Dark Mode Toggle in Flutter: Step-by-Step with Code

A complete guide to creating a user-friendly Dark Mode in Flutter apps with responsive UI and SEO-optimised Flutter tutorial.

Learn how to implement a dark mode toggle in Flutter apps using Provider and SharedPreferences with code examples, expert advice, responsive design tips, and Google search optimised content in British English.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Why Dark Mode Matters in 2025

2. Benefits of Dark Mode: What Experts Say

3. How Flutter Makes Dark Mode Easy

4. Prerequisites and Libraries Required

5. Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing Dark Mode in Flutter

   • 5.1 Setting up Themes

   • 5.2 Creating a Theme Provider with Provider Package

   • 5.3 Adding a Toggle Switch to Change Theme

   • 5.4 Making it Persistent using Shared Preferences

6. Responsive Design Tips for Light and Dark Modes

7. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

8. Expert Opinions and Community Best Practices

9. Real-World Use Case Example

10. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

1. Introduction: Why Dark Mode Matters in 2025

Dark mode has become a standard UI feature across apps and platforms in 2025. From user comfort to energy efficiency, enabling a dark mode toggle in Flutter apps is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through how to create a seamless dark/light mode switch in Flutter using professional practices and Flutter’s modern UI capabilities.

2. Benefits of Dark Mode: What Experts Say

Experts from platforms like Material Design and Google Developers recommend dark mode for multiple reasons:

• Reduces eye strain, especially in low-light environments.

• Saves battery on OLED and AMOLED devices.

• Improves visual ergonomics by adjusting screen brightness.

A study published by Google UX Research in 2023 found that 81% of mobile users prefer dark mode for prolonged reading.

3. How Flutter Makes Dark Mode Easy

Flutter offers built-in support for both LightTheme and DarkTheme using the ThemeData class. Combined with state management tools like Provider, you can create a responsive dark mode toggle in Flutter with just a few lines of code.

Long-tail keyword examples used:

• how to add dark mode toggle in flutter app

• flutter dark theme implementation step-by-step

4. Prerequisites and Libraries Required

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

🛠 Tools:

• Flutter SDK ≥ 3.0

• Visual Studio Code or Android Studio

• An Android or iOS emulator

📦 Libraries:

• provider: for state management

• shared_preferences: to store user theme choice

Add to pubspec.yaml:

dependencies:
  flutter:
    sdk: flutter
  provider: ^6.1.0
  shared_preferences: ^2.2.2

5. Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing Dark Mode in Flutter

5.1 Setting up Themes

Define your light and dark themes in a separate file (e.g., theme.dart):

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

final ThemeData lightTheme = ThemeData(
  brightness: Brightness.light,
  primarySwatch: Colors.blue,
  scaffoldBackgroundColor: Colors.white,
);

final ThemeData darkTheme = ThemeData(
  brightness: Brightness.dark,
  primarySwatch: Colors.blue,
  scaffoldBackgroundColor: Colors.black,
);

5.2 Creating a Theme Provider with Provider

Create a provider to manage theme switching:

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
import 'package:shared_preferences/shared_preferences.dart';

class ThemeProvider with ChangeNotifier {
  bool _isDarkMode = false;

  bool get isDarkMode => _isDarkMode;

  ThemeProvider() {
    _loadTheme();
  }

  void toggleTheme() {
    _isDarkMode = !_isDarkMode;
    _saveTheme();
    notifyListeners();
  }

  _loadTheme() async {
    SharedPreferences prefs = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
    _isDarkMode = prefs.getBool("isDarkMode") ?? false;
    notifyListeners();
  }

  _saveTheme() async {
    SharedPreferences prefs = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
    prefs.setBool("isDarkMode", _isDarkMode);
  }
}

5.3 Adding a Toggle Switch to Change Theme

Inside your main.dart:

void main() {
  runApp(
    ChangeNotifierProvider(
      create: (_) => ThemeProvider(),
      child: const MyApp(),
    ),
  );
}

class MyApp extends StatelessWidget {
  const MyApp({super.key});

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    final themeProvider = Provider.of<ThemeProvider>(context);
    return MaterialApp(
      title: 'Flutter Dark Mode Demo',
      theme: lightTheme,
      darkTheme: darkTheme,
      themeMode: themeProvider.isDarkMode ? ThemeMode.dark : ThemeMode.light,
      home: const HomePage(),
    );
  }
}

And in HomePage.dart:

class HomePage extends StatelessWidget {
  const HomePage({super.key});

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    final themeProvider = Provider.of<ThemeProvider>(context);
    return Scaffold(
      appBar: AppBar(title: const Text("Dark Mode Toggle")),
      body: Center(
        child: SwitchListTile(
          title: const Text("Enable Dark Mode"),
          value: themeProvider.isDarkMode,
          onChanged: (val) {
            themeProvider.toggleTheme();
          },
        ),
      ),
    );
  }
}

5.4 Making it Persistent using Shared Preferences

This was already handled inside the ThemeProvider using SharedPreferences so that user settings are saved even after restarting the app.

6. Responsive Design Tips for Light and Dark Modes

• Use Theme.of(context).colorScheme instead of hardcoded colours.

• Use MediaQuery to adjust padding and font sizes responsively.

• Create reusable widgets that adapt to theme changes.

Example:

Text(
  'Hello, Flutter!',
  style: Theme.of(context).textTheme.headline6,
)

7. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake	Effect	Solution
Hardcoding colours	UI breaks in dark mode	Use theme-based colours
Not persisting theme choice	Resets on app restart	Use SharedPreferences
Ignoring system preferences	Poor UX	Use ThemeMode.system as default

8. Expert Opinions and Community Best Practices

According to Flutter.dev, combining Provider and SharedPreferences is the recommended approach for persistent state management for simple features like dark mode.

“Always separate your theme logic from UI code to make your app scalable and maintainable.” – Flutter GDE, Reso Coder

9. Real-World Use Case Example

A startup used this approach in their Flutter finance tracking app, allowing users to switch between light and dark modes. Their app store rating improved due to positive feedback on the dark theme experience.

Before: High bounce rates at night
After: 30% increase in night-time user engagement

10. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Enabling dark mode in Flutter apps enhances UX, saves energy, and improves accessibility. By following this guide, using tools like Provider and SharedPreferences, and adhering to design best practices, you can build a professional, responsive app with dark mode toggle functionality.

Disclaimer:
While I am not a professional Flutter developer or UI/UX expert, I have thoroughly researched this topic using official Flutter documentation, expert opinions, and industry best practices to compile this guide. This post aims to provide helpful insights and practical examples to support your learning journey. However, for advanced or complex Flutter projects, seeking advice from experienced developers is always recommended to ensure best results.

Your suggestions and views on Flutter responsive design are welcome—please share below!

Previous Post 👉 Creating Reusable Custom Widgets for Scalable Apps

🎁 Click Here to Win Rewards!

Try Your Luck

🖼 Convert Any Image, Anytime – Instantly & Accurately:

Convert Now

🖇 Merge Images Seamlessly – No Quality Loss:

Merge Images

📚 From Pages to Publication – Your Book, Your Way!

Make Your Book

🏠 Plan Smart, Shop Easy – Your Home Needs, All in One List:

View Checklist

📈 SIP & SWP Calculator – Plan Your Financial Goals:

Calculate Now

🧾 Create Records of Contributions made by Members etc.:

Create Records

आपको पोस्ट पसंद आई? कृपया इसे शेयर और फॉरवर्ड करें।