enabling a custom URL for Instagram
This works in all web browsers including Chrome, Edge, and even Brave Browser. To do this, open a new tab in your browser and type in the website’s address into the field. Once you’re there, click the ‘Dark Mode’ button at the bottom of the page.
Installing a Chrome Extension
The next method of making Instagram dark is by using a third-party extension in your browser. You can install it from the Chrome Web Store by searching for “Night Mode for Instagram.”
Once installed, you can switch between light and dark modes in just a few taps. It will stay active even if you close and restart your browser or reload the page.
Using experimental flags
If you’re not too keen on installing an extension, you can also use Chrome’s experimental flags to turn Instagram into a dark theme. These are available for all Chromium-based web browsers and will unlock a lot of experimental features like auto-dark mode for content.
These flags are great for users who don’t want their entire device to change to a dark mode, or don’t want any apps to turn on the dark mode. They’re particularly useful for Android devices, which often lack system-wide dark mode support.
Alternatively, you can use a plugin called Screen Shader to turn all of your windows into a dark mode. This is a great way to reduce strain on the eyes and save battery life.
Finally, you can also add the Dark Mode option to your Android device’s settings menu. This will enable a dark mode for the Instagram app, as well as other apps you regularly use.
If you use an iPhone, the same steps are required, but instead of opening Instagram, you’ll need to go into the Settings app and select Display & Brightness. You can then select the Dark theme option under the Appearance section and the Instagram app will immediately change to that theme.
To use a dark mode on Instagram, you can also use an iOS app called f.lux to do the same thing. This app turns the interface of all your apps into a dark color, making them less straining on your eyes.
Having a dark mode on Instagram is a good idea for those who spend a long time scrolling through their feeds. It helps reduce eye strain, as it blocks more blue light from reaching the retina, making it easier on the eyes. This is especially important for people who have a habit of checking their Instagram feeds in the evening or at night, which can be a dangerous environment for the eyes.
