Where to find the theme settings
Google lets you change the appearance of Google Search and Gmail to a dark theme, light theme, or automatic theme that switches based on your device settings. The controls are in different places depending on whether you are on a computer or phone, and whether you are changing Search or Gmail.
On a computer, the theme button for Google Search appears in the bottom right corner of the search results page — it looks like a circle half-filled with black and half with white. Click it to cycle through your options. For Gmail, the settings icon is in the top right corner of your inbox; click it, then select "Display density" and look for the theme option in that menu.
On a phone or tablet, the process is similar but the buttons move. In the Google Search app, tap your profile picture in the top right, then "Settings," then "Theme." In Gmail, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left, scroll down to "Settings," tap your account, and look for "Theme."
Key Takeaways
- Google Search has a theme button in the bottom right corner of the results page on desktop, and in the Settings menu on mobile.
- Gmail's theme setting is in the Settings menu, which you reach through the gear icon on desktop or the three-line menu on mobile.
- You can choose light mode, dark mode, or automatic mode, which switches based on your device's system settings.
- The theme you choose in Google Search does not automatically change Gmail, and vice versa — you must set them separately.
- Dark mode reduces eye strain in low-light environments and uses less battery on phones with OLED screens.
Changing the theme on Google Search
On a desktop computer, go to Google.com and perform any search. At the bottom right of the page, you will see a small circular icon divided into light and dark halves. Click it once to switch to dark mode, click again to switch to light mode, and click a third time to set it to automatic (which follows your device's system preference).
On an Android phone, open the Google Search app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Settings," then tap "Theme." You will see three options: Light, Dark, and System Default. Choose whichever you prefer. On an iPhone, the process is the same — tap your profile picture, go to Settings, and select Theme.
Your Google Search theme choice is tied to your Google account, so it will carry over to any device you sign into with that account. If you use Google Search without signing in, the theme preference is stored locally on that device only.
Changing the theme in Gmail
On a computer, open Gmail and look for the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen. Click it and select "See all settings." You will land on the General tab. Scroll down until you see the "Theme" section, which shows thumbnail previews of Light, Dark, and other theme options. Click the one you want.
Gmail offers more theme choices than Google Search does — in addition to Light and Dark, you may see options like "Light Compact" or "Dark Compact," which reduce the spacing between messages. Some accounts also have access to themed backgrounds. Choose the one that feels most comfortable to read.
On a phone, open Gmail and tap the three-line menu icon in the top left. Scroll down and tap "Settings." Tap your email address, then scroll down to find "Theme." Select Light or Dark. Mobile Gmail has fewer theme options than the desktop version, but the choice you make will sync across your devices.
What automatic theme does
If you choose "System Default" or "Automatic," Google will watch your device's system settings and switch the theme for you. On most phones and computers, you can set your device to switch automatically at sunset, or at a specific time you choose.
This is useful if you use Google Search and Gmail during different times of day. In the morning and afternoon, your device stays in light mode; at night, it switches to dark mode without you having to do anything. You can change your device's automatic schedule in your system settings — this is usually under Display or Appearance, depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS.
Why dark mode matters if you use Google Search at night
Dark mode reduces the amount of bright light your screen sends to your eyes, which can help reduce eye strain during evening use. If you search on Google late at night or in dim rooms, dark mode makes the text easier to read without squinting.
On phones with OLED screens — which is most modern Android phones and all recent iPhones — dark mode also uses less battery power. OLED pixels produce their own light, so when a pixel displays black, it turns off completely. Light mode forces all pixels to stay on, which drains the battery faster.
Troubleshooting theme changes that do not stick
If you change your theme but it reverts back the next time you open Google or Gmail, the most common cause is that you are not signed into your Google account. Theme preferences are saved to your account, not to your browser. Sign out and sign back in, or check that you are actually logged in by looking for your profile picture in the top right corner.
If you are signed in and the theme still will not stay, try clearing your browser cache and cookies. Open your browser settings, find the option to clear browsing data, make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked, and clear it. Then sign back into Google and set your theme again.
On mobile, if the theme does not change, make sure you are using the official Google app or Gmail app, not a web browser. The theme setting in the app is separate from the theme setting on the mobile website. If you are using the web version, try switching to the app instead.
How theme choice relates to your search history
Changing your theme does not affect what Google stores about your searches or how it uses that information. Dark mode and light mode are purely visual — they change how the page looks, not what data Google collects or how it tracks you. Your search history is recorded the same way regardless of which theme you choose.
If you want to limit what Google stores about your searches, you would need to turn off Web & App Activity in your Google Account settings, or use Incognito mode when you search. Those are separate controls from the theme setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing the theme in Google Search also change Gmail?
No. Google Search and Gmail have separate theme settings. You must change them independently. You can have Google Search in dark mode and Gmail in light mode, or any other combination you prefer.
Will my theme choice sync across all my devices?
Yes, as long as you are signed into the same Google account on each device. If you use different accounts on different devices, each account will remember its own theme choice. If you use a device without signing in, the theme is stored only on that device.
Can I set a custom theme or background in Google Search?
Google Search offers only Light, Dark, and Automatic themes. You cannot upload a custom background or choose a specific color. Gmail offers more theme variety, including compact versions and themed backgrounds on some accounts, but Google Search itself is limited to those three options.
What if I want dark mode on my computer but light mode on my phone?
You can set different themes on different devices. The theme you choose is tied to the device you set it on, not to your account globally. If you want dark mode on your computer and light mode on your phone, straightforward set each device to your preference.
Does dark mode make Google Search faster or slower?
Dark mode does not affect how fast Google Search loads or how quickly it returns results. It only changes the appearance of the page. The speed of your search results depends on your internet connection and Google's servers, not on the color scheme you choose.