# Dark mode

> The community theme (Light, Dark or Automatic, which follows the device), the logo for dark backgrounds, each person's choice in My Account › Appearance, and what stays light.

The community can show a light background, a dark background, or follow each person's device theme. The choice applies to the whole app, **Administration** included.

## What it is for

For people who spend hours in the community at night, for a brand that is already dark (a music studio, a gaming community), or simply to respect what each person picked on their phone and computer.

## How it works

### The community mode

In **Settings › Brand and appearance**, the **Theme** card (*"How the community looks to anyone who has not picked another theme. Applies to the whole app, Administration included."*) has the **Mode** field:

| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Light** (default) | *"Light background, as always."* |
| **Dark** | *"Dark background on every screen."* |
| **Automatic** | *"Follows each person's device theme."* If the person switches the device theme, the community switches too, without reloading |

There is no save button: the mode takes effect as soon as you click it. The community's [colors](/configuracoes/cores) still apply, with shades adjusted for the dark background.

### Enabled by Memberfy

The dark theme is enabled by Memberfy, community by community. Without it, the **Mode** field shows only **Light**, with the notice *"The dark theme is not enabled for this community yet. To use it, contact Memberfy support."*

If it is turned off again, the community goes back to light for everyone; the mode you had picked is kept and comes back when the dark theme is enabled again.

### Logo for dark backgrounds

With the theme enabled, the **Theme** card shows the **Logo for dark backgrounds**, used instead of the logo when the screen is in the dark theme. Without it, the regular logo sits on a light plate so it stays readable. Best is a **PNG with a transparent background** (JPG and WebP also work). **Upload logo** uploads, **Replace logo** swaps it, and the trash can (**Remove the logo for dark backgrounds**) goes back to the regular logo on the plate. Uploading the dark logo never changes the regular logo (see [Images and SEO](/configuracoes/imagens-e-seo)).

### What stays light

**E-mails**, **certificates** and the **recognition art** stay light in every mode: they are made to be printed, downloaded or opened elsewhere, where the community's background does not apply.

### Each person's choice

With the theme enabled, each person has the **My Account › Appearance** section (*"The theme you see in this community."*), with the **Theme** field:

| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Follow the community** (default) | The mode the community picked (*"Now: light."*, *"Now: automatic, by device."*) |
| **Light** | *"Always a light background."* |
| **Dark** | *"Always a dark background."* |
| **Device** | *"Light or dark, as your device is set."* |

The choice *"Applies only to this browser and this community."*: it is not sent to the server, so in another browser, on another device or in another community the person sees the community's mode again. Without the dark theme enabled, the **Appearance** section does not show.

### Who can

The community mode and the logo for dark backgrounds: **owner** and **admin**. The choice in **My Account › Appearance**: anyone, for themselves.

## Step by step

*Role: owner or admin.*

1. **Settings › Brand and appearance**, **Theme** card.
2. In **Mode**, click **Dark** or **Automatic**. If only **Light** shows, contact Memberfy support to enable the dark theme.
3. In **Logo for dark backgrounds**, **Upload logo** and pick a PNG with a transparent background.
4. Open the community on a phone in the dark theme and check the header and the buttons.

*For yourself:* **My Account › Appearance** and pick **Light**, **Dark**, **Device** or **Follow the community**.

## Examples

**Gaming community.** Mode **Dark**, with the white logo as a transparent PNG for the **Logo for dark backgrounds**. Anyone who prefers reading on light picks **Light** in **My Account › Appearance**.

**School with a mixed audience.** Mode **Automatic**: whoever uses their phone in the dark theme sees the school dark; whoever uses light sees it light. Certificates still come out light.

## Tips

- Pick **Automatic** if you are unsure: each person sees it the way they already use their device.
- The logo for dark backgrounds is usually the white or light version of the brand.
- After turning it on, check the community colors in the dark: a very dark primary shade can lose contrast with the background.

## Common errors and how to fix them

| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Only **Light** shows in **Mode** | The dark theme is not enabled for the community yet: contact Memberfy support |
| The logo sits on a light plate in the dark theme | Upload the **Logo for dark backgrounds** |
| I picked **Dark** in **My Account › Appearance** and it is light on my other computer | The choice applies only to that browser: pick it again on the other one |
| I cannot find **My Account › Appearance** | The section only shows when the community has the dark theme enabled |

## FAQ

**Do the e-mails the community sends turn dark?**
No. E-mails, certificates and the recognition art stay light.

**Does Administration turn dark too?**
Yes. The mode applies to the whole app.

**Is the chosen mode lost if the dark theme is turned off?**
No. The community shows light while it is off, and the chosen mode comes back when it is enabled again.

**Can the assistant (MCP) change the theme?**
No. The theme is changed on screen or through the API.

## In the API

- Community reads carry `appearance`: `mode` (`light`, `dark` or `auto`, what the community picked), `effectiveMode` (what applies now: `light` while the theme is not enabled), `darkLogoUrl` and `darkModeAllowed`. A community that never changed it reads `light`, with no dark logo.
- [`PATCH /api/communities/appearance`](/api/referencia/communities/update-community-appearance) (owner and admin): `mode` and `darkLogoUrl` (`null` removes it). `dark` or `auto` without the dark theme enabled answer `422`; sending the same state again answers `changed: false`. The change goes to the [Logs](/membros/registros-de-atividades).
- [`POST /api/upload/community/logo`](/api/referencia/uploads/post-upload-community-logo) with `variant=dark` uploads the dark logo file and returns only `data.url`, without replacing the regular logo; then save the URL with the `PATCH` above.

## Through the assistant (MCP)

Ask the assistant to change the theme or the logo for dark backgrounds (*"put the community on the automatic theme"*), with [`update_community_appearance`](/mcp/ferramentas-comunidade#update-community-appearance), for the owner and the admin; it always asks to confirm. [`get_community_settings`](/mcp/ferramentas-comunidade#get-community-settings) shows the current theme and whether dark is enabled.

## Related

- [Colors](/configuracoes/cores)
- [Images and SEO](/configuracoes/imagens-e-seo)
- [Account and profile](/conceitos/conta-e-perfil)