How to enable dark mode - Make your browser and websites dark

Dark mode, also called dark theme or night mode, is a display setting that replaces light backgrounds with dark colors. It is not only easier on your eyes, especially in the evening, but it can also extend the battery life of devices with OLED screens. In this article we explain how to enable dark mode in your browser and on popular websites.

What is dark mode?

Dark mode is a color scheme that uses dark backgrounds with light text, as opposed to the traditional light background with dark text. The idea dates back to the early days of computing, when monitors displayed green or white text on a black background by default.

With the arrival of graphical interfaces, light backgrounds became the norm, but in recent years dark mode has become popular again. This is due to growing awareness of digital eye strain and the rise of OLED screens, which use no power for dark pixels.

Benefits of dark mode

Less eye strain

Looking at a brightly lit screen in a dark environment can tire your eyes. Dark mode reduces the contrast between your screen and your surroundings, which makes for a more comfortable viewing experience, especially in the evening or in poorly lit rooms.

Better sleep quality

Blue light from screens can disrupt the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle. Dark mode often uses warmer colors with less blue light, which can help you maintain a healthy sleep pattern.

Longer battery life

On devices with OLED or AMOLED screens, dark mode can extend battery life significantly. These screens light each pixel individually, and black pixels are simply switched off. The more black on the screen, the less power is used.

Aesthetic preference

Many people simply find dark mode better looking. It gives apps and websites a modern, sleek look. Colors and images can also stand out better against a dark background.

Dark mode in Windows

Enabling system-wide dark mode

Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in dark mode that automatically adjusts many apps. To turn it on, open Settings via the gear icon in the Start menu or with the keyboard shortcut Windows+I. Go to Personalization and then to Colors.

Under Choose your mode, select Dark. Windows now switches to a dark color scheme. Many programs that follow the Windows settings switch along automatically.

Setting apps separately

You can also choose Custom, which lets you set separately whether Windows itself and your apps should use light or dark mode. This is useful if, for example, you want a dark taskbar but light apps.

Dark mode in macOS

System-wide dark mode

On a Mac, open System Preferences from the Apple menu in the top left corner. Click General. At the top, under Appearance, you'll see the options Light, Dark and Auto.

Choose Dark for permanent dark mode, or Auto to let your Mac use light mode during the day and automatically switch to dark in the evening.

Dark mode in Google Chrome

Chrome follows your system setting

By default, Chrome follows your computer's system setting. If you have enabled dark mode in Windows or macOS, Chrome automatically uses a dark theme as well.

Setting a dark theme manually

Want to make Chrome dark regardless of your system setting? You can do that with themes. Click the three dots in the top right corner, go to Settings and then to Appearance. Click Customize Chrome and choose a dark theme.

You can also visit the Chrome Web Store and search for "dark theme". There are many dark themes available that you can install for free.

Making websites dark in Chrome

Many websites have their own dark mode setting, but not all of them. For websites without built-in dark mode you can use an extension. Dark Reader is a popular choice that is available in the Chrome Web Store.

Once installed, Dark Reader automatically makes all websites dark. You can turn the extension on or off per website and adjust settings such as brightness and contrast.

Dark mode in Mozilla Firefox

Changing the Firefox theme

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Go to Add-ons and themes. Under Themes you'll see the Dark option. Click Enable to activate the dark theme.

Firefox also offers a System theme option that follows your operating system's setting. This is handy if you want Firefox to switch automatically whenever your system switches.

Making websites dark in Firefox

Dark Reader is also available for Firefox. Go to addons.mozilla.org and search for Dark Reader. Install the extension to give all websites a dark look automatically.

Dark mode in Microsoft Edge

Setting the Edge theme

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Go to Settings and then to Appearance. Under Appearance you'll find the theme option. Choose Dark, or System default to follow the Windows setting.

Extra options in Edge

Edge has a unique feature called dark mode for web content. You'll find it under Settings, Appearance. When enabled, Edge tries to display websites in a dark color scheme automatically, even if the website itself has no dark mode.

YouTube

YouTube has a built-in dark mode. Click your profile picture in the top right corner and select Appearance. Choose Dark theme. YouTube remembers this setting and stays dark until you change it.

Twitter / X

On Twitter, go to More in the left menu, then to Settings and Support, and then Settings and privacy. Under Accessibility, display, and languages you'll find Display. Here you can choose between Default (light), Dim, or Lights out for the darkest theme.

Facebook

On Facebook, click your profile picture in the top right corner and go to Settings & privacy. Click Settings and then Accessibility. This is where you'll find the dark mode option.

Gmail

Gmail follows the setting of your Google account. Go to Settings via the gear icon in the top right corner and click See all settings. Under the General tab you'll find Theme. Click Change and choose a dark theme.

Reddit

Reddit has a built-in dark mode. Click your username in the top right corner and turn on Dark Mode with the toggle. In the new Reddit interface you'll find this option in the user menu.

Using the Dark Reader extension

Installation

Dark Reader is the most popular extension for making all websites dark. Go to your browser's extension store, search for Dark Reader and click Add or Install.

Basic features

After installation, Dark Reader is active right away. Click the icon in your browser toolbar to open the settings. You'll immediately see sliders for brightness, contrast, sepia and grayscale.

Excluding sites

Some websites look better in their original colors, or already have a good dark mode. In Dark Reader you can add sites to the site list where the extension is not active. Click the icon and then the Site list tab.

Choosing a filter mode

Dark Reader offers several ways to make websites dark. Filter mode simply inverts the colors. Dynamic mode analyzes the website and adjusts colors intelligently. Static mode uses predefined styles. Experiment to see which mode works best for you.

Tips for the best results

Combine it with night light

For optimal comfort in the evening, combine dark mode with your operating system's night light feature. This feature reduces blue light by using warmer color tones. In Windows you'll find it under Settings, System, Display as Night light.

Adjust the brightness

Dark mode works best combined with adjusted screen brightness. In a dark room you can lower the brightness for even more comfort. During the day in a bright room, a slightly higher brightness can be pleasant.

Use automatic mode

Many devices and apps offer an automatic mode that switches based on the time of day. This is ideal if you prefer light mode during the day but want to switch automatically in the evening. Set this up at the system level for the best experience.

Watch out for readability

Not all websites work perfectly with dark mode, especially when it is forced through an extension. If text is hard to read or images look strange, turn off the extension for that specific website.

Frequently asked questions

Is dark mode better for my eyes?

Dark mode can reduce eye strain, especially in low-light environments. However, there is no scientific evidence that it permanently protects your eyes from damage. The most important thing is to take regular breaks and not stare at a screen for too long, whatever the mode.

Does dark mode really save battery?

On devices with OLED or AMOLED screens, dark mode can indeed save battery, because black pixels use no energy. On LCD screens it makes little difference, because the backlight is always on, no matter what is displayed on the screen.

Why do some websites look weird in dark mode?

Extensions such as Dark Reader try to invert or adjust colors automatically. This doesn't always work perfectly, especially on complex websites with lots of images or custom styles. The website was not designed with dark mode in mind, which can lead to unexpected results.

Can I set dark mode per app?

Yes, many apps have their own dark mode setting that works independently of the system setting. Look in the settings of individual apps for options such as Theme, Appearance or Dark mode. Some apps also offer an option to follow the system setting.

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