Facebook Dark Mode just vanished, but Facebook says it's back again

By Philip Michaels
last updated

Some mobile users couldn't activate Dark Mode on Facebook before a fix went live early Thursday

Facebook Dark Mode
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

For a while yesterday (May 26), some Facebook users could see the light. And they were none too pleased about it.

A significant number of users are taking to social media Wednesday to report that they no longer have access to the Dark Mode feature in Facebook (opens in new tab). That's the view that swaps in a dark background in lieu of a white interface, which some people find easier to read. Dark Mode can also consume less battery life. 

If you were on Twitter Wednesday evening, it didn't take you long to find users complaining that Dark Mode on Facebook is unavailable (opens in new tab). Most of the tweets noting that Dark Mode was gone (opens in new tab) began appearing at around 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

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Dark Mode hasn't disappeared from everyone's phone. We've checked among Tom's Guide staffers and everyone we've surveyed has been able to turn on Dark Mode on their iPhone or Android device.

"We’re aware that some people are having trouble accessing certain features on Facebook's Android app," a Facebook spokesperson told Tom's Guide when we contacted them about the issue. "We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible."

Shortly after midnight today (May 27), Facebook got back to us with the all-clear signal. "We have restored service for those who experienced a technical issue that caused some people to have trouble accessing certain features on Facebook’s Android app," the spokesperson said.

However, some iPhone users are still reporting that Dark Mode isn't working for them on iOS. If you're among them, here's how to fix the Facebook Dark Mode problem on iPhone.

This isn't the first time in recent weeks that the problem has flared up. On May 5, some Android users reported a similar issue (opens in new tab) with Dark Mode in Facebook.

You can activate Facebook's Dark Mode by going to the hamburger icon menu in the mobile app, selecting Settings & Privacy and heading to Dark Mode.

In the meantime, if you're still having a problem with Dark Mode on Facebook, let us know on the comments.

Philip Michaels
Philip Michaels

Philip Michaels is a Managing Editor at Tom's Guide. He's been covering personal technology since 1999 and was in the building when Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time. He's been evaluating smartphones since that first iPhone debuted in 2007, and he's been following phone carriers and smartphone plans since 2015. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics, old movies and proper butchery techniques. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

3 Comments Comment from the forums
  • GamerMomLuna
    I am an Android user and I lost it suddenly around that time too. Had an update, tried that, still gone. My groups and videos buttons are gone too.
    Reply
  • BigTulsa
    Happened to me as well. It also made it impossible for me to select recents. I wish FB would have a setting that makes 'latest posts' the default. Grrr....
    Reply
  • VjDdave
    GamerMomLuna said:
    I am an Android user and I lost it suddenly around that time too. Had an update, tried that, still gone. My groups and videos buttons are gone too.
    The same thing happened to me. But I fixed it by logging out and then back in. My dark theme came right back after I logged back in.
    Reply