5 Ways To Get The Dark Instagram App Icon In 2024: The Secret Icon Menu, Teen Exclusive, And Workarounds

The quest for the perfect dark Instagram app icon is a perennial favorite for users who want a sleek, minimalist home screen. As of December 14, 2025, the landscape for customizing your Instagram home screen icon has shifted significantly, moving from a universally accessible "secret menu" to a feature now largely restricted to specific user groups, forcing others to get creative with workarounds. This deep dive uncovers the current reality of the dark Instagram icon, differentiating between the internal Dark Mode theme and the actual home screen logo.

The term "dark Instagram app icon" can be confusing because it refers to two different things: the app’s internal interface theme (Dark Mode) and the actual icon that sits on your phone’s home screen. The good news is that the internal Dark Mode is still easy to enable, but getting a custom dark logo on your home screen now requires a specific account type or a clever technical trick.

The Evolution of the Dark Instagram App Icon: From Anniversary Easter Egg to Exclusive Feature

The first major appearance of a dedicated dark app icon came as a surprise feature, an exciting digital Easter egg released to celebrate a major milestone for the social media giant.

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The Legendary 10th Anniversary Icons (2020)

In October 2020, to mark its 10th anniversary, Instagram briefly introduced a hidden menu that allowed all users to change their app's home screen icon. This was the golden age of customization, offering a variety of logos, including several dark-themed options.

• Dark: A simple, modern black-and-white version of the current glyph logo.
• Twilight: A sleek, deep purple and black gradient icon.
• Gold: The classic Polaroid-style camera set against a rich, dark gold background, providing a premium, subtle dark aesthetic.
• Classic: The original, skeuomorphic Polaroid camera icon, beloved by nostalgic users.

Crucial 2024 Update: Unfortunately, the official in-app customization menu for these anniversary icons is no longer available to the general public. Instagram removed the feature after the anniversary period, making the 'Dark' and 'Twilight' icons a piece of digital history for most adult users.

New Exclusive Icons for Teen Accounts (2024)

In a move to increase relevance and engagement with younger demographics, Meta, Instagram’s parent company, rolled out a new set of custom app icons in 2024, but with a major restriction: they are only available to accounts flagged as Teen Accounts (users under 18).

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This exclusive update includes new designs, some of which feature a dark aesthetic, such as the "green teen app icon against a black background." This means that if you are an adult user, you will not find the custom icon option in your settings, reinforcing the need for creative workarounds.

Dark Mode vs. Dark App Icon: The 2024 Reality

It is important to distinguish between the app's internal theme and its external icon, as only one is universally accessible in 2024.

How to Enable Instagram’s True Dark Mode (The App Interface)

The in-app Dark Mode is a standard feature that changes the background of your feed, profile, and settings from white to black or a deep gray, which is what most users are actually looking for. This feature is widely supported and easy to activate.

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For iOS (iPhone/iPad):

Instagram on Apple devices running iOS 13 or newer automatically respects the system-level setting.

1. Go to your device’s Settings app.
2. Tap on Display & Brightness.
3. Select Dark under the Appearance section.
4. Open the Instagram app; it will automatically switch to the dark theme.

For Android:

Similar to iOS, Android devices running Android 10 or newer can use the system-level setting.

1. Go to your device’s Settings app.
2. Navigate to Display or Theme settings.
3. Toggle on Dark Theme or System-wide Dark Mode.
4. Open the Instagram app.

If your device is older, some versions of the Instagram app may still offer an internal toggle within the app's settings, usually under the "Theme" option.

The Benefits of Using Dark Mode (Why It’s More Than Just Aesthetic)

Switching to a dark theme is not just a stylistic choice; it offers tangible user experience benefits that are critical for heavy social media users.

• Reduced Eye Strain: A dark theme significantly reduces the amount of bright light emitted from the screen, which can help alleviate eye fatigue and improve comfort, especially when browsing at night.
• Battery Conservation: For devices with an OLED display (like most modern iPhones and high-end Android phones), black pixels are completely turned off. This means using Dark Mode can lead to measurable battery life extension by requiring less power to display the darker interface.
• Content Focus: The high contrast between white text and images against a dark background makes the content "pop," allowing users to focus more on the visual media and less on the surrounding interface elements.

The Ultimate 2024 Guide: How to Get a Custom Dark Icon (The Workaround)

Since the official custom icon menu is gone for most users, the only guaranteed way to get a custom dark Instagram app icon on your home screen is by using your phone's built-in customization tools.

Method 1: iOS Shortcuts App (For iPhone/iPad Users)

The iOS Shortcuts app allows you to create a custom shortcut that opens the Instagram app, using any image you choose as the icon on your home screen. This is the most popular workaround for users who want the "Dark" or "Twilight" look back.

1. Find Your Icon Image: Search online for a high-resolution image of the specific dark Instagram icon you want (e.g., "Instagram Dark Icon PNG").
2. Create a New Shortcut: Open the Shortcuts app, tap the plus icon (+), and select Add Action.
3. Set the Action: Search for and select the Open App action. Choose Instagram from the list.
4. Add to Home Screen: Tap the down arrow next to the shortcut name, select Add to Home Screen.
5. Customize the Icon: Tap the icon placeholder and select Choose Photo to upload your downloaded dark icon image. You can also rename the shortcut to "Instagram" or "IG."

This method creates a new, custom-skinned icon that sits alongside your other apps, giving you complete control over the aesthetic.

Method 2: Custom Launchers (For Android Users)

Android users have long benefited from third-party custom launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher. These applications replace your phone's default home screen interface and offer extensive customization, including the ability to change any app icon.

1. Install a Custom Launcher: Download a popular launcher app from the Google Play Store.
2. Download an Icon Pack: Many icon packs are available, including those with minimalist, black, or dark-themed versions of popular apps.
3. Apply the Icon: In the launcher settings, navigate to the icon settings, find the Instagram app, and select the custom dark icon from your installed pack.

This provides a permanent, system-wide solution for achieving a cohesive dark aesthetic across your entire device, aligning with modern SEO principles that prioritize a seamless user experience.