Chrome's dark mode is built in and takes two clicks to turn on

Dark mode in Chrome darkens the browser interface — the menus, tabs, and address bar — to reduce eye strain in low light. You turn it on in Chrome's settings under "Appearance," and the change applies when ready to the browser itself, not to the websites you visit. Website dark modes work separately and depend on whether each site offers one.

Chrome syncs your dark mode choice across devices if you're signed into your Google account, so turning it on your computer also turns it on your phone and tablet. The setting takes effect the next time you open Chrome on each device.

Key Takeaways

  • Dark mode in Chrome changes only the browser interface (tabs, menus, address bar), not the content of websites themselves.
  • You enable dark mode by opening Chrome settings, clicking "Appearance," and selecting "Dark" under the theme options.
  • Chrome can also follow your device's system dark mode setting, so it turns on and off automatically with your computer or phone.
  • Website dark modes are separate from browser dark mode and depend on whether each individual site has built one in.

Turn on dark mode on Windows or Mac

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select "Settings" from the menu that appears.

In the left sidebar, click "Appearance." Under "Theme," you'll see three options: Light, Dark, and Default. Click "Dark" to enable dark mode when ready. Your tabs, address bar, and all menus will turn dark right away.

If you want Chrome to match your computer's system setting instead, click "Default." This means if your Windows or Mac is set to dark mode, Chrome will be dark. If your system is set to light mode, Chrome will be light. This option is useful if you switch your system between light and dark mode at different times of day.

Turn on dark mode on Android or iPhone

Open the Chrome app and tap the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner (iPhone) or top right corner (Android). Tap "Settings."

Tap "Appearance." Under "Theme," select "Dark." The browser interface will turn dark when ready. On both Android and iPhone, you can also choose "Default" to follow your phone's system dark mode setting.

What dark mode changes and what it doesn't

Dark mode changes the Chrome browser interface only — the address bar, tabs, menus, and settings pages all turn dark. It does not change the websites you visit. If a website has its own dark mode, you need to turn that on separately within the website's settings, usually found in the site's account menu or preferences.

Some websites detect your system dark mode setting and automatically show you a dark version without you having to do anything. Others require you to toggle dark mode on within the site itself. A few websites don't offer dark mode at all, and they will remain light even if your browser and system are dark.

If you want websites to appear dark even when they don't have a built-in dark mode, you can use a Chrome extension that forces dark mode on all pages. These extensions are available in the Chrome Web Store and work by inverting colors or explore dark stylesheets to websites that lack native dark mode support.

Dark mode syncs across your devices

If you're signed into Chrome with your Google account, your dark mode choice syncs to all your devices. Turning dark mode on your computer will turn it on your phone and tablet the next time you open Chrome on those devices.

If you're not signed into Chrome, the setting applies only to that device. You would need to turn dark mode on separately for each computer or phone you use.

Turn off dark mode

To switch back to light mode, open Chrome settings, click "Appearance," and select "Light" under "Theme." The change takes effect when ready.

If you had selected "Default" to follow your system setting, you can switch to "Light" to keep Chrome light even if your computer or phone is set to dark mode. This is useful if you prefer the browser to be light while your system is dark, or vice versa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does dark mode in Chrome make websites dark?

No. Chrome's dark mode only changes the browser interface — tabs, menus, and the address bar. Websites remain the color they were designed to be. If a website has its own dark mode, you turn that on within the website's settings, not in Chrome.

Will dark mode drain my battery less?

On phones with OLED screens (most newer iPhones and many Android phones), dark mode uses less battery because black pixels require less power. On computers with standard LCD screens, dark mode makes no difference to battery life. The browser interface is a small part of your screen, so the battery savings are modest even on OLED phones.

Can I make websites dark if they don't have dark mode?

Yes, by installing a dark mode extension from the Chrome Web Store. These extensions force dark colors on websites that don't have built-in dark mode. Popular options include Dark Reader and Night Eye. Keep in mind that forced dark mode sometimes breaks website layouts or makes text hard to read, so test it on sites you use often.

Why is my Chrome still light after I turned on dark mode?

If you selected "Default" instead of "Dark," Chrome is following your system setting. Check your computer or phone's system settings to see if dark mode is actually enabled there. If your system is set to light mode, Chrome will be light even if you thought you turned on dark mode.