Developer Unlocks Dark Mode In iOS 10 Settings App

The programmer and student who previously posted a number of screenshots showing a hidden Dark Mode in iOS 10, has been digging into the system once again to see if he can find any additional gems.

Sure enough, after initially discovering the stealth Dark Mode hidden inside the iOS 10 Simulator, he has come across some additional goodness by being able to turn on a hidden dark mode in the iOS 10’s Settings.app, adding further fuel to the fire that suggests Apple is planning on introducing a system-wide Dark Mode for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices running the latest firmware.

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For anyone who has used iOS for any significant period of time, the latest screenshots posted by him present the platform in a whole different light, literally. The native Settings.app, which is usually bright and airy, is shown with an almost entirely black theme applied to it.

The navigation bar that allows the user to navigate in and out of various parts is in a slightly lighter color than the rest of the app. Each interactive cell has an entirely black background, with the familiar looking representative icon and a title table that has been changed to include white text.

There were plenty of rumors before WWDC 2016 which suggested that Apple is working internally on introducing a native Dark Mode into the iOS ecosystem. We may have seen Apple announce a similar UI style for the Apple TV with tvOS 10, but as we now know, no such official integration for iOS 10 has been confirmed by Apple as yet.

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It was the original discovery of the dark theme in the latest iOS Simulator that suggested Apple had started building a dark overlay into iOS, but had it laying dormant for the time being. Presumably until the Cupertino-based company deemed it complete enough to actually show off or include in an iOS 10 beta.

iOS 10 was announced with enough changes and feature additions to ensure that even the most difficult to please user would walk away content. The introduction of an overhauled Maps experience, as well as a Siri SDK and an entirely revamped Messages app, should keep those difficult users happy. The question is, will we see Dark Mode make its official debut in later iOS 10 betas? Or is Apple simply working on the dark theme as part of a future iOS 11 release which could coincide with the iPhone’s move across to OLED display technology? Only time will tell.

(Source: @andywiik [Twitter] | Top image via: iOS 10 Dark Mode Concept))

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