How to Get Colored Chat Themes in Instagram DMs

To get colored messages in Instagram, open the conversation in Direct, tap the person's name at the top of the screen, choose Theme, and tap any gradient or color. The theme applies instantly and is visible to both people in the chat. The feature works the same on iOS and Android as long as your app is up to date.

Where is the theme button in Instagram Direct?

The theme button lives inside a specific chat's settings, not in your general profile settings. That's exactly why people miss it: they look for color in the account gear, but it sits inside the conversation.

1. Open Instagram and go to Direct (the messages icon in the top-right corner of the feed).
2. Enter the conversation you want to customize.
3. Tap the person's name or the group name at the top of the screen to open the chat settings menu.
4. Find the Theme option.
5. Pick a ready-made gradient, a solid color, or a themed set and confirm.

In practice, we tested this: the theme is tied to the conversation, not to your device. Change the color from your phone and you'll see it on a tablet, in the web version, and your chat partner sees it too.

How to change a chat theme on iOS and Android — step by step

The steps on iPhone and Android are almost identical; only small label wording differs. Here is the exact path for both systems in one table.

On iOS there's usually no separate save button — the theme sets right after you tap it. On Android you sometimes need to go back for the choice to stick.

What colors and gradients are available in themes?

Instagram offers several groups of designs: solid colors, ready-made gradients, and themed sets (for example love, night, holidays). Newer app versions added the option to build your own theme from a chosen color and an emoji background.

• A theme changes the color of message bubbles and accents, but does not affect the app's overall dark or light mode.
• Some gradients appear only in newer versions — if you see few options, update Instagram.

Why do I not have the Theme button in Instagram?

Most often the theme button is missing because of an outdated app or the phased rollout — Meta enables it in waves across accounts and regions. Less commonly, the cause is your account type or chat restrictions.

1. Outdated app. Update Instagram in the App Store or Google Play to the latest version.
2. Phased rollout. The feature may not have reached your account yet — wait and check again later.
3. Web version and old devices. In the browser and on very old phones the theme set is trimmed or unavailable.
4. Restricted chat. In message requests and blocked conversations themes may not open.

If the button still doesn't appear after updating, try reinstalling the app and logging back in — this clears the interface cache.

Common mistakes

• Looking for color in profile settings. The theme is set inside a specific chat via the person's name, not in general account settings.
• Confusing theme with dark mode. A colored chat theme and the app's dark mode are different things and are set separately.
• Not updating the app. On an old version the theme button or new gradients simply don't exist.
• Expecting only you to see the color. The theme is shared: your chat partner also sees the chosen gradient.
• Trying it in the web version. The full theme set is more reliable in the mobile app.

A nicely styled Direct is a pleasant touch, but a lively, active profile matters far more to followers. Once your chats are set up, the logical next step is growing the account. You can start with free Instagram services, and along the way these guides help: how to change the language in Instagram and how to turn on dark mode in Instagram.

If your goal is fast, visible growth, take a look at Instagram followers services on SMM Hub: a careful boost as one starter tool — safe, no password, with gradual delivery.

In short

To turn on colored messages in Instagram, open a chat in Direct, tap the person's name, choose Theme, and tap a color or gradient — both people will see the design. If the button is missing, update the app and wait for the phased rollout. The chat theme and dark mode are configured separately.