How to Enable Dark Mode for Google Chrome on a Mac. Enabling dark mode for Chrome on your Mac is pretty easy with Mac OS Mojave. This also applies to all the newer versions of Apple’s operating. When you browse in Dark mode or Dark theme in Chrome, your homepage, toolbar, settings, and some other pages will be dark. Note: Dark mode is available on: Mac OS 10.14 and up.
We’re sad to say there’s no real Chrome dark mode. Oddly enough, Google hasn’t given users the option for a Google Chrome dark mode within Chrome itself. It’s actually kind of strange!
There are other themes – and you can get close to a dark mode for Chrome using themes – but there’s just nothing officially labeled a dark mode.
To enable dark mode Chrome on your computer, you have to jump through some hoops. It involves changing your entire macOS system preference for display settings, toggling flags, installing an extension for Chrome, or browsing incognito. Ugh.
There are three ways to switch to dark mode in Chrome.
Enable Dark Mode in one click
Get the best apps to control your Mac settings. Best utilities in one pack, give it a go!
Google Chrome adheres to the Mac’s system preferences, so switching to the dark mode across your system will turn Chrome a bit darker. Here’s how to do it:
This will turn your entire macOS system dark, and give Chrome a totally darker shade – but only if you change Chrome’s theme. Within Chrome, click ‘customize’ on the bottom right corner of the home screen on Google.com, and select ‘no theme.’ If you have a theme set, the borders of Chrome will still be dark, but not the whole window.
Managing modes is difficult. And knowing how to turn off dark mode on Chrome is always handy, but fussy. Instead, we prefer One Switch for Mac, the app that quickly and easily manages dark mode (and other settings) for you Mac. When you need to turn off dark mode Chrome settings – and have used the system settings to enable Chrome’s dark mode – One Switch is far better.
One Switch lives in your menu bar, and has really simple toggles for things like dark mode, pairing headphones via Bluetooth, turning on night shift, and cleaning up your desktop (hiding and showing files and folders) in a pinch. We really like it for those who like dark mode for Chrome, but don’t want their whole system to remain dark all the time. You can toggle dark mode on One Switch, use Chrome, then toggle it back to light mode when you’re done.
In Chrome, there are flags (settings, really) that can toggle tons of features on and off. One of those is “Force Dark Mode for Web Contents,” and it’s actually pretty awesome. In Chrome, type chrome://flags into the URL field, and hit enter. Search for dark to find the flag, and switch it to ‘enabled.’ Then relaunch Chrome, and the entire web will be dark. If you’ve ever wondered ‘does Chrome have a dark mode,’ the answer is it does via flags. Awesome!
Dark Mode Chrome Extensions
Chrome extensions are popular for many users, with all kinds of extensions available for almost every use-case imaginable for the web. There are plenty of great Chrome extensions for toggling dark mode on, but we're not always fans of using a dark mode Chrome extension. They can be gateways for hackers to run code on your machine without you knowing it.
One way to manage extensions is with CleanMyMac X, an app we really love. It has a ton of features for keeping your Mac in tip top shape, including managing extensions. We prefer using CleanMyMac X because it totally removes extensions; sometimes, extensions can write to your computer’s system memory, and removing the extensions via Chrome doesn’t always remove all the junk those extensions leave behind.
With CleanMyMac X, managing extensions also manages all the associated files or folders they have. Using it ensures that when you delete an extension, you get rid of it completely.
Browsing Chrome in Incognito mode is a quick way to view dark mode, but keep in mind Incognito mode is really just a way to browse the web without any of your history appearing in Chrome. Using it each time is cumbersome. You have to go to Chrome > File > New Incognito Window, or the keyboard shortcut command-shift-N. It’s a bit of a pain, and not advisable for everyday use.
Dark mode, night mode, system settings, system preferences, always on, sometimes on – it can get confusing!
That’s the main reason we suggest One Switch. It makes quick work of toggling settings like dark mode, and lets you switch back and forth with ease. Many users are fans of dark mode, but want to switch back and forth at times. One Switch makes all that far simpler!
We also like CleanMyMac X for managing extensions, dark mode or otherwise. Chrome is far more powerful when you use extensions, but managing them can be tedious. Let CleanMyMac X do the work for you!
Both One Switch and CleanMyMac X are available free during a seven-day trial of Setapp, the world’s best suite of apps for your Mac. In addition to these two apps, you’ll gain unlimited access to Setapp’s entire catalog; dozens of apps with a wide range of uses we know you’ll love.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
Read onSign Up
Dark mode is all the rage nowadays, and it seems like every app has it. After all, browsing in dark mode is both easier on the eyes, and lets the content of every website stand out more.
However, making Google Chrome go into dark mode isn't as easy as some other apps. On most devices, there's no switch you can flip, or box you can check off.
Instead, to use dark mode in Chrome, you'll have to either edit your device's settings, download an extension or theme, or browse in incognito mode.
Here's how to do all of these, and start browsing in dark mode in Chrome on your Mac,PC, iPhone, or Android.
This method is performed through your Mac's system preferences, and it will set most of your applications to dark mode, not just Google Chrome.
1. Ensure that you're running macOS Mojave or later, and then click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen. Click 'System Preferences...' in the menu that appears.
2. Hit 'General.' It should be one of the first options.
3. At the top of the page, there will be three options: 'Light,' 'Dark,' and 'Auto.' Select 'Dark' to immediately put Chrome into dark mode, or 'Auto' if you only want dark mode to activate at night.
© William Antonelli/Business Insider Select “Dark” for full Dark Mode, or “Auto” to activate Light Mode during the day and Dark Mode at night. William Antonelli/Business Insider1. On a computer running Windows 10 or later, click the Windows icon in the bottom left corner, or tap the Windows key on your keyboard to open the 'Start' menu. Then click the icon that looks like a gear — this is the icon for your settings.
2. Select 'Personalization' from the list of options.
3. Hit 'Colors' in the left toolbar. Scroll down, and under 'Choose your default app mode,' select 'Dark.' Chrome will turn dark immediately.
© Microsoft Click 'Dark' to enable Dark Mode in Windows. MicrosoftVideo: Epic Games: Apple to end developer accounts, remove company from iOS and Mac tools on Aug. 28 (Fox Business)
One of the best things about Google Chrome is that if you find a feature it's missing, there's a good chance you can add that feature yourself with an extension or theme.
There are several extensions and many themes that will make Google Chrome display in dark mode. To find them, you'll need to head to the Google Chrome Web Store and search for 'dark mode.'
Once you do, you have a lot of options. Here are some examples.
The extension 'Dark Theme for Chrome' will give you a button that, when clicked, will change the colors on any webpage so white becomes black, black becomes white, and more. You can change the exact colors at any time.
© William Antonelli/Business Insider 'Dark Theme for Chrome' will change the colors of any webpage. William Antonelli/Business Insider'Material Incognito Dark Theme' will immediately darken your toolbars, but won't change anything on the websites you browse. You can edit your themes whenever you like.
Search for the extension or theme you like best.
You can turn on dark mode in the Google Chrome app on your iPhone by going to 'Display & Brightness' in your iPhone's 'Settings' menu, and choosing 'Dark' or 'Automatic.'
If your iPhone lacks dark mode, there's an alternative you can use to change the theme of Google Chrome through your Accessibility settings:
1. Go into your phone's 'Settings' app.
2. Scroll down and tap 'Accessibility.'
© Devon Delfino/Business Insider Choose 'Accessibility' in the 'Settings' menu. Devon Delfino/Business Insider3. Select 'Display and Text Size.'
© Devon Delfino/Business Insider Choose 'Display & Text Size.' Devon Delfino/Business Insider4. Under 'Vision,' toggle on either 'Classic Invert' or 'Smart Invert,' depending on your preferences. Your phone will flash and then immediately transition to the new mode.
© Devon Delfino/Business Insider Choose either 'Smart Invert' or 'Classic Invert.' Devon Delfino/Business Insider5. This adjustment will affect all applicable apps, including Google Chrome.
If you have an Android 5 device or higher, you can turn on dark mode directly in Google Chrome's settings menu.
1. Open Google Chrome on your Android device.
2. In the 'More' menu at the top right corner of the app (designated by three vertical dots), select 'Settings,' then choose 'Themes.'
3. Choose dark mode, or alternatively, light mode. You can also choose system default mode if you want Chrome to go dark only when your battery save mode is turned on, or if your Android device settings are set to dark mode for all applications.