[Kiosk] Kiosk mode does not activate scheduled dark mode

[gmcinalli]

iOS device model, version and app version
Model Name: iPad 9th Generation
Software Version: 26.4.2
App version: 2026.4.1

Home Assistant Core Version
2026.4.4

Describe the bug
As per the title, when you enable kiosk mode and guided access on iOS/iPadOS with screen timeout disabled, once you reach the scheduled or sunrise/sunset time when dark mode should be enabled, dark mode does not enable and remains in light mode.

The only way to enable it is to turn off Guided Access, go into the iOS/iPadOS display settings, and toggle the setting to force it to update.

To Reproduce

1. Enable kiosk mode
2. Wait for the scheduled dark mode period to enter, or set a specific time for the test.
3. Dark mode should not be set.

Expected behavior
When you enter the dark mode programming, it should be activated.

[bgoncal]

Thats weird, it sounds like a bug in iOS itself, but to confirm that, the next time it happens can you open the companion app settings and check if the correct color mode is displayed there?

The reasoning behind it is that the companion app settings in a native UI and not web, so if the color mode does not reflect there either, then I don't think we can fix form the app side and will need to open a bug to Apple.

[gmcinalli]

The entire system actually remains in light mode, so also the companion app's settings. It's as if the trio of Guided Access, Always-On Display (no timeout), and the companion app's kiosk mode screensaver (Clock) conflict with iOS/iPadOS's automatic dark mode.

This also happens on my 6th-generation iPad, running iPadOS 17.7.10.

Can't you think of any code that could block this automatic system behavior? I'm sure that automatic dark mode works even if you're using the device at the exact moment it's supposed to activate. I've seen the system go dark several times while I'm using it, on iPhone and iPad.

[bgoncal]

Not really, unless we are explicit overriding the interface somewhere in the code there is nothing else that prevents the UI for transitioning. @nstefanelli can you think of something you have added that could cause that?

[bgoncal]

@gmcinalli Can you try with other apps in guided access to see if the same happens? I used some custom apps (that I made just for myself) in the past that were also presenting this issue when in guided access so it could be an iOS thing.

If I find anything else I will post here

[gmcinalli]

I've actually always used the HA's companion app with Guided Access enabled on my wall-mounted iPads, and everything worked fine with the automatic dark mode.

The only thing I didn't do before was keep the screen always on, because there wasn't an automatic screensaver with reduced brightness. Maybe I can try keeping Guided Access as before, without kiosk mode but with the screen always on, and see if dark mode activates or not, so we can rule out something in kiosk mode that's causing it.

[bgoncal]

That would be helpful, thanks

[gmcinalli]

Here I am with an update, without kiosk mode, with Guided Access enabled and screen timeout disabled in the iPadOS settings: I'm having the same problem.

The only thing left for me to try is another app instead of Home Assistant, so we can see if the problem is completely unrelated to you.

If the problem is on the Apple side, meh, we might as well give up; it will never be solved, as it's been around since iPadOS 17, as I wrote...

[bgoncal]

Please try and let me know, but your expectatations are correct unfortunately... the only workaround I see is creating commands to force specific modes and then creating automations based on time :/

[gmcinalli]

Oh, thanks! That would be something, as long as I can use kiosk mode like I do now. As soon as I test it, I'll post the results here anyway.

[gmcinalli]

@bgoncal I tried putting Safari into Guided Access and it doesn't turn on dark mode, which is absurd, it seems to be a bug in iPadOS/iOS, you said you've encountered something like this before, right?

[bgoncal]

Yes, perhaps it's how Apple wanted guided access when they created the feature, like... what the user sees stay intact until guided access is disabled... in the end it wasn't made for the use case we all use in our homes unfortunately