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How do I turn on dark mode in Google Docs on my phone?

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A phone showing a dark document at night, with a laptop behind it still showing a bright white page

In short: Open the Google Docs app, tap Menu at the top left, then Settings, then Theme on iPhone or Choose theme on Android, and pick Dark.[1][2] Collaborators can't see the theme you choose.[1] To check how a document looks for others, tap More › View in light theme.[1]

Good news first: on a phone, Google Docs has a real dark theme, built in. It takes four taps. The surprise comes later, when you open the same document on your computer and it's white again. We'll get to that.

On iPhone or iPad

  1. Open the Google Docs app.[2]
  2. At the top left, tap Menu.[2]
  3. Tap Settings, then Theme.[2]
  4. Choose Dark, Light or System default.[2]

On Android

  1. Open the Google Docs app.[1]
  2. At the top left, tap Menu.[1]
  3. Tap Settings, then Choose theme.[1]
  4. Choose Dark, Light or System default.[1]

System default follows your phone's own dark mode, so Docs goes dark whenever the phone does. The same setting exists in the Sheets and Slides apps.[1][2]

What your collaborators see

Nothing changes for them. Google says collaborators can't see the theme you choose.[1] The dark theme is a way of displaying the file on your phone, not an edit to the file.

Google also notes that dark theme automatically adjusts your documents and sheets to fit the theme.[1] If you want to check how a document will look for others, use the preview:

  1. Open the document or sheet.[1]
  2. At the top right, tap More.[1]
  3. Tap View in light theme.[1]

Handy before you send a document with colored text or highlights, so you see the colors as your reader will.

Why it's white again on your computer

The dark theme lives in the Docs apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.[1][2] Google Docs on a computer has no dark mode, so the setting doesn't follow you there. We look at the reasons in why doesn't Google Docs have dark mode?, and at the desktop options in Google Docs dark mode.

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.

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The same dark Docs on your computer

Keeptab Dark is our Chrome extension that brings a dark page to Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Excel for the web on your computer.[3] Like the phone app, it only changes what you see: the file is unchanged for others, when printing and in PDF.[3]

The Soft gray theme is free.[3] Pro can turn it on at night and off by day, and it works on all your computers with your Google account.[3]

FAQ

How do I get dark mode in Google Docs on iPhone?

Open the Google Docs app, tap Menu at the top left, then Settings, then Theme, and choose Dark. System default follows your iPhone's appearance.

Can others see that I use dark mode in Google Docs?

No. Google says collaborators can't see the theme you choose. To see how a document looks for them, tap More, then View in light theme.

Why is Google Docs dark on my phone but white on my computer?

The dark theme is a setting in the mobile apps only. Google Docs on a computer has no dark mode, so the setting doesn't carry over.

Sources

  1. Google Docs Editors Help. Use Dark theme in Google Docs, Sheets & Slides (Android). https://support.google.com/docs/answer/9955476?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid
  2. Google Docs Editors Help. Use Dark theme in Google Docs, Sheets & Slides (iPhone & iPad). https://support.google.com/docs/answer/9955476?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS
  3. 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

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