Google Docs doesn’t have a dark mode on the web, including on a Mac. Turning on dark mode in macOS changes Chrome’s toolbars but not the document page. To make Google Docs dark on a Mac, the most reliable option is a browser extension such as Dark Reader, which darkens any website. In Chrome, you can also turn on the built-in experimental Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents setting at chrome://flags. The Google Docs apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android do have a real dark theme.
Option 1: Use a dark mode extension (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari)
- Open your browser’s extension store: the Chrome Web Store for Chrome and Edge, Firefox Add-ons for Firefox, or the Mac App Store for Safari.
- Search for a dark mode extension such as Dark Reader and install it. Check the developer and reviews first.
- Open Google Docs. The page switches to dark colors.
- Click the extension’s icon to adjust brightness and contrast, or turn it off for specific sites.
Extensions can read the pages you visit, so choose a well-reviewed one and review its permissions. Work or school accounts may block extensions.
Option 2: Turn on Chrome’s Auto Dark Mode
- In Chrome, type chrome://flags in the address bar and press Return.
- Search for Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents.
- Set it to Enabled.
- Click Relaunch.
This darkens every website, not just Google Docs, and can make images or colors look odd. Flags are experimental and may change or disappear. To turn it off, set it back to Default.
Option 3: Make Docs easier on your eyes without dark mode
- Page color: In a document, click File > Page setup, set Page color to a dark gray, and change your text color to white. This changes the document itself, so collaborators and printouts see it too.
- macOS display settings: Turn on Night Shift in System Settings > Displays to warm the screen colors, or lower brightness.
- Invert colors: In System Settings > Accessibility > Display, turn on Invert colors (Smart invert keeps images looking normal).
Dark mode in the Google Docs mobile apps
- Open the Google Docs app on iPhone, iPad, or Android.
- Tap the menu (three lines) > Settings > Theme.
- Choose Dark, or System default to follow your device.
In a document, you can tap the three dots and turn off View in light theme to see the page itself in dark colors.
Frequently asked questions
Will Google add dark mode to Docs on the web?
Google hasn’t announced a full dark mode for Docs on computers. Check Google Workspace updates for news.
Does dark mode change how my document looks to others?
Extensions and browser settings only change your view. Changing the page color in Page setup changes the document for everyone.
Does this work for Google Sheets and Slides too?
Yes. Extensions and Chrome’s Auto Dark Mode darken Sheets and Slides as well.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.