How to Disable or Turn Off Dark Mode in Google Chrome

Key Takeaways

  • Google Chrome offers a built-in dark mode that inverts the color scheme, displaying light text on a dark background
  • You can disable dark mode in Chrome through the browser settings, system preferences, or by adjusting specific flags
  • Disabling dark mode reverts Chrome to the default light theme across all platforms, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS

Google Chrome’s dark mode feature has gained immense popularity, offering a sleek and visually appealing interface that can reduce eye strain, especially in low-light conditions. However, some users may prefer the classic light theme or find the dark mode unsuitable for their needs. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore various methods to disable or turn off dark mode in Google Chrome across different platforms.

Disabling Dark Mode in Chrome on Windows

On Windows, Chrome follows the system’s default theme settings. To disable dark mode, you’ll need to adjust your Windows preferences:

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Navigate to “Personalization” > “Colors.”
  3. Under the “Choose your color” drop-down menu, select “Light” if available. If not, proceed to the next step.
  4. Scroll down to the “Choose your default app mode” section and select “Light.”

After making these changes, Chrome will revert to the light theme automatically.

Disabling Dark Mode in Chrome on Mac

Similar to Windows, Chrome on Mac follows the system’s appearance settings. Here’s how to disable dark mode:

  1. Click on the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”
  2. Choose “General.”
  3. Under the “Appearance” section, select “Light.”

Chrome will now switch back to the light theme.

Disabling Dark Mode in Chrome on Android

Unlike desktop platforms, Chrome on Android allows you to toggle dark mode independently from the system settings:

  1. Open the Chrome app on your Android device.
  2. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner.
  3. Select “Settings.”
  4. Tap “Themes” under the “Basics” section.
  5. Choose “Light” from the available options.

Chrome will immediately switch to the light theme.

Disabling Dark Mode in Chrome on iOS

To disable dark mode in Chrome on your iPhone or iPad, you’ll need to adjust the system settings:

  1. Open the “Settings” app on your iOS device.
  2. Tap “Display & Brightness.”
  3. Select “Light” under the “Appearance” section.

Chrome will now revert to the light theme, following the system’s appearance settings.

Disabling Chrome’s Forced Dark Mode

In some cases, Chrome may force dark mode even after adjusting the system or browser settings. This can happen due to an experimental flag enabled in the browser. To disable this forced dark mode, follow these steps:

  1. Open Chrome and type chrome://flags in the address bar, then press Enter.
  2. In the search box, type “dark mode.”
  3. Locate the “Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents” flag and set it to “Disabled” from the drop-down menu.
  4. Click the “Relaunch” button at the bottom of the page to apply the changes.

After relaunching, Chrome should no longer force dark mode, allowing you to use the light theme as desired.

Conclusion

Disabling dark mode in Google Chrome is a straightforward process that can be achieved through various methods, depending on your platform. Whether you prefer the classic light theme or find dark mode unsuitable for your needs, this guide provides step-by-step instructions to revert Chrome to its default appearance. Remember, you can always toggle dark mode back on if you change your mind in the future.