How to enable dark theme on Android 9 Pie: all methods with pictures

Dark theme on Android 9 Pie has become one of the most popular features after the release of this version of the operating system. Despite the fact that full system support for the dark interface appeared later, in Android 10, owners of devices with Android 9 can also activate this mode - albeit with some restrictions. The main advantage of a dark theme is reducing eye strain when using a smartphone in the evening and saving battery power on devices with AMOLEDscreens.

In this article we will analyze all the available ways to enable dark mode on Android 9 Pie —from standard settings to hidden functions for developers. Let us separately dwell on the nuances for popular brands (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei), where manufacturers have added their own implementations of the dark theme. If your device does not support this feature out of the box, we will show you how to bypass the restrictions using third-party applications.

Before proceeding to the instructions, make sure that it is installed on your smartphone. 9th version of Android. You can check this in the menu Settings → About phone → Android version. If the version is different, some methods may not work.

1. Standard method: through the system settings

In pure Android 9 Pie (without shells from manufacturers), the dark theme is enabled via Developer Mode. This is not the most obvious way, but it works on most devices, including Google Pixel, Nokia and other smartphones with minimal interface changes.

Here are step-by-step guide:

1. Activate Developer Mode:

   Go to Settings → About phone and find the item Build number. Click on it 7 times in a row until the notification “You have become a developer” appears.

2. Enable dark theme:

   Return to the main settings menu, open the section System → Advanced → Developer Options. Find the option Dark theme (or Night Mode) and activate it.

3. Reboot your device:

   Some interface elements may not change immediately - a reboot will help apply the settings to the entire system.

Please note: this method does not affect all applications. System menus (settings, notifications) will become dark, but many third-party apps will remain in light mode if they do not support automatic switching.

Is developer mode activated|Is the "Dark Theme" option available in settings|Does your device support this feature (some budget models may not have the option)|Are they compatible? key applications with dark mode -->

2. Dark theme on Samsung with One UI (Android 9)

Manufacturers often modify Android to suit their needs, and Samsung is no exception. In the shell One UI (which was used on Galaxy S9, Note 9 and other models of 2018–2019), the dark theme is implemented differently than in pure Android. Here it is called "Night mode" and it works more stable.

How to enable:

• 📱 Open Settings → Display.
• 🌙 Find the item Night mode (or Night Mode).
• ⚙️ Activate the switch and select a schedule (manually, by time or by sunset/dawn).

Unlike standard Android 9, on Samsung the dark theme affects not only system menus, but also some standard applications (for example, Galaxy Store, Contact, Messages). However third-party apps like WhatsApp or Instagram will remain light, if they do not support their own dark theme.

3. Android 9)

In smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO with firmware MIUI 10 or MIUI 11 based on Android 9, the dark theme is enabled through a separate menu. The manufacturer added this feature even before its official appearance in Android 10, but with. some limitations.

Instructions for MIUI:

• 📱 Go to Settings → Display → Dark theme.
• 🌙 Activate the switch The system will offer to apply dark mode to all supported ones. applications.
• ⏰ If desired, configure automatic activation at a time (for example, from 20:00 to 7:00).

MIUI Features:

• ✅ Works with many system applications (Settings, Phone, Messages).
• ❌ Not all third-party apps are supported (for example, Google Chrome will remain light).
• ⚠️ On some models (for example Redmi Note 7), the dark theme may reset after a reboot - this is a firmware bug.

Pure Android (Pixel, Motorola)|One UI (Samsung)|MIUI (Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO)|EMUI (Huawei/Honor)|Other-->

4. Alternative methods: third-party applications

If your device does not support the dark theme at the system level, you can use third-party solutions. They will not change the system menus, but will allow you to darken most applications.

The best applications to force the dark to turn on. mode:

Application	How it works	Pros	Cons
Dark Mode	Puts a dark filter on the screen	Works on any Android 5.0+, does not require root	Degrades text clarity, may interfere with games
Night Mode Enabler	Activates hidden dark theme via ADB	System solution, does not affect performance	Requires connection to a PC and command line lines
Substratum + Andromeda	Deep interface customization	Maximum flexibility, theme support	Complex setup, requires root or Andromeda

The easiest way is to install Dark Mode iz Google Play. The application creates a translucent black filter over the entire screen, simulating a dark theme. The downside is that this is not a real theme, but just an overlay that can distort the colors in some applications.

For more advanced users, this application activates a hidden one. dark theme function via Night Mode Enabler. This app activates the hidden dark theme feature via ADB (Android Debug Bridge). You will need a computer and several commands:

adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 2

After executing this command and rebooting the device, the dark theme will be enabled at the system level. Please note: on some firmware this method may to failures in the interface.

What to do if after the ADB command the theme does not turn on?

If the command ui_night_mode 2 did not work, try an alternative option:

1. Run adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 1 (enables dark theme only for notification panels).
2. If this does not help, check whether your firmware supports this function. On some custom ROMs, the dark theme can be disabled at the kernel level.

As a last resort, try resetting the settings via adb shell settings delete secure ui_night_mode and repeat the procedure.

5. and solutions: why the dark theme does not work

Even if you followed all the steps correctly, the dark theme may not turn on. Let's look at typical reasons and ways to eliminate them.

Problem 1: There is no "Dark theme" or "Night mode" item in the settings.

• 🔹 Make sure that you have exactly Android 9 Pie (and not an older version).
• 🔹 Check if the manufacturer has disabled this function in your model (often happens on budget smartphones).
• 🔹 Update the firmware to the latest version - sometimes the dark theme appears after update.

Problem 2: The dark theme is turned on, but is reset after a reboot.

⚠️ Attention: This error is typical for some firmware MIUI and ColorOS. The solution is to reset the theme settings manually via Settings → Applications → Manage applications → Themes and select the dark theme again.

Problem 3: Some applications remain light.

This is normal behavior - not all apps support automatic theme switching. Solution:

• 🔹 Update the application to the latest version (the developers could add support for dark theme).
• 🔹 Check the settings of the application itself (for example, in YouTube or Twitter dark theme is enabled separately).
• 🔹 Use overlay apps like Dark Mode to force darkening.

6. How to return the light theme back

If you didn’t like the dark mode or caused display problems, returning the light theme is as easy as turning on the dark one. The method depends on the method you used to activate the dimming:

• 🔄 Through the system settings: Go back to Developer options and disable the option Dark theme.
• 🔄 On Samsung: In the menu Settings → Display → Night mode deactivate the switch.
• 🔄 On Xiaomi: Disable dark theme in Settings → Display → Dark theme.
• 🔄 After the ADB command: Run adb shell settings put secure ui_night_mode 1 (light theme) or adb shell settings delete secure ui_night_mode (reset).

If, after disabling the dark theme, some interface elements remain black, try:

1. Restart the device.
2. Clear the system application cache (Settings → Applications → Show system → Settings → Storage → Clear cache).
3. Reset theme settings (relevant for MIUI i EMUI).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, Flyme from Meizu) resetting themes can lead to a temporary lag in the interface. If this happens, wait 5-10 minutes or restart your smartphone.

7. Advantages and disadvantages of the dark theme on Android 9

Before turning on dark mode, you should weigh its advantages. and disadvantages. Despite the obvious advantages, this function also has disadvantages.

Pros:

• 👁️ Reducing eye strain —especially useful when using a smartphone in the dark.
• 🔋 Saving battery power —on devices with AMOLED-screens do not backlight black pixels, which reduces power consumption.
• 🎨 Aesthetics - many users find the dark interface more stylish.

Cons:

• ⚠️ Incomplete support —not all applications switch to dark mode automatically.
• 🐛 Bugs and glitches —on some firmware the dark theme may work unstable (for example, reset after a reboot).
• 📉 Decreased readability —in some applications, light text on a dark background may have less contrast than black on white.

If you often use your smartphone at night, a dark theme is definitely worth turning on. However, if you prefer a light interface or face compatibility issues, a dark theme is definitely worth turning on. It’s better to leave the standard settings.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the dark theme on Android 9

❓ Is it possible to enable the dark theme on Android 9 without developer mode?

Yes, but only on devices with proprietary skins (One UI, MIUI, EMUIIn pure Android). 9 without developer mode, the dark theme is not available. You can also use third-party applications like Dark Mode, but they simply apply a filter and do not change the theme at the system level.

❓ Why do some applications remain light after enabling the dark theme?

This happens because the dark theme at the system level only affects system components (settings, notification panels, etc.). Third-party applications must independently support dark mode. For example, WhatsApp, Telegram and YouTube have their own theme settings that need to be enabled separately.

❓ Will the dark theme work on Android 9 after updating to Android 10?

Yes, but after updating to Android 10 the dark theme will work differently - it will become a full-fledged system feature with better application support. Settings from Android 9 (for example, through developer mode) will be reset, and you will need to enable the dark theme again in the menu Settings → Display.

❓ Is it possible to set the dark theme to automatically turn on over time?

Yes, but only on devices with proprietary shells:

• On Samsung (One UI) this is done in Settings → Display → Night mode → Schedule.
• On Xiaomi (MIUI) - in Settings → Display → Dark theme → Automatic switch on.

In pure Android 9 automatic schedule no - you will have to enable the theme manually or use third-party applications like Tasker.

❓ Why does the dark theme not work on my Huawei Android 9?

On devices Huawei i Honor s shell EMUI 9 dark theme is implemented differently. Here it is called "Dark interface" and is included in Settings → Battery → Dark interface. If this item is not there, update the firmware or check if the function is disabled in your region (on some models Huawei dark theme appears only after the update to EMUI 9.1).