That Feeling When... The Dark Mode Setting Resets Every Time You Open the App
Anastasia Onyinyechi Damian
Product Designer and Content Writer that help businesses achieve their target goals through either wholesome digital solutions and compelling written content.|| Generalist Writer
I’m a sucker for dark mode. As long as the option exists, I’ll activate it—mostly for my eyes. So, you can imagine setting up dark mode, settling into that cozy, dimly lit interface, only to come back later and... bam! Light mode is back in full force.
No warning. No explanation. Just blinding betrayal.
Why Does This Happen?
Poor Preference Storage
Some apps don’t store user settings properly, meaning your dark mode resets every time you close and reopen the app. This could be a bug, a design oversight, or just developers not prioritizing persistent settings.
Session-Based Preferences
Certain apps apply dark mode only for a single session. Once you exit, it resets to default, expecting you to set it up again. Super frustrating, right?
Cloud Sync Issues
For apps that sync settings across devices, a failure in cloud syncing can result in your dark mode preference getting lost. If the app defaults to a stored setting that wasn’t updated, it keeps switching back.
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OS Conflicts
Some apps rely on system-wide settings. If your phone’s default mode is set to light and the app doesn’t have an independent toggle, it may keep reverting to match the system.
Forced UI Updates
Certain apps roll out updates that reset user preferences. If developers modify the UI or theme system without preserving settings, your beloved dark mode could vanish with every update.
The Jakob’s Law Frustration
According to Jakob’s Law, users expect digital experiences to be consistent across platforms. If dark mode works on one app, you expect it to behave the same way everywhere. When an app breaks this norm, it disrupts user expectations, leading to unnecessary frustration.
Your Turn
Have you ever had to reset dark mode repeatedly? Did it make you abandon the app, or did you just sigh and re-enable it every time?