What is Ambient Mode on YouTube?: Discover the Hidden Feature You Didn’t Know You Needed

| Updated on November 19, 2025

YouTube Ambient Mode is a graphical visual effect that casts a soft, glowing tint around the video to match its colors, making your viewing experience engaging and smooth. Remarkably, this automatically turns on when you enable dark mode and is also accessible on both mobile and desktop. 

So, if you are interested in knowing more about “what is ambient mode on YouTube?” and “how to turn ambient mode off and on?”, keep reading this article.

What is Ambient Mode on YouTube? How Does Ambient Mode Work? 

The YouTube ambient mode is a feature that gives you a gentle glow around the video player. It matches the color tones of whatever content you are playing on the screen, delivering an impressive effect as if the video is melting into the background. 

This effect makes your viewing experience more pleasant and is easier on the eyes, especially when you are using your device in the gloom.  Notably, it is available in a dark mode and supports all devices. 

Therefore, simply put, YouTube ambient mode adds an extra cinematic touch to your viewing experience on the platform. 

How to Turn On Ambient Mode on YouTube on Different Devices?

Whether on a computer or a mobile device, the process of turning on YouTube ambient mode hardly takes 2–3 minutes of your time. Accordingly, check out the upcoming section to know the steps precisely. 

1. How to Turn On Ambient Mode YouTube Using Android and iOS? 

Adhere to the steps mentioned below to turn on this feature on your mobile. 

Notes

Interestingly, the process to turn on ambient mode on iOS and Android is exactly the same. 

  1. Locate the YouTube app on your device. 
    Locate the YouTube app on your device
  1. Tap on your profile picture, situated in the bottom right corner. 
    Tap on your profile picture
  1. Go for the gear icon (⚙️), situated in the top right corner. 
    Go for the gear icon
  1. Navigate to the General settings option. 
    Navigate to the General settings option
  1. Tap on Appearance
    Tap on Appearance
  1. Select the Dark theme option from the pop-up setting panel. 
    Select the Dark theme

Notes

The ambient mode automatically gets turned on when you enable the dark mode. But if you still haven’t got the changes on your screen, follow the steps mentioned below. 

  1. Go back to the home page and play the video you want to watch. 
    Play the video you want to watch
  1. Navigate to the settings icon on the watch page. 
    Navigate to the settings icon
  1. Tap on the More option. 
    Tap on the More option
  1. Lastly, tap on the Ambient mode toggle to turn it on. 
    Tap on the Ambient mode toggle

Thus, by following the aforementioned steps, you can easily turn on this amazing YT feature on your device in a few minutes. 

2. How to Turn On Ambient Mode YouTube Using Desktop? 

Here, we have illustrated the steps of how you can easily turn on YT ambient mode on your computer. Check them out. 

  1. Open any web browser on your device. For instance, Google Chrome
    Open any web browser
  1. Visit the official website of YouTube
    Go to the official website of YouTube
  1. Click on your profile picture located in the right corner of your screen. 
    Click on your profile picture
  1. Navigate to Appearance: Light from the list of options. 
    Navigate to the Appearance option
  1. Select the Dark theme from the list.
    Select the Dark themes

Notes

The ambient mode automatically gets turned on when you enable the dark mode. But if you still haven’t gotten the changes on your screen, follow the steps mentioned below. 

  1. Click on the video you want to watch. 
    Click on the video you want to watch
  1. Go for the settings icon from the watch page. 
    Go for the settings icon
  1. Lastly, click on the Ambient mode toggle to turn it on. 
    Click on the Ambient mode toggle to turn it on

How to Turn Off Ambient Mode on YouTube on Different Devices?

Remember, when you switch your YT screen to light them, this feature will automatically get disabled. But if you wish to turn ambient mode off in your dark mode theme, adhere to the steps mentioned below. 

1. How to Turn Off Ambient Mode on YouTube Using Android and iOS?

  1. Locate the YouTube app on your device. 
    Locate the YouTube app on your device
  1. Tap on the video you want to watch. 
    Play the video you want to watch
  1. Navigate to the settings icon on the watch page. 
    Navigate to the settings icon
  1. Tap on the More option. 
    Tap on the More option
  1. Lastly, tap on the Ambient mode toggle to turn it off. 
    Tap on the Ambient mode toggle

2. How to Turn Off Ambient Mode on YouTube Using a Desktop? 

  1. Open any web browser on your device. For instance, Google Chrome
    Open any web browser
  1. Visit the official website of YouTube
    Go to the official website of YouTube
  1. Click on the video you want to watch. 
    Click on the video you want to watch
  1. Go for the settings icon from the watch page. 
    Go for the settings icon
  1. Lastly, click on the Ambient mode toggle to turn it off. 
    Click on the Ambient mode toggle to turn it off

Troubleshooting Common Issues of Ambient Mode YouTube

If your ambient mode is not working as expected, below we have some useful solutions for you. Take a quick look. 

  1. Ensure you are using the latest version of the platform, and if not, go to the Google Play Store and update your application to access the newly introduced features. 
  1. This feature may not support older devices. Check whether your mobile or PC is compatible with the new features of YouTube. 
  1. If you are unable to locate the ambient mode toggle, just try to turn on the dark theme of the platform. This will automatically enable this feature on your screen. 
  1. Ambient mode requires a robust internet connection. Make sure you are connected to your Wi-Fi. 
  1. If your screen lags while using this feature, try closing unnecessary apps active in the background and clearing the browser caches. 

Bottom Line 

In a nutshell, now that you know what is ambient mode on YouTube and how to manage it, you can streamline your streaming sessions according to your preference.

So, what are you waiting for? Go to YT now and start enjoying your favorite movie or drama with a more cinematic touch! 

FAQ

What is YouTube ambient mode?

This is a visual effect that delivers a softness and a tone color glow in the background of your video. It merges the screen and the video player to reduce the density of the lighting and enhance your viewing experience. 

Is YouTube’s ambient mode good for the eyes? 

Yes, this feature is especially introduced to reduce the strain on the eyes while enjoying video content on the YT. 

Does ambient mode affect the device battery? 

Yes, this mode drains the device’s battery life because it often keeps features like displays and sensors active. 

Does ambient mode reduce video quality?

No, it does not impact the video quality. In fact, this mode adds an extra touch of cinematic smoothness to your viewing experience. 


Janvi Panthri

Senior Writer, Editor


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