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Introduction
You don’t need to manually enable dark mode on a Mac every evening. Apple provides a built‑in Auto setting that switches your display from Light to Dark at sunset and back at sunrise. If you prefer a custom schedule—like turning on dark mode at 9 PM regardless of the season—you can create one using the free Shortcuts app.
This guide covers both methods. For all the other ways to toggle the dark appearance, see our pillar how to enable dark mode on a Mac guide . To make the dark appearance go beyond the default, our make dark mode even darker guide has tips.
Use the Built‑in Auto (Sunset to Sunrise)
The simplest way to schedule dark mode on a Mac is Apple’s own Auto setting. It uses your location to calculate sunset and sunrise, automatically switching your appearance to match the natural light.
- Open System Settings from the Apple menu ().
- Click Appearance in the sidebar.
- Select Auto at the top of the window.
That’s it. Your Mac now uses the Light appearance during daylight hours and Dark appearance at night. If you travel or change time zones, macOS adjusts automatically because it uses your device’s location.
Create a Custom Schedule with Shortcuts
If you want dark mode to activate at a specific time (e.g., 10 PM to 6 AM), you need a custom automation.
- Open the Shortcuts app.
- Click the Automation tab at the top (the clock icon).
- Click + and choose Time of Day.
- Set the time you want dark mode to turn on (e.g., 9:00 PM).
- Choose Daily for the repetition.
- Click Next.
- Search for Set Appearance and add it.
- Set it to Dark.
- Click Done.
Repeat the process to create a second automation at your desired Light mode time. Your Mac will now follow your personal schedule rather than sunrise and sunset.
Which Method Should You Choose?
Use the built‑in Auto setting if you want effortless, natural‑light‑based switching. Use a custom Shortcuts automation if your sleep schedule doesn’t align with sunset—for example, if you work nights and want dark mode during the day. You can always switch back to manual Light or Dark mode anytime through System Settings or Control Center.
