Google Classroom’s mobile app supports dark mode, but the website doesn’t have its own dark theme. On Android and iPhone, turn on dark mode for your phone, and the Classroom app follows it automatically; on Android you can also choose a theme inside the app’s Settings. On a computer, you can make Classroom dark in Chrome by turning on a browser-wide dark mode option or a dark mode extension, if your school allows extensions.
Below are the steps for each device, and what to do when you’re on a school Chromebook with restricted settings.
Dark mode in the Classroom app on Android
- Open the Google Classroom app.
- Tap the Menu (three lines) and then Settings.
- Look for Theme and choose Dark, or System default to follow your phone’s setting.
If you don’t see a Theme option, turn on dark theme for the whole phone: Settings > Display > Dark theme.
Dark mode in the Classroom app on iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Display & Brightness.
- Choose Dark, or turn on Automatic to switch at sunset.
The Classroom app follows the system appearance. You can also add the Dark Mode button to Control Center for quick switching.
Dark mode for Google Classroom on a computer
Classroom’s website doesn’t have a dark theme setting. Here are the options:
- Chrome’s built-in setting: Chrome has an experimental option that darkens web pages automatically. Type chrome://flags in the address bar, search for Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents, set it to Enabled, and click Relaunch. This affects all sites and may make some images or colors look odd. Managed school devices may block chrome://flags.
- Dark mode extensions: Extensions from the Chrome Web Store can switch any site to a dark theme and let you exclude sites you don’t want changed. Many schools block installing extensions on student accounts.
- Chrome’s own dark theme: On Windows or Mac, setting your operating system to dark mode makes Chrome’s menus and tabs dark, but not the Classroom page itself.
School Chromebooks
On a Chromebook managed by your school, the administrator controls extensions and some settings. You can still:
- Turn on ChromeOS dark theme: click the time in the corner, open Settings > Personalization > Set your wallpaper & style, and choose Dark.
- Lower brightness or use Night Light in Quick Settings to reduce glare in the evening.
- Ask your school’s IT team whether a dark mode extension can be approved.
Don’t try to get around school restrictions, since that can break school policy.
Options at a glance
| Device | How to get dark mode |
|---|---|
| Android | Classroom app theme setting or system dark theme |
| iPhone and iPad | System Dark appearance |
| Computer (Chrome) | Auto Dark Mode flag or a dark mode extension |
| School Chromebook | ChromeOS dark theme, Night Light, or ask IT |
Tips to reduce eye strain
- Use Night Light or Night Shift in the evening to reduce blue light.
- Lower screen brightness to match the room.
- Zoom in with Ctrl + plus if text is hard to read in dark mode.
Frequently asked questions
Does dark mode affect assignments or Google Docs?
The Classroom app’s dark mode doesn’t change your files. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides apps have their own theme settings on phones.
Why didn’t Classroom turn dark on my computer?
The website has no dark theme. Use the Chrome options above.
Can teachers turn on dark mode for students?
No. Dark mode is a personal device or browser setting.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.