In this guide, we will show you the steps to enable the dark mode in the Snapchat app for Android. Many apps have switched over to the dark side, not literally but metaphorically speaking! However, it seems this multimedia messaging app is a little bit late in jumping onto this train. However, there’s now finally some good news in store, albeit for one section of users.
The app has just released a dark mode for its iOS build. It has added an App Appearance option that comes with three values: Match System, Always Light, and Always Dark. The first setting will respect the device theme setting, whereas the other two would do exactly as their name suggests.
However, all this is only limited to iPhones as of now, and there is no update for the Android users in hindsight. But fret not, there’s still a handy way out through which you could enable the dark mode in Snapchat for Android. And this guide shall make you aware of just that. So without further ado, let’s get started.
How to Enable Dark Mode on Snapchat Android
First and foremost, you will need administrative privileges. In other words, your device needs to be rooted. If you haven’t done so, then you may refer to our below guides for the said purpose:
- How to Root Android Devices via TWRP Recovery
- How to Root Android Devices Without TWRP Recovery
- Root Android 11 via Magisk Patched boot.img (without TWRP)
Note: As a personal suggestion, rooting your Android device just for the sake of getting dark mode in Snapchat isn’t recommended. This is because rooting could nullify the warranty and could lead to a few issues, if not done correctly. So if your device is rooted then only proceed with the below steps. Or if you are a tech enthusiast and are willing to take the risk, then you are more than welcome to root the device and then follow the below instructions.
Method 1: Enable Snapchat Dark Mode (Android) via Preferences Manager
This method is quite ready to execute, but unfortunately isn’t working out for some users. So if this is the case with you as well, then please head over to the next method given right after this one.
- To begin with, download and install the Preferences Manager app from the Play Store.
- Then launch the app and tap Grant to give it the Magisk’s SuperUser request.
- Scroll to the Snapchat app from the list and select it.
- Now tap on the plus icon situated at the top menu bar and select String.
- Type in DARK_MODE under the Key section. Likewise, type ENABLED under Value and hit the Add button.
- You should now see the Dark Mode Enabled preference created in the app. Once done, you may now close this Preferences Manager App.
- Just as a precautionary measure, consider performing a Force Stop of Snapchat (App Info > Snapchat > Force Stop).
- Now launch the app, and bingo, the dark theme has been put in place!
Method 2: Enable Snapchat Dark Mode (Android) via File Manager
What the Preferences Manager app did in the first method, here we would be doing the exact same thing, but manually! The only prerequisite is that you should have a file explorer app that supports root. As for this guide, I am using Solid Explorer.
- So launch the File Explorer app and head over to the Root folder.
- Within that, go to Data > Data and scroll to the com.snapchat.android folder.
- Inside that, go to the shared_prefs folder
- Look for the APP_START_EXPERIMENT_PREFS.xml file and open it using a text editor
- Add the following lines anywhere in between (but inside the opening and closing <map> </map> tags).
<boolean name="DARK_MODE" value="true" />
- Once you have pasted the above lines, save this file. Now force stop Snapchat and then launch it, the dark mode should have been enabled.
The Dark Snapchat: Still some way to go?
Since this is a workaround, the end result isn’t that polished. There are still some app regions that are still white in color while in some places, the grey text gets overlapped with the black background. However, these were mostly along the expected lines and until the company rolls out the official update with the theming option, that’s the most we can get to.
With that said, if at any point in time, you wish to revert the changes, just launch Preferences Manager, select the Dark Mode Enabled Preference, and hit the Delete button. Then relaunch Snapchat and the dark theme would have been removed. Or if you have tried the second method, then just delete the <boolean name=”DARK_MODE” value=”true” /> line and save the file.
On that note, we conclude the guide on how to enable the dark mode in Snapchat for Android. If you have any queries, do let us know in the comments section. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest. Likewise, let us know via the comments which method worked out for you.
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