Facebook Lite is a stripped down version of the Facebook app designed to use less data and work on low-end smartphones. While the standard Facebook app has a built-in dark mode, Facebook Lite does not currently have an official dark theme.
However, there are a couple unofficial ways to enable a pseudo dark mode in Facebook Lite for Android devices. This can make using the app easier on the eyes and potentially help save some battery life on devices with OLED displays.
Enable Developer Options
The first step to enabling dark mode in Facebook Lite is to turn on Developer options on your Android device. Developer options give you access to some hidden settings in Android that let you customize things further than the standard settings menu.
To enable Developer options:
- Open the Settings app on your Android device.
- Scroll down and tap About phone or About device.
- Scroll down and tap Build number 7 times.
- Return to the previous screen, you should now see Developer options listed.
Once you have enabled Developer options, you can now use them to force dark mode for the Facebook Lite app.
Enable Dark Mode with Developer Options
There are two main ways to enable a pseudo dark mode for Facebook Lite using the Developer options you just unlocked:
- Enable “Override force-dark”
- Switch the “Night mode” setting to “Always On”
Method 1: Override force-dark
Enabling the “Override force-dark” setting in Developer options will essentially force Android’s dark mode theming to be applied to all apps, including Facebook Lite.
To enable this setting:
- Open the Settings app and go to Developer options.
- Find the setting labeled “Override force-dark” and switch it on.
This will immediately apply a basic dark color theme to all apps on your device, including Facebook Lite. The override forces Android to enable dark mode theming for apps targeting Android 10 and lower.
Method 2: Night mode
The other option in Developer options is to switch on “Night mode” and set it to “Always On.”
To enable this setting:
- Open the Settings app and go to Developer options.
- Find the setting labeled “Night mode” and tap on it.
- Select the option “Always On” from the menu.
With Night mode set to always on, this will force the dark theme to be applied across the device including in the Facebook Lite app.
Disable Battery Saver for Facebook Lite
One other setting that can interfere with displaying dark mode properly in Facebook Lite is the Battery Saver setting. Battery Saver tries to reduce power usage by disabling certain visual effects like the darker theme.
To ensure the dark mode displays properly in Facebook Lite, you should disable Battery Saver for just the Facebook Lite app.
To disable Battery Saver for a specific app:
- Open the Settings app and go to Apps & notifications.
- Tap See all apps.
- Tap Facebook Lite.
- Tap Advanced.
- Tap Battery.
- Switch off “Battery saver”.
With Battery Saver disabled for Facebook Lite, it won’t override the visual effects and dark mode enabled through Developer options.
How Facebook Lite Dark Mode Looks
When you have Developer options tweaks enabled and Battery Saver disabled for Facebook Lite, the app will display a basic pseudo dark mode theme.
This includes:
- Dark gray backgrounds instead of white
- White text instead of black text
- Blue accent colors on buttons and highlights
Here are some screenshots showing how Facebook Lite looks with the dark theme enabled:
Feed
The feed background is dark while the text, icons, and highlights remain visible.
Menu
The hamburger menu also gets a dark background making the menu text readable.
Profile
Profile pages also have the dark background applied to make browsing others’ profiles easier in dark mode.
Customize the Dark Theme
While the forced dark mode from Developer options gives Facebook Lite a basic dark appearance, you can further customize the dark theme using other display settings in Android.
Under Display settings you can adjust things like:
- Font style and size
- Display size
- Dark mode strengths
- Colors and contrast
Adjusting these additional display settings while the dark theme is enabled can let you dial in the look of Facebook Lite’s dark mode to your personal preferences.
Customization Options
Here are some specific customization options to adjust the dark theme look under Display settings:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Font style | Makes text bold, condensed, or thin. |
| Font size | Increases or decreases text size. |
| Display size | Scales interface elements larger or smaller. |
| Dark mode strength | Controls intensity of dark grays. |
| Colors | Alters color profile from saturated to muted. |
| Contrast | Makes contrast between elements higher or lower. |
Take some time to play around with these display settings while viewing Facebook Lite in dark mode. You can tune the theme to your liking.
Troubleshooting Facebook Lite Dark Mode
If you are having trouble getting the dark theme to enable properly in Facebook Lite, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Check Developer Options Enabled
First, verify that you have Developer options enabled on your device and that one of the overrides (“Override force-dark” or “Night mode”) is switched on.
You need to have these settings configured correctly for the dark theme to be applied.
Disable Battery Saver for App
Also, confirm that you have disabled Battery Saver for the Facebook Lite app specifically. If Battery Saver is still on for the app, it could prevent the theme from taking effect.
Force Stop Facebook Lite
Try force stopping Facebook Lite by going to Settings > Apps & notifications > Facebook Lite > Force stop. Then reopen the app and check if dark mode is working.
Restart Your Device
If you still can’t get dark mode to enable properly, try restarting your Android device. This will clear any caching issues and load the theme correctly when the device boots back up.
Check App and OS Updates
Make sure both the Facebook Lite app and your Android OS are fully updated. Dark mode issues are sometimes fixed in app updates. Keeping current ensures compatibility.
Use a Different Browser
As a last resort, try accessing Facebook Lite through a web browser in dark mode instead of through the app. Popular Android browsers like Chrome, Samsung Internet, and Firefox support dark website themes.
Conclusion
While Facebook Lite doesn’t officially support a built-in dark theme like the main Facebook app does, Android users can enable a pseudo dark mode for Facebook Lite using Developer options. Overrides like “Override force-dark” or “Night mode” apply a basic dark gray theme to the app.
Disabling Battery Saver for Facebook Lite ensures the dark mode isn’t blocked. And customizing additional Display settings can refine the theme to your preferences.
Troubleshooting tips like force stopping the app, restarting your device, and checking for updates may help if you have issues getting dark mode to enable properly. But overall this method provides an easy way to enjoy Facebook Lite with a dark appearance.