Keeptab DarkHow do I turn on dark mode on a Chromebook?
Published
In short: Right-click the desktop, select Set wallpaper & style › Theme, then Dark (or Auto for a schedule).[1] Chrome follows it when its Appearance is set to Device.[2] Night Light is a different tool: it warms the screen color rather than darkening the theme.[1]
Chromebooks are made for the couch, the train and the late-night assignment. So it's a little ironic that many of them still glow bright white after dark. Google gives you two tools here, and they do different things.
Turn on Dark mode on a Chromebook
- On your desktop, right-click and select Set wallpaper & style.[1]
- Select Theme.[1]
- At the bottom, select Dark.[1]
Prefer light during the day? Select Auto instead, and the Chromebook switches between Light and Dark on a timed schedule.[1]
Make Chrome follow it
Chrome has its own appearance setting. To make it match your Chromebook:
- Open a New Tab page and select Customize Chrome at the bottom right.[2]
- Under Appearance, choose Device so Chrome follows your device's theme, or Dark to keep it dark whatever happens.[2]
Night Light is not dark mode
Google describes the two separately. Dark mode switches the Chromebook to a pre-set darker palette. Night Light changes the screen color, with a color temperature you adjust.[1] You'll find it in Quick Settings › Settings › Device › Displays.[1]
Night Light can turn itself on with a custom time or from sunset to sunrise, based on your location.[1] The two work fine together: a dark theme for less white, a warmer tint for the evening.
What stays white
Dark mode on a Chromebook darkens the system and, through Chrome, the browser's homepage, toolbar, settings and some other pages.[2] Websites decide for themselves. Many have a dark version, many don't. Our article on why websites stay white in Chrome dark mode explains why.
Google Docs is the usual offender. On a Chromebook, Docs runs in the browser, and Docs has no dark mode on computers. The dark theme exists in the Android and iPhone apps.
Docs, Sheets and Slides in real dark mode. Keeptab Dark turns the whole Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Excel page dark. Images keep their colors, and there is no white flash. Alt+Shift+D turns it on or off.
Add to Chrome — it's freeDark Google Docs on a Chromebook
Chromebooks run Chrome, and Keeptab Dark is a Chrome extension. It darkens the page itself in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Excel for the web, while images keep their real colors.[3] Your files stay unchanged for everyone else.[3]
The Soft gray theme is free and Alt+Shift+D turns it on or off.[3] Pro adds 11 more themes and a night setting that follows your computer or your own hours, a good match for the Auto schedule above.[3]
FAQ
How do I get dark mode on my Chromebook?
Right-click the desktop, select Set wallpaper & style, then Theme, and select Dark at the bottom. Select Auto to switch on a schedule.
What is the difference between Night Light and Dark mode on a Chromebook?
Dark mode changes the visual theme to a darker palette. Night Light changes the color temperature of the screen, and can follow a custom schedule or sunset to sunrise.
Why is Google Docs still white on my Chromebook?
Google Docs runs in the browser on a Chromebook, and Docs has no dark mode on computers. Only the Android and iPhone apps have a dark theme.
Sources
- Chromebook Help. Change your Chromebook's screen color. https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/9145848?hl=en
- Google Chrome Help. Browse in Dark mode or Dark theme. https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/9275525?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop
- Keeptab Dark. Dark mode for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Excel. https://keep-tab.com/dark/
Docs, Sheets and Slides in real dark mode
Keeptab Dark turns the whole Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Excel page dark. Images keep their colors, and there is no white flash. Alt+Shift+D turns it on or off.
Add to Chrome — it's free