With the launch of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 in September, Apple added a bunch of new features to our iPhones ($699 at Amazon) and iPads ($400 at Amazon). One is a dedicated dark mode that will help save battery life and is easier on your eyes in low-light environments.

Apple's Dark Mode affects all of the system apps like Messages or Settings, and third-party developers can implement the new feature into their apps, changing from standard to dark mode based on your device's current state.

Read: Android apps with dark mode you have to try

Before iOS had its own dark mode, it was up to each developer to create a dark version of the app, leaving you to manually change themes for each individual app. The new dark mode setting streamlines that process, as long as an app supports it. 

How to switch to dark mode

There are a couple of different ways you can switch to dark mode on your iPhone or iPad. You can have your device automatically switch based on the time of day, or you can manually turn it on/off through Control Center. 

Use the schedule by going to Settings > Display & Brightness and turn on Automatic. Next, tap on Options and select if you want to use sunset to sunrise or if you want to set a custom schedule. 

Add a dark mode toggle to Control Center by going to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls and looking for the Dark Mode control under More Controls and tap the "+" next to it. 

Going forward, you can turn dark mode on or off by viewing the Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen) and tap on the dark mode icon.

If you search the App Store for "dark mode," you'll find a list of Apple-curated apps, along with apps that have "dark" in their name. While Apple's list is helpful, it's rather limited. Here are some of my favorite apps that support iOS 13's dark mode. 

Fantastical 2

This calendar app integrates iCloud calendar and reminders into one, easy to read interface. It also comes with a dark mode. When viewing the main screen, tap on the gear icon then slide the toggle next to iOS Light or Dark Mode to the On position. With that turned on, Fantastical will use the system setting to determine what mode to use. 

Twitter

Twitter's dark mode looks pretty darn good. Turn it on by going into the Settings section of the app, then selecting Display and sound > Dark Mode and adjust when you want it to turn on. Turn on Use device setting for automatic switching along with your iPhone or iPad's mode. 

Reddit

To enable Reddit's dark mode, slide out the menu from the left side of the screen, tap Settings then turn on Automatic in the Dark Mode section. You can change just how dark the theme is by selecting Night theme and selecting your personal preference.

iA Writer

iA Writer is a handy app for writing and jotting notes. You can find its dark mode by selecting the gear icon when viewing your library, then select Appearance > System. 

Apple Books

When you're browsing through your library, or looking for new books, the Apple Books app will use the system setting for light or dark mode. Once you open a book, however, you'll need to adjust it on your own. Reading a book on a light background at night is hard on your eyes, so Apple's Books app has a few different color options including a dark mode. When reading a book, tap on the "Aa" icon, then select the color to the far right. You can also adjust the brightness, or enable auto-night theme if you'd rather let your iPhone or iPad handle it for you.

Slack

Slack rolled out its dark mode a while back, and now it's tied directly to your system settings. There isn't even a setting in the app for you to turn it on or off. Whatever mode your phone or tablet is in, Slack will be in as well.

SignEasy

If you frequently need to sign documents from your iPhone or iPad, you've probably heard of or use SignEasy. Just like Slack, there isn't a setting for you to adjust. SignEasy will switch between light and dark mode based on the system setting of your device. 

Apps with their own dark mode setting

There are some apps that continue to use their own dark mode setting but are still worth mentioning. 

Facebook Messenger

Facebook officially rolled out dark mode for Messenger a while back. You can now find the toggle with a tap on your profile avatar when viewing a list of your conversations. Night mode should be the first option in settings.

Feedly

Feedly's dark mode takes two taps to enable. Slide-out the menu by tapping on the menu button in the bottom left corner, then select Night Mode. Easy, right?

Kindle

Naturally, the Kindle app has similar settings to Apple Books, with in-book settings. When reading a book, tap on the screen to display the various buttons. Select the "Aa" button, then Black at the bottom of the screen.

Google Maps

Google Maps will use dark mode automatically when you're using navigation at night, but you can force it to use night mode when navigating during the day. Open Google Maps, slide out the menu on the left side of the screen, and select Settings > Navigation. Scroll down to Map Display and select Night.

Dark mode is just one of many new features in iOS 13. There are several new privacy features and a revamped Reminders app, and Messages has seen its share of updates. We have a complete guide to help you get the most out of the update, and a list of hidden features we've dug up. 

Do you have any apps that support iOS 13's dark mode that you love using? Let us know in the comments. 

Originally published earlier this year. Updated with more information.