Leaked Screenshots Suggest Dark Mode Is Coming to macOS Sierra

When Apple executives showcased the all-new macOS Sierra at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote last month, it was seen by all who were following along that a plethora of new features would be coming to the debut installment of Apple’s re-branded desktop operating system when it launches later on this year.

And while there’s plenty to be excited about — including that advanced Siri integration, new system design elements, tabbed apps, and more, another new feature is causing quite the stir among Apple fans. It’s all but confirmed that the Cupertino-company will be releasing macOS Sierra, featuring at least some integration of a new ‘Dark Mode’ theme option.

However, although these dark hued system elements were originally believed to be limited to just the dock, menu bar, and perhaps a few other strategic locations in macOS, recent screenshots uploaded to Twitter by a software developer show us that this darkened theme may be expanded to other aspects of the operating system — including the backgrounds of several system apps like Safari, Mail, and more.

Of course, it remains unconfirmed if these darker elements will eventually see the light of day or not. However, the screenshots, which appear to show macOS Sierra’s System Preferences window ornamented by a dark-themed background, are the most concrete proof we’ve seen to date suggesting that the aforementioned may ultimately be the case.

What adds more fuel to the fire of this speculation is that code for this apparent ‘dark mode’ was recently discovered in iOS 10, as well. And since Apple laid out the case for creating consistency and continuity between its mobile and desktop operating system at WWDC, it would only seem reasonable to assume that the company is bringing a dark theme of some sort to both iOS 10 and macOS Sierra, right?

Well, of course — and hey, even tvOS will be joining the ‘dark mode’ party later on this year, when tvOS 3 is released for Apple’s highly acclaimed TV set-top box.

And it’s about time Apple released a dark theme for its desktop and mobile operating systems. The company has for years stuck to the more traditional bright whites and grays that currently ornament the backgrounds of OS X and iOS windows, respectively. And while some users prefer those for exactly what they are, others have griped that Apple should release a darker theme for those not wanting to expose their eyes to long periods of bright, white light — especially in low light environments, or when the day is drawing to a close.

It’s also quite possible that Apple is laying the groundwork for its rumored transition to OLED displays for the 2017 iPhone and beyond. OLED, which is short for Organic Light Emitting Diode, is a display technology that is more synonymous with darker colors — since it displays richer blacks thanks to the omission of traditional LCD backlighting.

Are you excited to experience ‘Dark Mode’ on macOS Sierra and iOS 10? Let us know in the comments!

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]