Dark mode makes Google Maps easier on your eyes at night, reduces glare in the car, and can save battery on phones with OLED screens. The Google Maps app on iPhone and Android has a built-in dark theme, plus a separate night setting for navigation. On a computer, Google Maps doesn’t have its own dark mode, but you can still darken it in your browser. This guide covers all three.
Quick answer
In the Google Maps app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, and open the theme setting (called Theme on Android and Dark mode on iPhone, sometimes under App & display). Choose Always in dark theme or On, or pick the option that matches your phone’s system setting.
Turn on dark mode on Android
- Open the Google Maps app.
- Tap your profile picture in the top-right corner.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Theme.
- Choose Always in dark theme, Always in light theme, or Same as device theme, then tap Save if asked.
Choosing Same as device theme makes Maps switch automatically whenever your phone’s dark theme turns on or off.
Turn on dark mode on iPhone or iPad
- Open Google Maps.
- Tap your profile picture, then Settings.
- Open Dark mode. On some versions, it’s inside App & display.
- Choose On, Off, or Same as device setting.
To use your iPhone’s own setting, choose Same as device setting, then turn on dark mode in Settings > Display & Brightness > Dark.
Use night colors while navigating
Navigation has its own color setting, separate from the app theme. That’s why the map can still be bright during directions even with dark mode on, or switch to dark colors at night with dark mode off.
- In Google Maps, go to Settings > Navigation (called Navigation settings on Android).
- Under Map display, find Color scheme.
- Choose Night to always use dark colors, Day for light colors, or Automatic to switch based on the time of day.
When you use Google Maps through Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, the car’s display usually switches to dark colors automatically at night or when your headlights come on.
Dark mode for Google Maps on a computer
The Google Maps website doesn’t include a dark theme, and turning on dark mode in Windows or macOS doesn’t change the map itself. You have two options:
Option 1: Chrome’s experimental dark mode
- Type chrome://flags in the Chrome address bar and press Enter.
- Search for Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents.
- Set it to Enabled and click Relaunch.
This darkens most websites, including Google Maps. Because it’s an experimental feature, colors may look odd on some sites, and the flag can change or disappear in future Chrome versions. Set it back to Default to undo it.
Option 2: A dark mode browser extension
Extensions in the Chrome Web Store or Microsoft Edge Add-ons can apply a dark theme to Google Maps. Read the permissions and reviews before installing, and choose extensions with many users and recent updates, since extensions can see what’s on the pages you visit.
If the dark theme option is missing
- Update the app. Older versions of Google Maps don’t include the theme setting. Update from the App Store or Google Play.
- Check Android’s settings. On some phones, a system-wide “force dark” or battery saver mode can override app themes. Turn it off and set the theme in Google Maps directly.
- Restart the app. Fully close Google Maps and reopen it after changing the setting.
Satellite view as an alternative
If you just want a darker-looking map on a computer, switch to Satellite from the Layers button in the lower-left corner. It’s naturally darker than the standard map, especially at night. To switch back, see how to turn off satellite view.
Why use dark mode?
- Less glare at night: Bright maps can be distracting while driving in the dark.
- Battery savings: On OLED screens, dark pixels use less power.
- Eye comfort: Many people find dark interfaces easier to read in low light.
For more ways to customize the map, see how to rotate Google Maps and how to turn off labels in Google Maps.
Related: How to find coordinates on Google Maps.
Frequently asked questions
Why didn’t Google Maps change after I turned on dark mode?
Make sure the Google Maps app is updated, then close and reopen it. If you chose Same as device theme, check that your phone’s dark mode is actually on.
Can I use dark mode only during navigation?
Yes. Leave the app theme on light and set the navigation color scheme to Night or Automatic.
Does dark mode change Street View or satellite images?
No. Photos and satellite imagery look the same. Dark mode changes the map, menus, and backgrounds.
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.