How to Get Chrome Dark Mode on PC and Android

This guide shows you how to enable dark mode in Google Chrome on both Windows/Mac and Android devices. You’ll learn the built-in methods and a simple flag for forcing dark mode on all websites, plus how to fix it when it doesn’t work.

What You’ll Need

• A PC running Windows 10/11 or macOS, or an Android phone/tablet
• Google Chrome installed (check for updates to ensure you have the latest version)
• For PC: a user account with permission to change system settings

Step-by-Step

On PC (Windows and Mac)

1. Update Chrome: Click the three-dot menu (â‹®) in the top-right corner, go to Help > About Google Chrome. Chrome will check for updates and install any available. Relaunch if prompted.
2. Check your system theme: Chrome follows your operating system’s theme. On Windows, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and set “Choose your default app modeâ€� to Dark. On macOS, go to System Settings > Appearance and select Dark.
3. Enable dark mode in Chrome: After your system is in dark mode, Chrome should automatically switch. If it doesn’t, open Chrome, go to the three-dot menu > Settings > Appearance. Under “Theme,â€� select Dark (this option appears only when the system is dark).
4. Force dark mode on all websites (optional): If you want every website to appear dark, type chrome://flags in the address bar and press Enter. In the search box, type “dark mode.â€� Find “Auto Dark Mode for Web Contentsâ€� and change the dropdown to Enabled. Click Relaunch at the bottom.

On Android

1. Update Chrome: Open the Google Play Store, search for Chrome, and tap Update if available.
2. Turn on system dark mode: Go to your phone’s Settings > Display > Dark mode (or “Dark themeâ€�) and toggle it on. On some devices, you may need to select “Always onâ€� or “Apply to all apps.â€�
3. Enable dark mode in Chrome: Open Chrome, tap the three-dot menu (â‹®) > Settings > Theme. Choose Dark. If you prefer, you can select System default to match your phone’s setting automatically.
4. Force dark mode on all websites (optional): Type chrome://flags in the address bar. Search for “dark modeâ€� and enable “Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents.â€� Tap Relaunch.

Common Mistakes

• Not updating Chrome: Older versions may not have the dark mode option or the flag. Always update first.
• System theme not set to dark: On PC, Chrome’s “Themeâ€� setting only appears when the OS is in dark mode. If you don’t see it, check your system settings.
• Forgetting to relaunch after changing flags: Flags take effect only after you click Relaunch. If you don’t, nothing changes.
• Using the wrong flag: The flag is called “Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents.â€� There are other dark-related flags (e.g., “Dark Mode for Chrome UIâ€�) that do not affect websites.
• Expecting all sites to look perfect: Forced dark mode uses an algorithm that can break some images, videos, or complex layouts. It’s not a perfect solution.

Tips

• On Android, you can set Chrome to “System defaultâ€� so it automatically switches when you toggle dark mode at the system level.
• If a specific website looks bad in forced dark mode, you can disable it for that site by clicking the three-dot menu and selecting “Disable dark mode for this siteâ€� (if available) or by turning off the flag entirely.
• Use the “Auto Dark Modeâ€� flag with caution: it can cause readability issues on sites with low-contrast text. You can always revert by setting the flag back to “Default.â€�
• For a more consistent dark experience, consider installing a dark theme from the Chrome Web Store, but note that these only change the browser UI, not websites.

Troubleshooting

• Chrome doesn’t switch to dark mode on PC: Verify your OS theme is dark. If it is, close and reopen Chrome completely (not just the window). If that fails, go to chrome://settings/appearance and manually select “Dark.â€�
• The “Themeâ€� option is missing in Chrome settings: This usually means your system is still in light mode. Set your OS to dark mode first, then revisit Chrome settings.
• Dark mode works but some websites are still white: The built-in dark mode only affects Chrome’s UI and, with the flag, some sites. Sites that use their own light theme may override it. Try the flag or a site-specific dark mode extension.
• Flag changes don’t stick: Make sure you click Relaunch after changing flags. If Chrome doesn’t restart, do it manually. Also, flags can reset after major Chrome updates—re-enable them if needed.
• On Android, dark mode is not available in Chrome: Ensure your phone’s system dark mode is on and that Chrome is updated. Some Android skins may hide the “Themeâ€� option until the system theme is dark.
• Chrome becomes unreadable after forcing dark mode: Turn off the flag immediately. If you can’t access the flags page, go to chrome://flags and set “Auto Dark Mode for Web Contentsâ€� back to “Default,â€� then relaunch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Chrome dark mode save battery?

On OLED screens, dark mode can reduce power consumption because black pixels are turned off. On LCD screens, the savings are minimal.

Will dark mode affect my extensions?

Most extensions will still work, but some may have their own light/dark settings. You may need to adjust them individually.

Can I set different themes for Chrome and my OS?

Yes, on PC you can manually select “Darkâ€� or “Lightâ€� in Chrome’s Appearance settings, overriding the system theme. On Android, you can choose “Darkâ€� or “System default.â€�

Why does some websites ignore dark mode?

Websites can specify their own colors using CSS. The forced dark mode flag attempts to invert them, but it doesn’t work perfectly on every site, especially those with complex styling.

Is the “Auto Dark Mode� flag safe to use?

Yes, it’s an experimental feature but generally stable. It may cause visual glitches on some pages, but you can disable it anytime.

How do I turn off dark mode completely?

On PC, go to Chrome settings > Appearance > Theme and select “Light.� On Android, go to Settings > Theme and choose “Light.� Also, disable the flag if you enabled it.

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