How to Enable Dark Mode in Google Chrome

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Dark mode has become a widely popular choice across various apps and devices due to its attractive appearance and reduced eye strain in low-light environments. The trend has even reached one of the most popular web browsers: Google Chrome. Enabling dark mode in Google Chrome is a straightforward process, and there are multiple ways to do it. We will provide a detailed explanation here to guide you through all the steps required to give your browsing experience a dark theme.

Understanding dark mode

Dark mode is a setting that changes the color scheme of an app or operating system to a dark background with light text. While this is mostly aesthetic, it can also help reduce eye strain, especially at night or in low light conditions. Many users prefer dark mode for its modern look, and it can also help save battery life on OLED screens since darker pixels consume less power.

Enabling dark mode in Chrome on different operating systems

Windows 10 and 11

1. Open the Settings app on your Windows PC. You can do this by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard and typing Settings, then pressing Enter.
2. In the Settings window, select the Personalization category.
3. From the menu on the left, select Colors.
4. Under the section called Choose your color, you'll find three options: Light, Dark, and Custom.
5. Select Dark. This will change the overall theme of your Windows applications to dark mode, and Chrome will automatically follow it.

Once you enable dark mode for Windows, any native application including Google Chrome will switch to the dark theme.

Mac OS

1. Click the Apple menu in the upper-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences.
2. In the System Preferences window, select General.
3. At the top of the General preferences, you'll find the Appearance options. There are usually three options: Light, Dark, and Auto.
4. Select Dark to apply the dark theme across all of macOS, including your Chrome browser.

macOS will apply the dark appearance to the entire system, and this will include all browsers and apps that support dark mode.

Chrome OS

1. Open your Chromebook settings by clicking the time in the lower-right corner, then selecting the gear icon.
2. Go to Appearance.
3. Here, you will find the option to toggle between light and dark themes. Select Dark to switch your Chromebook and Chrome browser to dark mode.

Enabling dark mode on a Chromebook is simple and affects the entire user interface, providing a consistent dark theme experience.

Enabling dark mode in Google Chrome browser

If you don’t want to switch your entire operating system to dark mode, or if your OS version doesn’t support system-wide dark mode, you can enable dark mode directly in the Google Chrome browser.

Using Chrome Flags

Chrome Flags are experimental features and settings that allow you to enable certain functionalities that are not yet available to everyone by default. Here's how you can enable dark mode using Chrome Flags:

1. Open Google Chrome on your computer.
2. Type chrome://flags in the address bar and press Enter.
3. In the search box at the top, type dark mode or force dark mode.
4. See Force dark mode for web content.
5. Change its setting from Default to Enabled using the dropdown menu adjacent to it.
6. Once enabled, you will be asked to relaunch Chrome. Click the Relaunch button to restart Chrome with the new settings.

Note: Enabling the flag may potentially change the functionality of your browser, as these features are experimental. Use this option with caution.

Using dark mode extensions

There are many browser extensions available that can help turn Chrome into a dark mode browser. Here is a simple guide to using one of these extensions:

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store.
2. Type dark mode in the search bar on the left and press Enter.
3. You will see several options for dark mode extensions. Browse through the list and choose one that suits your needs. Some popular options include Dark Reader and Just Black.
4. Click Add to Chrome when prompted, then click Add Extension.
5. Once installed, the extension icon will appear in the top-right corner of your browser. Click the icon to turn dark mode on or off.

Using an extension offers more flexibility, as you can enable and disable it with a single click. Additionally, many extensions allow for customization to suit your viewing preferences.

Practical tips and ideas

• Customization: Some users may find that dark mode can cause visibility issues on certain websites, usually where site designers have not optimized their content for dark backgrounds. Most extensions allow you to exclude certain sites from dark mode.
• Monitor changes: As you enable different dark modes, keep an eye out for any changes in functionality or appearance in Chrome. If a website behaves strangely, try disabling dark mode to see if that resolves the issue.
• Balance: Consider customizing your browsing experience not only with the dark theme, but also combining it with other adjustments, such as font customization or zoom level, to create the most comfortable viewing environment.

Benefits of using dark mode

Using dark mode in your web browser offers several benefits:

• Less eye strain: Your eyes are less likely to get tired because of the lower screen brightness. This is especially important in the evening, when eye strain can interfere with sleep.
• Battery savings: For devices with OLED screens, dark mode can save battery life because black pixels consume less power.
• Aesthetic appeal: Many users prefer dark mode because of its modern and attractive look.

Conclusion

Switching to the dark theme in Google Chrome can improve your browsing experience in a number of ways, including reducing eye strain and adding a stylish touch to your browser. Whether you convert your entire operating system to dark mode or adjust the settings in Chrome itself, the steps above efficiently guide you through the available options. If you encounter any problems, reverting to the standard settings or managing special exceptions for problematic sites can be easily implemented. Enjoy your new, fresh browsing with minimal effort!

With the above methods, you can easily apply dark mode on different operating systems and directly within Chrome. Just follow the detailed guide to choose your preferred method to get a comfortable and engaging online experience.

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