As an entrepreneurship consultant who has helped countless small business owners market their companies online, I always encourage using tools that reduce eye strain. Staring at bright screens all day can negatively impact productivity and wellbeing. That‘s why I was thrilled when Facebook introduced a built-in dark mode to dim backgrounds and create darker color schemes.
The Benefits of Facebook‘s Dark Mode
Enabling dark mode applies a dark gray background to Facebook instead of glaring bright white. This reduces eyestrain by decreasing brightness and glare. According to vision health experts, dark modes put less strain on your retinas compared to light modes.
Facebook in light mode:
Facebook in dark mode:
As you can see, dark mode makes the background dark gray rather than harsh white. This can make it more comfortable to use Facebook for longer periods.
According to a 2021 survey by software company Shiny, over 60% of people said they prefer using dark modes because they reduce eyestrain. With so many benefits, let‘s look at how you can enable dark mode on Facebook‘s desktop and mobile platforms.
Step-by-Step Guide to Enabling Dark Mode
Activating dark mode on Facebook only takes a few clicks. Just follow these simple steps for desktop and mobile:
On Desktop
- Click the down arrow in the top right corner
- Select "Display Preferences"
- Toggle "Dark Mode" to the On position
- Refresh the page
And you‘re done! The web version of Facebook will now show in dark mode.
On iPhone
- Open the Facebook app
- Tap the menu icon (three lines) in the bottom right
- Scroll down and tap "Settings & Privacy"
- Choose "Dark Mode"
- Slide the toggle to activate
On Android
- Open the Facebook app
- Tap the three-line menu button in the top right
- Scroll down and select "Settings & Privacy"
- Choose "Dark Mode"
- Toggle dark mode on
It‘s super quick and easy to enable Facebook‘s built-in dark theme across desktop and mobile.
Troubleshooting Common Dark Mode Problems
While most people enable dark mode without issues, you may encounter difficulties like:
- Dark mode not turning on
- Dark mode randomly turning off
- Facebook shows light mode even when dark mode is on
Here are some tips for troubleshooting problems with Facebook‘s dark mode:
- Force quit and relaunch the Facebook app
- Update Facebook to the latest version
- Toggle dark mode off and back on
- Log out and log back into Facebook
- Clear the cache and data for the Facebook app
- Try using a dark mode web browser extension (like Dark Reader)
As a last resort, you can contact Facebook support. But in most cases, dark mode works flawlessly after following the activation steps.
Why I Recommend Facebook‘s Dark Mode
As someone who stares at screens for many hours assisting small business owners, I always use dark modes to prevent eye strain. Facebook‘s built-in night theme is one of the handiest for switching social media feeds to darker backgrounds.
Over 87% of US small to medium businesses use Facebook to market themselves. But poring over bright news feeds can quickly cause headaches and fatigue. By changing Facebook to dark mode, business owners can social media on their brands without as much glare or eyestrain.
So if you manage social media for a small business, I highly recommend trying Facebook‘s dark mode. Along with helping your clients reach audiences, you‘ll give your eyes a break!
Let me know if you have any other questions about activating or troubleshooting Facebook dark mode. I‘m always happy to help fellow entrepreneurs use digital tools in eye healthy ways.
