To enable dark mode in the Kindle app, open the app, tap More, then Settings, then Color Theme, and select Dark. This darkens the library and menus on both iOS and Android. For the reading page itself, open a book, tap the Aa icon, then choose the black background under Layout.
Enabling Dark Mode on iOS
1. Open the Kindle app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap More in the bottom navigation bar.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap Color Theme.
5. Select Dark.
Additionally, this setting darkens the app’s library and menu screens, but you’ll need a separate step for the actual reading page, covered below.
Enabling Dark Mode on Android
1. Open the Kindle app.
2. Tap the three-dot More icon.
3. Tap Settings, then Theme.
4. Choose Dark Mode.
Furthermore, the Android version uses nearly identical wording to iOS, so the steps translate directly between platforms.
Setting a Dark Background While Reading
Open any book, tap the center of the screen to bring up the reading controls, tap the Aa icon at the top, select Layout, then tap the black dot under Background Color. Consequently, the page itself switches to a dark background with light text, which is separate from the app-wide Color Theme setting.
Why Your Book Page Still Looks Light
In contrast to the app-wide dark theme, individual books remember their own background color setting. Therefore, even after enabling Dark Mode in Settings, you may still need to manually select the black background inside each book you’re reading.
Kindle Dark Mode vs E-Ink Kindle Devices
It’s worth distinguishing between the Kindle mobile app, covered in this guide, and dedicated E Ink Kindle devices, which use a different display technology and don’t have true “dark mode” in the same sense, since E Ink screens work differently from phone and tablet screens. Additionally, some newer E Ink Kindle models offer their own separate dark theme setting found directly on the device rather than through the app.
Adjusting Brightness Alongside Dark Mode
Pairing dark mode with a lower screen brightness setting, especially in the evening, can make reading more comfortable and reduce eye strain further. Consequently, many users combine the Kindle app’s Dark color theme with their device’s built-in Night Shift or blue light filter for the most comfortable low-light reading experience.
Troubleshooting a Kindle App That Won’t Save Your Theme Choice
If the Kindle app keeps reverting to a light theme after you set it to Dark, try fully closing the app from your device’s recent apps list and reopening it, since a background refresh can sometimes cause the setting to not apply correctly. Additionally, confirm you’re on the latest app version, since older releases occasionally had bugs affecting how the Color Theme setting was saved.
If problems persist after updating, signing out of your Amazon account within the Kindle app and signing back in can also reset app preferences, including the theme setting, without affecting your downloaded books or reading progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does dark mode work the same on Kindle e-readers and the Kindle app?
Not exactly. Physical Kindle e-readers use a different dark mode toggle found under the device’s own Settings menu, separate from the mobile app’s Color Theme option.
Will dark mode drain my battery faster?
No, and on OLED screens it can actually save a small amount of battery, since dark pixels use less power than white ones.
Can I schedule dark mode to turn on automatically?
The Kindle app doesn’t have its own schedule, but if you set Color Theme to System Default, it will follow your phone’s automatic dark mode schedule instead.
Why doesn’t the Dark option appear in my Kindle app?
This usually means the app needs an update. Open the App Store or Google Play Store, update Kindle to the latest version, then check Settings again.
Want more app tips? Browse our App Guides section, read about enabling dark mode in Gmail on iOS, or check Fix & Support articles for more troubleshooting.
