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Appearance Settings

Customize the app's visual theme to match your preference.

Theme Options

Treadmill Assistant supports three appearance modes:

Light Mode

  • Bright, white background
  • Dark text
  • Best for well-lit environments
  • Easy to read in daytime

Light Mode

Dark Mode

  • Dark, black background
  • Light text
  • Easy on eyes in low light
  • Popular for night workouts
  • Saves battery on OLED screens

Dark Mode

System (Auto)

  • Follows your device's system settings
  • Automatically switches based on time of day (if configured in your device settings)
  • Matches rest of your apps
  • Recommended setting

Changing Theme

  1. Go to Settings tab (gear icon)
  2. Find Appearance section at top
  3. Tap your preferred theme:
    • Light
    • Dark
    • System (recommended)
  4. Change takes effect immediately

Theme Selector

System (Auto) Theme Details

How It Works

When set to "System":

  • App checks your device's appearance setting
  • In System Settings > Display & Brightness:
    • Light → App uses light mode
    • Dark → App uses dark mode
    • Automatic → App switches based on time

Benefits

  • Consistency across all apps
  • Automatically adjusts throughout day
  • No need to manually switch
  • Respects system-wide preference

System Dark Mode Schedule

In System Settings > Display & Brightness:

  • Automatic: Switches at sunset/sunrise based on location
  • Custom Schedule: Set specific times (e.g., 8 PM to 7 AM)
  • Always Light: Never goes dark
  • Always Dark: Always dark mode

Treadmill Assistant respects this setting when "System" is selected.

When to Use Each Theme

Use Light Mode When

  • Working out during daytime
  • In brightly lit rooms
  • You prefer high contrast
  • You always use light mode across all apps

Use Dark Mode When

  • Working out at night or early morning
  • In dim lighting conditions
  • You prefer dark themes
  • You want to save battery (OLED devices)

Use System (Auto) When

  • You want automatic switching
  • You use automatic appearance switching
  • You prefer consistency with other apps
  • You don't want to think about it (recommended!)

Theme and Readability

All themes are optimized for readability:

  • High contrast ensures text is always legible
  • Large buttons easy to tap during workout
  • Clear colors for stat cards and indicators
  • Accessibility standards met for both themes

Theme Persistence

Your theme choice:

  • Saves automatically when changed
  • Persists across app restarts
  • Syncs via cloud sync (if cloud sync sync enabled)
  • Same theme on all devices (with cloud sync)

Battery Considerations

Dark Mode and Battery

On devices with OLED screens (device X and newer):

  • Dark mode uses less power
  • Black pixels are actually off (no power draw)
  • Can extend battery life by 5-15%

On devices with LCD screens (older models):

  • Minimal battery difference
  • Backlight still on regardless of color
  • Choose based on preference, not battery

Does Theme Affect Performance?

No - theme switching:

  • No impact on app performance
  • No lag or slowdown
  • Instantaneous change
  • Lightweight operation

Accessibility

High Contrast

Both themes provide sufficient contrast:

  • Meets WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards
  • Text always clearly readable
  • Buttons and controls easy to distinguish

Dynamic Type Support

The app supports systemDynamic Type:

  • Text size adjusts based on system settings
  • Go to System Settings > Display & Brightness > Text Size
  • Adjust slider to increase/decrease text size
  • Treadmill Assistant respects this setting

Reduce Transparency

If systemReduce Transparency is enabled:

  • App reduces blur effects
  • Improves clarity
  • Reduces motion for some users
  • Respects accessibility preference

Theme Future Enhancements

Potential future features (not yet available):

  • Custom color themes
  • Color-blind friendly modes
  • High contrast option
  • Per-screen theme overrides

Submit feedback if you'd like to see these features!

Troubleshooting Theme Issues

Theme Not Changing

Problem: Selected theme doesn't apply

Solutions:

  • Close and reopen app
  • Check System Settings if using System theme
  • Restart device
  • Reinstall app (preserves data with cloud sync)

Looks Wrong in Light Mode

Problem: Light mode too bright or hard to read

Solutions:

  • Try Dark mode or System (auto)
  • Adjust device brightness
  • Enable systemTrue Tone (Settings > Display)
  • Check if Night Shift is on (affects colors)

Looks Wrong in Dark Mode

Problem: Dark mode too dim or hard to read

Solutions:

  • Try Light mode or System (auto)
  • Increase device brightness
  • Disable systemNight Shift temporarily
  • Check lighting conditions in room

While in Settings, you might also want to configure:

  • Workout Screen Lock - Keep screen on during workouts
  • Connection Settings - Auto-connect preferences
  • Treadmill Control - Enable/disable control

See other Settings documentation for details.

Next Steps

Having display issues? Check FAQ.