Bright screens can feel uncomfortable, especially at night. Google Chrome dark mode changes the browser’s bright areas into darker colors, making tabs, menus and settings easier to view in a dim room.

This guide shows you how to turn on Chrome dark mode on Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone and iPad. You will also learn what to do when Chrome is dark but the websites you open are still bright white.

How to Make Chrome Dark Mode: Quick Answer

The fastest way to enable dark mode in Google Chrome on a computer is:

 

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Open a new tab.
  3. Click Customize Chrome in the bottom-right corner.
  4. Find Appearance.
  5. Select Dark.

 

You can also select Device if you want Chrome to follow the light or dark mode used by your computer. Google confirms that Chrome’s dark setting changes areas such as the homepage, toolbar, settings and some other browser pages.

 

On Android, go to:

 

Chrome > More > Settings > Theme > Dark

 

On iPhone and iPad, Chrome follows the dark mode setting used by iOS or iPadOS.
 
Chrome’s built-in dark mode changes the browser interface, but many websites may still appear bright. To apply dark mode to website content as well, use Night Eye.
Get Dark Mode for Every Website

Table of contents

  1. How to Make Chrome Dark Mode: Quick Answer
  2. Method 1: Enabling Chrome’s Built-In Dark Mode
  3. Method 2: Enabling Dark Mode on Mobile Devices
  4. Method 3: How to Force Dark Mode on All Websites Using Chrome Flags
  5. The Limitation of Native Chrome Dark Mode
  6. The Solution: Using a Smart Dark Theme Extension
  7. Chrome Dark Mode vs Forced Dark Mode vs Night Eye
  8. Chrome Dark Mode Not Working? Try These Fixes
  9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  10. Make Chrome Dark Mode Work on Every Website

Method 1: Enabling Chrome’s Built-In Dark Mode

Chrome includes a native dark mode. It changes the color of the browser itself, including the toolbar, tabs, menus, settings and new tab page.

The same basic Chrome setting works on both Windows and Mac:

  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Open a new tab.
  3. Click Customize Chrome in the bottom-right corner.
  4. Open the Appearance section.
  5. Choose one of these options:

  • Light: Chrome always uses a light theme.
  • Dark: Chrome always uses a dark theme.
  • Device: Chrome follows your computer’s theme.

This is the easiest way to turn on Chrome dark mode without installing anything.

How to Turn on Chrome Dark Mode on Windows 10 & 11

There are two ways to enable Chrome dark mode on Windows.

Option 1: Turn on dark mode inside Chrome

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Open a new tab.
  3. Click Customize Chrome.
  4. Find Appearance.
  5. Select Dark.

Chrome will immediately change its toolbar, tabs, menus and other browser areas to a dark color scheme.

Option 2: Make Chrome follow Windows dark mode

You can also change the theme for your whole Windows computer.

On Windows 11:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Select Personalization.
  3. Select Colors.
  4. Open Choose your mode.
  5. Select Dark.
  6. Open Chrome and choose Device under its Appearance settings.

Microsoft lists Settings > Personalization > Colors > Choose your mode as the path for changing Windows 11 to dark mode.

On Windows 10:

  1. Open Start.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Go to Personalization > Colors.
  4. Find Choose your color.
  5. Select Dark.
  6. Set Chrome’s Appearance option to Device.

This changes more than Chrome. Other supported Windows apps may also start using a dark theme.

How to Turn on Chrome Dark Mode on Mac

You can turn on Chrome dark mode directly inside the browser:

  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Open a new tab.
  3. Click Customize Chrome.
  4. Open Appearance.
  5. Select Dark.

You can also make Chrome follow the appearance used by macOS:

  1. Open the Apple menu.
  2. Select System Settings.
  3. Select Appearance.
  4. Choose Dark.
  5. Open Chrome.
  6. Set Chrome’s Appearance option to Device.

You can choose Auto instead of Dark if you want your Mac to switch between light and dark appearance automatically. Apple currently places these controls under System Settings > Appearance.

Method 2: Enabling Dark Mode on Mobile Devices

Chrome dark mode is also available on Android, iPhone and iPad. The steps are different on Android and Apple devices.

Chrome Dark Mode for Android

Chrome for Android includes a Theme setting inside the browser.

To enable it:

  1. Open the Chrome app.
  2. Tap the three-dot More button.
  3. Tap Settings.
  4. Tap Theme.
  5. Select Dark.

You may see three choices:

  • System Default: Chrome follows your Android device.
  • Dark: Chrome always uses its dark theme.
  • Light: Chrome always uses its light theme.

Google calls this feature “Dark theme” on Android.

Keep in mind that this setting mainly changes Chrome’s interface. A website may still appear white if it does not have its own dark theme.

Chrome Dark Mode for iPhone & iPad (iOS)

Chrome on iPhone and iPad follows the appearance selected in your device settings.

To enable dark mode:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap Display & Brightness.
  3. Under Appearance, select Dark.
  4. Open Chrome.

Chrome’s homepage, toolbar, settings and supported browser pages will now use a dark appearance.

You can also make dark mode turn on automatically:

  1. Open Settings > Display & Brightness.
  2. Turn on Automatic.
  3. Tap Options.
  4. Choose Sunset to Sunrise or create your own schedule.

This is useful when you want a light screen during the day and a dark screen at night.

Method 3: How to Force Dark Mode on All Websites Using Chrome Flags


Chrome has an experimental feature called Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents. It tries to make websites dark even when they do not offer their own dark mode.

To enable it:

  1. Open Google Chrome.
  2. Enter the following address in the address bar:
`chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark`

3. Find Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents.
4. Open the drop-down menu next to it.
5. Select Enabled.
6. Click Relaunch to restart Chrome.

After Chrome restarts, it will try to apply a dark color scheme to websites.

The `enable-force-dark` flag is still listed in Chromium’s current flag metadata as an automatic dark mode for websites that do not support one.

How to Turn Off Forced Dark Mode

To return to normal:

  1. Open: `chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark`
  2. Change the setting to Default or Disabled.
  3. Relaunch Chrome.

Important Warning About Chrome Flags

Chrome flags are experimental settings. They are not designed to be permanent features for every user.

Forced dark mode may cause problems such as:

  • Images looking strange
  • Text becoming difficult to read
  • Buttons becoming hard to see
  • Incorrect background colors
  • Forms or menus losing contrast
  • Websites changing after a Chrome update

Google warns that most users should not need to change Chrome flags. Flags can affect browser stability, privacy or security, and Google recommends resetting them if problems appear.

The forced dark mode flag is useful for testing, but it may not produce a clean result on every website.

The Limitation of Native Chrome Dark Mode

A common question is:

Why are websites still white when Chrome dark mode is on?

Chrome’s built-in dark mode mainly changes the browser interface. It can darken:

  • Tabs
  • The address bar
  • Browser menus
  • Settings
  • The new tab page
  • Some internal Chrome pages

However, Chrome does not control the design of every website.

A website may stay bright if:

  • It does not have a dark theme.
  • It's dark theme must be enabled separately.
  • It does not follow your device theme.
  • It's design uses fixed white backgrounds.
  • It's dark mode only works after you sign in.

Google describes Chrome dark mode as changing the homepage, toolbar, settings and some other pages. It does not say that every website will automatically become dark.

For example, turning Chrome dark mode on does not guarantee that every page in Google Docs, Google Drive, Wikipedia or another website will become dark.

That creates an uneven experience: the Chrome toolbar is dark, but the page below it may still be bright white.

The Solution: Using a Smart Dark Theme Extension

A dark mode extension can change the actual content of websites, not only the Chrome toolbar.

Dark Mode - Night Eye analyzes the colors used on a webpage and converts bright backgrounds, text, icons and interface elements into a dark theme.

This gives you a more consistent Chrome dark mode across the websites you visit.

How to Make Every Website Dark with Night Eye

1. Open the Chrome Web Store.
2. Search for Dark Mode - Night Eye.
3. Select Add to Chrome.
4. Confirm the installation.
5. Open a website.
6. Click the Night Eye icon in the Chrome toolbar.
7. Select Dark.

Dark Mode - Night Eye will start converting supported websites into dark mode.

The extension is designed to preserve important images, videos and media instead of applying a basic color inversion to the whole page.

Three Display Modes

 
Night Eye gives you three main modes.
1

Dark Mode

Dark Mode transforms the website’s colors and interface into a complete dark theme.You can fine-tune the result by adjusting brightness, contrast and dimming.Use it when you want the entire page to look darker, cleaner and more comfortable to view.
2

Filtered Mode

Filtered Mode keeps the website’s original colors while making the page easier to view.You can adjust brightness, contrast, warmth, saturation and dimming without applying a full dark theme.Use it when you want a softer screen while preserving the website’s original design.
3

Normal Mode

Normal Mode turns Night Eye off for the current website and restores its original appearance.It removes the dark theme and any visual adjustments applied by the extension.Use it when you want to view the page exactly as it was designed.

Chrome Dark Mode vs Forced Dark Mode vs Night Eye

Comparison of Chrome built-in dark mode, Chrome's experimental force-dark flag and the Night Eye extension.
MethodChrome interfaceWebsite contentCustomizationBest for
Chrome built-in dark mode Included with Google Chrome
Darkens tabs, toolbar, menus and settings Only websites that provide their own dark theme Basic choice between Light, Dark and Device Making the Chrome interface dark without installing an extension
Chrome force-dark flag Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents Experimental
Does not add extra browser styling Attempts to recolor most websites automatically No useful controls for individual websites Quickly testing forced dark mode when inconsistent results are acceptable
Dark Mode - Night Eye Smart dark mode browser extension Most complete
Works alongside Chrome's dark theme Converts supported website content into dark mode Brightness, contrast, warmth, saturation, dimming and per-site settings A consistent, customizable dark mode for everyday browsing

Still seeing bright websites? Chrome's built-in theme mainly changes the browser itself. Night Eye also converts the content inside supported webpages.

Add Extension

Chrome Dark Mode Not Working? Try These Fixes

Chrome Is Dark, but the Website Is White

This is normal. Chrome dark mode does not automatically change every website.

Try one of these options:

  1. Look for a dark mode setting on the website.
  2. Test the Chrome force-dark flag.
  3. Use a dark mode extension such as Dark Mode - Night Eye.

The Customize Chrome Button Is Missing

Make sure you are viewing a new tab page.

You can also try:

  1. Open a new tab.
  2. Look for the side panel button near the top-right corner.
  3. Open Customize Chrome.
  4. Find Appearance.

Google supports both the bottom-right Customize Chrome button and the Customize Chrome side panel.

Chrome Keeps Switching Between Light and Dark

Chrome may be set to Device, which means it follows your operating system.

To keep Chrome dark all the time:

  1. Open a new tab.
  2. Select Customize Chrome.
  3. Open Appearance.
  4. Select Dark instead of Device.

A Website Looks Wrong in Forced Dark Mode

Return the experimental setting to its default value:

1. Open `chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark`.
2. Select Default.
3. Relaunch Chrome.

You can also open `chrome://flags` and select Reset all if several experimental settings are causing problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I enable dark mode in Google Chrome?

Open a new tab, click Customize Chrome, find Appearance, and select Dark.

How do I make Chrome dark mode on Windows 11?

Go to:

Chrome > New Tab > Customize Chrome > Appearance > Dark

You can also change the Windows theme through:

Settings > Personalization > Colors > Choose your mode > Dark

How do I make Chrome dark mode on Mac?

Open a new Chrome tab and select:

Customize Chrome > Appearance > Dark

To change the appearance of your whole Mac, go to:

Apple menu > System Settings > Appearance > Dark

How do I enable Chrome dark mode on Android?

Open Chrome and go to:

More > Settings > Theme > Dark

How do I enable Chrome dark mode on iPhone?

Go to:

Settings > Display & Brightness > Dark

Chrome will follow your iPhone's appearance setting.

Why does Chrome dark mode not change websites?

Chrome's built-in dark mode mainly changes the browser interface, including its tabs, menus, toolbar and settings. Websites control their own colors, so pages without a dark theme may remain bright.

How do I force all websites into dark mode?

Enter this address in Chrome:

chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark

Find Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents, set it to Enabled, and relaunch Chrome.

This is an experimental feature, so some websites may display incorrect colors, images or text.

What is the best dark mode extension for Chrome?

Night Eye converts bright websites into dark themes and gives you control over brightness, contrast, warmth, saturation and other display settings. It is useful when Chrome's built-in dark mode does not change the websites you visit.

Is Chrome dark mode the same as Incognito mode?

No.

Dark mode changes Chrome's appearance. Incognito mode changes how Chrome stores local browsing activity during a private session.

How do I turn Chrome dark mode off?

On a computer:

New Tab > Customize Chrome > Appearance > Light

On Android:

Chrome > More > Settings > Theme > Light

On iPhone and iPad:

Settings > Display & Brightness > Light

Make Chrome Dark Mode Work on Every Website

Chrome’s built-in dark mode is a good place to start. It quickly changes the browser’s tabs, menus, settings and other interface areas.

However, it does not make every website dark.

Chrome’s experimental force-dark flag can try to convert bright websites, but the results may be inconsistent. Some text, buttons, images or page elements may not display correctly.

For a more reliable and customizable experience, use Dark Mode - Night Eye. It applies dark mode to supported websites and lets you adjust brightness, contrast, warmth and other display settings.

Night Eye also provides support to its users. Some websites may not convert perfectly because they use outdated code or uncommon web standards. When this happens, you can use the built-in support chat and send us the page URL. Our team will review the website and work on improving how it appears in dark mode.

Add Dark Mode

Explore Dark Mode - Night Eye