How to Enable and Use Dark Mode in LibreOffice

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Have you ever found yourself working late into the night, staring at the bright white screen of your word processor, looking for some way to give your eyes a rest? Well, Dark Mode has arrived, a feature that has been praised across various platforms and applications, including LibreOffice, for its potential benefits of reducing eye strain and saving power on devices with OLED screens. Enabling and using Dark Mode in LibreOffice may seem daunting to some, but fear not! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step by step, exploring every corner and every aspect of the application's settings to ensure you get a pleasant and comfortable user experience.

Understanding dark mode and its benefits

Dark mode is a display setting that creates a darker color scheme in the user interface. By inverting the color scheme to light text on a dark background, dark mode reduces the amount of light emitted from the screen, reducing its impact on the eyes, especially in low light conditions. Users who work at night or in low light environments often find this feature beneficial as it reduces glare and blue light exposure. Additionally, dark mode can enhance focus and concentration by reducing visual distractions.

For devices with OLED screens, dark mode can also contribute to power savings. On such screens, pixels are illuminated differently, and darker pixels consume less power. As a result, using dark mode can result in better battery life on smartphones and laptops equipped with OLED displays.

Activating dark mode in LibreOffice

LibreOffice, a free and open-source office suite, offers the facility to modify its appearance, including enabling dark mode. The process of activating dark mode in LibreOffice is simple, yet adjustable to suit personal preferences. Let us learn in detail about the steps involved in enabling this mode.

1. Open LibreOffice: First, open any LibreOffice application on your computer. This can be Writer, Calc, Impress, or any other application within the suite. This guide uses Writer as an example, but the steps are the same throughout the suite.
2. Accessing the Options Menu: Once you have opened LibreOffice, go to the 'Tools' menu on the top menu bar and select 'Options' from the dropdown. This will open the Options dialog box where you can make various customizations to your LibreOffice experience.
3. Personalization: In the Options dialog box, expand the LibreOffice category in the left panel by clicking the plus sign or the arrow next to it, then select 'Personalization.' This section allows you to change themes and modify UI elements.
4. Choose a theme: Under the Personalization settings, you will find several options, including choosing a theme. Although LibreOffice does not offer a traditional 'dark mode', it does allow you to choose a theme with a dark background. If you have a specific theme in mind, you can search for the appropriate theme or enter the URL.
5. High contrast theme (optional): LibreOffice is also compatible with system high contrast settings. If your operating system supports high contrast or dark themes, LibreOffice can automatically adjust its color scheme accordingly. To use this approach, locate your operating system's accessibility or display settings to select a high contrast theme.
6. Changing application colors: LibreOffice allows a great deal of customization of application colors. Under the 'View' section in the Options dialog, you can manually change the colors of the background, text, and application. This manual setting lets you create a personalized dark mode experience.
7. Adjusting font colors: To complement dark background colors, make sure text is visible and readable by adjusting font colors as needed. Go to 'Libreoffice' > 'Application Colors' and set the preferred colors for text, headings and hyperlinks to make sure they don't blend into the background.
8. Applying the changes: Once you've customized your theme and colors to your satisfaction, click the 'OK' button to apply the changes. Your LibreOffice interface should now reflect a more eye-friendly, dark-themed look.

Improving dark mode for better performance

After enabling dark mode, you may want to further refine your setup to maximize your convenience and productivity. Below are some tips to improve dark mode in LibreOffice:

• Document background vs. application background: You may want to keep your document background different from the application background to put more focus on the content. Access 'Libreoffice' > 'Application Colors', and specify colors for 'Document Background' and 'Application Background'.
• Customizing the colors of toolbars and menus: Adjusting the color of toolbars and menus can help achieve a uniform dark appearance. Use the same 'Application color' settings to set a preferred color that does not distract from the main task.
• Font readability: Choose fonts and line spacing that provide clear readability on dark backgrounds. Avoid thin or overly decorative fonts that can strain the eyes.
• Macro and formula editors: For users working with the macro or formula editors in LibreOffice, make sure the code or formulas are visible in whatever theme you use. Access editor-specific settings, if available, and customize their appearance.
• Consistent theme experience across devices: If you work on multiple devices, it can be beneficial to maintain a consistent look across all of them. Check the theme synchronization options available in your operating environment and LibreOffice installation.

The future of dark mode in LibreOffice

As users are demanding customizable and accessible software solutions, LibreOffice is constantly improving its offerings, including better support for dark mode. The developers consider user feedback to enhance aesthetics and functionality in future releases, possibly bringing native support for dark mode, eliminating the need for manual theme adjustments.

Conclusion

Enabling and using dark mode in LibreOffice not only provides relief to the eyes but also makes your working environment calmer and more productive. The flexibility that LibreOffice offers in customizing themes and colors ensures that you can mold your experience to your liking. Since energy efficiency and health-conscious features have become an integral part of modern software, understanding and using these settings is beneficial for both personal and professional users.

Find your instincts, play with themes and colors, and find the combination that works best for you. Remember, the main aim is to create a workplace that blends harmoniously with your environment and enhances your ability to produce high-quality work without much effort.

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