Instagram finally gets a dark icon on iOS 18

While iOS 18’s redesigned Photos app and Control Center got mixed responses, it looks like Instagram has surprised iOS 18 users with a slick new visual update that brings a dark mode icon for the app, much to the delight of users. As part of the app’s latest v349 update, the social platform has finally embraced the dark side, offering a moody new icon that complements iOS 18’s theming options.

Now, Instagram joins the ranks of third-party apps like YouTube and Bluesky, which have also taken advantage of the dark app icons feature. However, Instagram’s update arrived without any fanfare in its generic changelog.

For some Instagram fans, this change has been a long time coming. Some users have already noticed the sleek new dark icon pop up on their home screens shortly after updating their devices, while others are still waiting impatiently. Interestingly, not every iOS 18 user has spotted the icon change, implying that this is a server-side tweak from Instagram rather than something baked into the update itself.

But don’t worry! If your Instagram icon is still holding onto its original colors, there are a few tricks you can try to speed up the transformation.

First off, head to the App Store and manually search for Instagram. Sometimes the update doesn’t show up automatically in your feed, so you might need to nudge it along. If that doesn’t work, deleting the app and reinstalling it has been a surefire method for several users to unlock the dark icon magic.

This update may not seem huge at first glance, but for those who love a fully dark mode aesthetic, it’s a welcome addition to the ever-evolving Instagram experience. Keep an eye out for future tweaks, and who knows — maybe other 3rd-party apps (looking at you, Reddit and Snapchat) will follow Instagram’s lead sooner rather than later.