The meteoric rise of dating apps has made quite an impact on how - and where - we meet people. Among them,Tinder is undoubtedly the most popular one, and the dating app that broke into the mainstream first, paving the way for all the other dating apps on our smartphones.
Tinder is best known for the way you interact with your potential matches - swiping left or right has already become a staple, and everyone knows what you mean when referencing these actions. However, it’s not the only thing that the app has brought to the table when it comes to online dating.
From swiping to sparks: how Tinder changed modern dating
How does Tinder work and how should you use it in 2025? I’ve got all the details.
Having a lot of people use your dating app is the key to its popularity, but it’s not the only thing that makes or breaks that software. One of the most important elements of a successful platform is the additional features that it offers, making the experience more interesting, engaging and safer for the users. Tinder excels at that, steadily changing and adding new possibilities for engagement and improvements to its user interface. From the long-requestedincognito modeto various dating modes (such as theBlind Datefeature), the platform already has a lot to offer, but it shows no signs of stopping.
The dating giant finally caved, and among many changes to the app, introduced a small feature that a lot of people were waiting for years: Dark mode. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
What is Dark mode on Tinder?
Tinder is well known for its bright, white user interface that complements the photos of your potential matches.
It’s the same tactic that most dating apps use - they prefer brighter colors, complemented by some pastels, to make their users’ pics pop. However, sometimes you really just want to swipe a bit on Tinder before going to bed, and sitting there with a bright screen in front of you is not the greatest experience. That’s why Dark mode has become so popular in different kinds of apps - it lets you reduce your screen’s perceived brightness, making using it much more comfortable.
“…it makes the whole UI much easier on your eyes, so you can get lost in conversations with all kinds of interesting people without straining your vision.”
The same is true for Tinder’s Dark mode - it makes the whole UI much easier on your eyes, so you can get lost in conversations with all kinds of interesting people without straining your vision. What’s even more interesting is the fact that Tinder is the first dating app to introduce an official Dark mode. So, if you’re all for these shades of black and gray, Tinder should be your go-to dating app.
How to enable and use Dark mode on Tinder
When you’re ready to take your nighttime online dating to another level, here’s how to turn on Dark mode on Tinder:
What other new features did Tinder announce?
As I’ve mentioned before, Dark mode is not the only feature that Tinder implemented in its last update. In fact, the app got quite a redesign, focusing on user experience and helping you get to know your potential matches based on things different than just their pictures. Here are some of the most interesting changes introduced together with the Dark mode:
When will Dark mode on Tinder be available?
Tinder’s Dark mode, along with a slew of other changes, wasannounced in a blog postfrom the company on 08 June 2025. The blog post says that the feature is being rolled out, but its introduction might take some time. Overall, you should expect the new update relatively soon - for me, it came on 29 November, so just over a week after the official announcement.. It might still take some time depending on your location, but you can be quite sure that you’ll be able to dark-mode-swipe in December.
You should expect the new update relatively soon. It began rolling out in late November 2023.
If you’re still not seeing a Dark mode toggle in your app, there is one more thing that you have to remember - you need to update it before it starts working. So if it’s not there, head to your app marketplace oniOSorAndroidand check if your software is up to date.
