A tsunami of dark mode has taken over the app world, with one notable exception: WhatsApp. But now the wait is finally over and WhatsApp Dark Mode is here!
The world’s most popular chat app (1.5 billion active users!) has overlooked the overwhelming push to dark mode, which not only provides a more enjoyable reading experience, but can also save battery life if your phone has a OLED screen. And you know, it looks so much nicer.
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- That’s right: Google Chrome looks terribly scared of the new Microsoft Edge
- WhatsApp has been rumored for months that a dark mode is in the works. Developers found traces in the code and advanced users found ways to hack the app in dark mode.
- But regular Joes and Janes have been left out of parties until now. Currently WhatsApp for Android is available in dark mode… for registered beta users.
Don’t worry though. Because you can download and install it even without a computer science degree.
How to get WhatsApp dark mode
1. Go to APK Mirror:
Click here first. Of course, keep in mind that 1) this is a beta and 2) this is not maintained by the Google Play Store, so proceed at your own risk (don’t worry, it’s real. I installed it myself, as shown in the image above).
2. Download WhatsApp beta.:
This means you are in the right place. Scroll down until you see this message and then click the Download APK button (orange arrows indicate this).
3. Open the APK:
When you’re done, your browser will probably ask if you want to open the APK. Click YES or Open, whatever the button says. If it doesn’t ask you, go to the download folder of the Android file browser app. There you will find the APK, click on it to open it.
4. Install WhatsApp beta and dark mode:
Then Android will ask if you want to install the APK. Say yes again.
5. Switch to WhatsApp Dark Mode Theme:
You have done! Go to WhatsApp, select Settings and set it to dark mode or switch to dark mode automatically based on your power saving settings if that’s your thing.
The good news is that since this is a genuine WhatsApp beta package, WhatsApp will be updated as usual when the final version reaches the Google Play Store.
I hate green and dark gray:
The update is good and refined. It definitely looks a lot better than the previous faint color update with all that green.
BUT! is still green. Dark green in strips and accents, yet green. I wish WhatsApp would let you choose a highlight color.
Another “ugh” about the new WhatsApp Dark Mode is that you can’t use all black for a dark color. The best dark mode apps use so-called black AMOLED, which is 100% black. If your phone has an OLED panel, that means every black pixel is completely turned off, saving you the battery life you used to have.
Many apps offer AMOLED black by default. Instead, WhatsApp uses dark gray like Google Photos. And this, although it saves some energy, because the darker the color, the less electricity is consumed, is very annoying.
I wish all apps, including WhatsApp, could offer AMOLED black as an option.
