Are you looking for a way to make your Mac more aesthetically pleasing? Do you feel like it’s time to switch up your computer’s interface and add some pizzazz? If so, dark mode is the perfect solution! Dark mode enables you to drastically improve the look of your system by inverting display colors. As an added bonus, it can also help reduce eye strain while working long hours. In this blog post, we’ll be exploring how you can easily enable dark mode on a Mac computer and enjoy all the benefits that come with it! Keep reading for step-by-step instructions and other helpful tips about setting up dark mode.
How To Make Mac Dark Mode?
Step 1: Create a dark theme for your website
If you’re the owner of a website, you can create a dark theme for it. This will help your visitors see the content in a new way and feel less overwhelmed. From the macOS system settings, head to the “Accessibility” section. From here, you can enable “Reduce White Point” and “Increase Contrast.” This will darken the colors on the screen. You can also choose the “Blacks Only” option. If you don’t want to mess around with the settings on your own computer, you can hire a website design service. This way, the dark theme will be implemented on your site.
Step 2: Install a custom font
Next, you can change the font used throughout your website. Open the “Fonts” system preference and select “Searching for new fonts”. Type in the name of the custom font you want to use and then click on the “Install” button. This will add the new font to your system once you restart your computer.
Step 3:Show your macOS desktop at night.
A macOS Dark Mode doesn’t just add a dark shade to the desktop. It also takes control of the desktop wallpaper, changing it at night when the screen is off. If your wallpaper isn’t dark enough already, you can change it to something with a black theme. To do this, head to the “Desktop” section of the “System Preferences” app. From here, you can click “Desktop Background” and then choose a dark, black-themed image.
Step 4: Change the colour of the app icons
Each app icon has a color associated with it on your macOS desktop and app icons. By changing this color, you can create a macOS Dark Mode. To do this, head to the “Display” section of the “System Preferences” app. From here, you can change the color of the icons associated with macOS apps. This includes the Mac Dock, the Spotlight search window, and the apps themselves.
Step 5: Darken the menus and toolbars
MacOS Dark Mode also changes the color of the menus and toolbars. By default, these are white. With macOS Dark Mode, they will also darken, creating a new color scheme. To do this, head to the “Appearance” section of the “System Preferences” app. From here, you can change the menu bar, sidebar, and toolbar color.
Step 6: Use Night Light or the Menu Bar Color option
By default, macOS will change the colors of your desktop and app icons at night in the “Night Light” setting. This does not create a macOS Dark Mode but rather helps your eyes see better in low light conditions. If you don’t like this, you can change it to “Off”. Alternatively, you can also change the “Menu Bar Color” option to create a dark theme.
Step 7: Use a black background for sleep mode and dark apps
By default, macOS will change the colors of your desktop and app icons at night in the “Night Light” setting. This does not create a macOS Dark Mode but rather helps your eyes see better in low light conditions. If you don’t like this, you can change it to “Off”. Alternatively, you can also change the “Menu Bar Color” option to create a dark theme. If you want, you can also use a black desktop background for sleep mode. This will make it easier to distinguish between different types of apps, like emails and calendar alerts.
Step 8: Install a plugin for automatic macOS Dark Mode
If you want macOS Dark Mode but don’t want to mess around with the settings manually, you can download a macOS Dark Mode plugin. All you have to do is go to the plugin’s website, download the plugin, and then activate it. This will add the dark theme to your system once you restart your computer.
Why Use Dark Mode?
1. Improved visibility for people with vision impairments:
Dark mode can help those with vision impairments, as well as those who have difficulty distinguishing between colors.
2. Save battery life on mobile devices:
Dark themes consume less battery power than light themes because the screen’s backlight doesn’t need to be as bright. This means that dark mode can help increase battery life on mobile phones.
3. Reduce eye strain:
Bright screens can cause eye fatigue, which is why dark mode may actually be easier on the eyes when using devices for long periods of time.
4. Improved focus and concentration:
Dark mode allows users to focus better on their tasks as it decreases visual distractions.
5. Reduce blue light exposure:
Dark mode can help reduce the amount of blue light emitted from screens, which is believed to disrupt sleep patterns and cause digital eye strain.
6. A more aesthetic look:
Dark mode provides a more vibrant and aesthetically pleasing look for devices, providing an alternative to bright colors and harsh whites.
Benefits Of Using Dark Mode
1. Improved visibility:
Dark mode can reduce strain on the eyes, especially in dark environments or for those with low vision. The contrast between light and dark elements makes spotting errors and finding items quickly easier.
2. Reduced battery consumption:
The dark mode requires less power than traditional displays, which can help conserve battery life on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
3. Improved privacy:
Dark mode can make it harder for malicious actors to detect sensitive information on your device, making it more secure.
4. Simplified design:
Dark mode makes complex designs or text easier to read, as colors and other objects stand out better without a bright background. This can help improve the user experience for those browsing websites or using apps.
5. Improved accessibility:
Dark mode can make it easier for people with color blindness or other visual impairments to see text and images on their devices. It might also be beneficial for children who find bright colors overwhelming.
6. Aesthetic appeal:
Some users might prefer the look of dark mode because of its sleek, modern design. It can also help emphasize minimalist style and enable more creative options for websites or apps.
Disadvantages Of Using Dark Mode
1. Increased Eye Strain:
Dark mode can cause increased eye strain since it reduces the overall brightness of the display. This is especially true for users who have younger eyes and more sensitive light receptors.
2. Reduced Battery Life:
Dark themes can reduce battery life on devices that use an OLED or AMOLED display, as they require more power to display darker colors.
3. Reduced Visibility:
Dark mode can make it more difficult for users to read text, as the contrast between light and dark is not always optimal. Additionally, some UI elements may be hard to find or identify with a dark background.
4. Lesser Accessibility:
Dark mode may not be accessible for people with vision impairments because of reduced contrast and visibility. It is, therefore, important to be mindful of these issues when implementing dark mode into an interface.
5. Inconsistency:
Dark mode can be inconsistent, as it may not be available on all platforms or devices, especially those running outdated operating systems. This can make the user experience confusing and less enjoyable.
6. Glare:
Dark mode can cause glare on some displays, especially if a glossy screen is used. This can be distracting and affect the usability of the device.
Tips For Making Mac Dark Mode Stick
1. Use the Menu Bar:
Many apps allow you to customize how dark mode looks on your Mac. You can use the menu bar to control how dark mode looks for all of your open applications and windows.
2. Customize Your Wallpaper:
A great way to make sure that dark mode remains consistent across different applications is to set a wallpaper with a dark hue. This will ensure that the entire desktop and any open applications remain in dark mode, regardless of how many changes you make to the settings.
3. Use Apps for Better Control:
Some apps like Nocturne or f.lux allow you to customize the look of your Mac further with more options than are available from the menu bar. These apps also offer better control over the intensity of dark mode and how it affects different applications.
4. Adjust Color Settings:
If you’re having trouble with some applications not playing nice with dark mode, then you may need to adjust the color settings in your Mac’s System Preferences or the specific application. You can access the color settings by going to the Display section of System Preferences.
5. Change Your Font:
The system font is responsible for making text look consistent throughout your Mac. If you’re having trouble getting dark mode to stick, then try changing the system font to one that’s more compatible with dark mode settings. You can do this in the General tab of System Preferences.
Conclusion
The dark mode is great for making your Mac look and feel better. It’s also useful for using your Mac when there’s little or no light, like when you work at night. The dark mode isn’t something to try out, though. You need to make sure that you use it in a way that works for you. It may feel awkward at first, but dark mode can be great for your eyes, focus, and overall productivity over time.
