[Tip] How to Enable Built-in Dark Theme Mode in Google Chrome

SUMMARY: The tip given in this tutorial will help you in revealing a hidden secret built-in Dark theme mode in Google Chrome web browser. This trick will work in Chrome 73 and later versions only. The dark theme mode is under development, so you may face bugs and glitches in the GUI. That’s why this dark theme mode is not enabled by default and Chrome doesn’t provide any built-in setting or option to enable it manually. We have to use secret tricks mentioned below to activate and apply it. Options to turn on/off the dark theme mode will be available under Chrome Settings page in future versions of Chrome browser.

Dark theme and dark mode (also called Night Mode) are becoming an essential part of all software programs. People love to use apps and programs in dark theme as it reduces eye strain and helps using apps at night time.

If we talk about web browsers, almost all browsers come with dark mode such as Mozilla Firefox, Opera and Windows 10‘s Microsoft Edge browser. On the other hand, Google Chrome doesn’t come with any built-in dark theme or dark mode. Although it always provided dark mode in private browsing (Incognito mode). We had to use 3rd party themes to enable dark theme in Chrome in past.

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A few months back, we told you that Google developer team is working on a built-in/native dark theme mode in Chrome web browser and it was available for testing in Google Chrome Canary builds which are testing builds. You can read more about it UPDATE 101 and UPDATE 104 in our exclusive Chrome Canary Updates topic.

Now Google Chrome 73 and later versions come with built-in dark theme mode but it’s under development and testing phase and contains some bugs and issues. That’s why Google has not provided any built-in setting or option to activate and apply it.

Following screenshot shows the new dark theme mode live in action in Google Chrome:

Google_Chrome_Builtin_Dark_Theme_Mode.png

Important Things to Note About Chrome Dark Theme Mode:

  • Dark theme mode is available in Google Chrome 73 and later versions only.
  • If you use Windows operating system, dark theme mode supports Windows 10 only.
  • Dark theme mode is not enabled by default and there is no built-in option or settings in Chrome to enable/disable it.
  • Dark theme mode respects Windows 10 app mode. If you set the app mode to Dark in Windows 10, Chrome will automatically start using the native dark theme mode.
  • Dark theme mode is not activated for all users. Google is rolling out the feature in phases and it’ll become available to all in near future.

Don’t worry! There is a secret trick to reveal this new dark theme mode in Chrome browser immediately without waiting. In this tutorial, we’ll tell you how to activate and apply the new built-in dark theme mode in Google Chrome web browser right now.

I have received many emails from Chrome users mentioning that the new dark theme mode is not working for them. They are unable to find any way to enable it in Chrome.

If you also want to enjoy dark theme mode in Chrome immediately, following steps will help you:

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METHOD 1: By Enabling Dark App Mode in Windows 10

By default, Google Chrome doesn’t use the new dark theme mode and you’ll not get any option to enable it in Chrome Settings page. Actually the new dark theme mode has been designed to respect Windows 10’s app mode setting. If Dark app mode is enabled in Windows 10, Google Chrome will automatically activate and apply new dark theme mode.

To apply dark theme mode in Google Chrome, you’ll need to enable Dark app mode in Windows 10.

Following article will help you in enabling Dark app mode in Windows 10:

[Tip] Enable Dark or Light Theme Modes in Windows 10

Toggle_Windows_10_Dark_Light_App_Mode.png

Once you turn on Dark app mode in Windows 10, you’ll immediately get dark theme mode in Google Chrome. That’s how it works.

NOTE: Google is activating Chrome’s dark theme mode in phases and it might be possible that it hasn’t been activated yet in your Chrome browser. In such condition, above mentioned METHOD 1 will not work for you.

Don’t worry! You can still manually activate and enable dark theme mode in Chrome using following methods:

METHOD 2: By Using Command-line Parameter

This is the simplest and easiest way to launch Google Chrome browser in dark theme mode.

1. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box. Now copy and paste following string in RUN dialog box:

chrome.exe --force-dark-mode --enable-features=WebUIDarkMode

Launch_Google_Chrome_Dark_Theme_Mode.png

2. Press Enter key and Google Chrome will launch in secret dark theme mode.

METHOD 3: By Modifying Google Chrome Shortcut Properties

Above mentioned METHOD 2 is temporary and works only if you launch Chrome with the parameter. If you want to permanently use Chrome in dark theme mode, you can modify Chrome shortcut to always launch it in dark theme mode:

1. Right-click on Chrome shortcut on Desktop and select Properties option. If Chrome shortcut is pinned to Taskbar, right-click on it and again right-click on Google Chrome option present on the jumplist and select Properties option.

If you launch Google Chrome from Start Menu, copy and paste following string in RUN dialog box and press Enter key:

%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

It’ll open Programs folder in File Explorer which contains Google Chrome shortcut. Right-click on it and select Properties option.

2. Once you open Chrome properties box, append following string at the end of the text string present in Target field:

--force-dark-mode --enable-features=WebUIDarkMode

So the Target field text string will change to following:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --force-dark-mode --enable-features=WebUIDarkMode

Activate_Google_Chrome_Dark_Theme_Mode.png

3. Apply the changes and now whenever you’ll launch Google Chrome using the shortcut, it’ll always launch in new dark theme mode.

PS: If you want to remove the dark theme mode from Chrome in future, delete the “–force-dark-mode –enable-features=WebUIDarkMode” string from Target field again and save the changes.

NOTE: If you are already using another “–disable-features” or “–enable-features” parameter in Google Chrome shortcut, following article will help you in using more than one “–disable-features” or “–enable-features” parameter in Chrome’s properties:

[Tip] How to Use Multiple “–Disable-Features” Parameters in Chrome and Edge Shortcut

Also Check:

[Tip] Enable Dark Theme Mode on All Websites in Google Chrome

[Fix] Disable Forced Dark Theme Mode in Google Chrome in Windows 10

[Windows 10 Tip] Enjoy Dark Theme in All Websites and Software Programs

[Tip] Enable New “Tab Hover Cards” Feature in Google Chrome

[Tip] Show Number of Incognito Windows in Google Chrome Toolbar

[Tip] Enable “Navigation Suggestions for Lookalike URLs” in Google Chrome

[Tip] Enable “Tab Groups” Feature in Google Chrome

Published in: Google Chrome

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

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