How to Turn on Google Docs Dark Mode (Desktop & Mobile Guide)

If you spend hours writing, editing, or collaborating in Google Docs, you’ve probably noticed one thing - staring at a bright white screen for too long can be exhausting. That’s where Google Docs Dark Mode comes in.

Dark Mode isn’t just an aesthetic choice. Studies show that darker backgrounds can reduce glare, lessen eye strain, and even help conserve battery life on OLED screens (Harvard Health).

In this guide, I’ll walk you step-by-step through enabling Dark Mode on Google Docs across desktop browsers, Android devices, and iPhones/iPads. I’ll also cover a few workarounds for cases where Dark Mode isn’t officially supported.

Why Use Dark Mode in Google Docs?

Before we jump into the how-to, let’s talk about the why.

• Eye Comfort: Reduces the harshness of bright backgrounds during long sessions.
• Battery Savings: Especially on OLED screens, darker pixels use less energy (Android Authority).
• Aesthetic Preference: Many users simply like the look - it feels modern and sleek.
• Night-Time Use: Less disruptive to your circadian rhythm compared to bright white screens late at night.

How to Turn On Google Docs Dark Mode on Mobile (Android & iOS)

Google Docs on mobile supports Dark Mode natively, so enabling it is straightforward.

On Android

• Open the Google Docs app on your phone or tablet.
• Tap the Menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
• Select Settings.
• Tap Theme.
• Choose Dark.

💡 Tip: If your phone is already in system-wide Dark Mode, you can set Google Docs to Use System Default - it will automatically match your phone’s theme.

On iPhone & iPad (iOS)

Google Docs for iOS doesn’t have an in-app Dark Mode toggle. Instead, it follows your device’s system appearance.

• Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
• Scroll down and tap Display & Brightness.
• Select Dark under Appearance.
• Open Google Docs - it should now display in Dark Mode.

📌 Note: Some document backgrounds may still appear white during editing on iOS. In that case, use Smart Invert (Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Smart Invert).

How to Turn On Google Docs Dark Mode on Desktop

Google Docs on desktop browsers (like Chrome, Edge, or Firefox) doesn’t have a native Dark Mode toggle yet. But there are workarounds.

Method 1: Chrome Flags Experimental Dark Mode

Google Chrome has an experimental feature that forces Dark Mode on web content.

• Open Google Chrome.
• In the address bar, type: chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark
• Change Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents to Enabled.
• Restart Chrome.
• Open Google Docs - your documents should now appear in Dark Mode.

⚠️ Caution: This method may invert colors in images and cause slight formatting oddities.

Method 2: Dark Mode Browser Extensions

If you want more control, a browser extension is a better choice.

• Dark Reader (darkreader.org) – Popular and customizable, works on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
• Super Dark Mode – Another option with adjustable brightness and scheduling.

Steps for Dark Reader:

• Install Dark Reader from the Chrome Web Store (link).
• Click the extension icon in your toolbar.
• Toggle On for Google Docs.
• Adjust brightness and contrast to your preference.

Method 3: Custom CSS in Your Browser

If you’re comfortable with a little coding, you can manually inject a dark theme.
Using the Stylus extension:

• Install Stylus from the Chrome Web Store (link).
• Open Google Docs.
• Create a new style and paste a custom CSS snippet for a dark background.
• Save and enable it.

How to Preview Documents in Dark Mode Without Changing Editing View

Some writers want to keep editing in light mode but preview in dark mode.
One workaround:

• Use Dark Reader’s per-site toggle to quickly switch between modes.
• Or open the same document in two tabs - one with Dark Mode enabled, the other without.

Known Limitations of Google Docs Dark Mode

• Images and charts may look different, especially with forced dark modes.
• Printing from Dark Mode will not affect the output - it still prints on white paper.
• Collaboration mode doesn’t affect other users’ views - they’ll see the mode they’ve set on their device.

The Future of Dark Mode in Google Docs

Google has been rolling out more native Dark Mode features across its Workspace apps. Given that Gmail and Google Drive now have built-in Dark Modes, it’s likely that Google Docs on desktop will eventually follow. Until then, extensions and system themes remain the best solution.

Final Thoughts

Dark Mode in Google Docs can make writing more comfortable, especially for late-night projects or long editing sessions. On mobile, it’s easy to enable. On a desktop, a mix of Chrome’s experimental settings, browser extensions, or custom CSS can give you a similar effect.

If you care about reducing eye strain and saving battery life, switching to Dark Mode is worth the few minutes it takes to set up.