chrome flags experimental dark mode

How to Enable/Disable Dark Mode in Google Chrome

It took some time for the big tech companies to implement it. But it’s here now. So, let’s see the easiest way to enable/disable dark mode in Google Chrome.

Our screen times are shooting up. While you can curb digital recreation to some extent, work is unavoidable.

And COVID-19 pandemic has pushed some of the global workforces permanently inside their homes in front of a computer for the rest of their lives.

And many actually enjoy it. The comfort of working in pajamas without even caring for a bath is unmatched, to say the least. 😀

But the eyes do complain. And with Google Chrome being the most used browser , a dark mode can do wonders to reduce the eye strain for many.

However, it would help to know that Google Chrome uses the default system theme (light or dark) on Mac, iOS, and Windows. So you’ll need a system-wide dark mode to see a dark Chrome, and there is no option to separately use dark mode on Google Chrome unless you’re on Android.

So, this article is basically about enabling dark mode on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android’s Google Chrome.

Starting with the most popular desktop OS…

Google Chrome Dark Mode on Windows 10/11

Windows 10 users need to head over to Settings > Personalization > Color > Choose your default app mode , and select Dark.

Similarly, you can repeat the steps to enable/disable dark mode on Google Chrome in Windows 11.

But this won’t work if you are on an unlicensed Windows. However, you can use Ultimate Windows Tweaker and do it, regardless. 😉

Google Chrome Dark Mode on Mac

Likewise, navigate to the Apple menu > System Preferences > General , and select Dark in Appearance if you’re on Mac.

The Auto mode is to select Dark and Light themes based on the time of the day. Notably, this is available only on Mac OS 10.14 and up.

Google Chrome Dark Mode on iOS

Similar to the previous two, iOS is powered to enable a dark mode for all the apps at once. Tap on Settings > Display & Brightness , and check Dark .

Alternatively, one can also toggle to Automatic to use Light/Dark modes based on sunrise/sunset times.

However, you need to add this to your control center if it isn’t there. For this, tap Settings > Control Centre , and search for Dark Mode to add this feature.

Google Chrome Dark Mode

Android–Google’s own operating system–gives you more flexibility in choosing the dark mode irrespective of what goes on with the system aesthetics as a whole.

Select the tab number on the top right, then tap the Kebab menu (⋮). Subsequently, tap Settings , scroll down to select Theme , and toggle between the Light and Dark as per your preference.

With Experimental Feature

So these were the ‘official’ ways of doing things. Let’s move to some experimentation.

This section will help you enjoy dark mode on just Google Chrome even if the rest of your computer stays light.

Open Google Chrome, and type in chrome://flags/ in the URL bar. Afterward, search for Dark mode, and use Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents.

However, this is not yet fully stable and may break some websites. So try at your own risk! ⚠️

We guess the dark mode will comfort your eyes, especially if you browse for long hours.

However, not just people’s favorite web browser, Google Chrome is also famous for being a resource hog. So you can try reducing Chrome’s memory usage with some extensions.

You may also check out these chrome://flags settings to optimize your experience.

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How To Enable Flags In Google Chrome: A Step-By-Step Guide

Google Chrome, like other major web browsers , rolls out new features frequently. And there is a way to get a sneak peek at the latest features in your Chrome browser or test out experimental functionalities before they become mainstream –- through flags.

Chrome flags are experimental features and settings that you can use to access and test new functionalities. Their purpose is to allow users to try out features that are still in development or undergoing testing before they are officially rolled out as stable features in the browser. The Chrome development team uses flags to introduce and gather feedback on new features, optimizations, or changes to the browser's behavior.

Below we explain how you can enable flags in Chrome to try out upcoming features. It's important to note that experimental features enabled through flags may not be fully polished, and they might have bugs or issues. If you set up flags, you should exercise caution and be aware that there are potential risks.

Are Chrome flags safe to enable and use?

When considering whether to enable Chrome flags, it's crucial to be mindful of the risks associated with them.

Firstly, understand that Chrome flags are experimental features still in development. As such, they may not be as stable or reliable as standard browser features. Additionally, these options may not undergo the same thorough security testing as stable features, meaning your browser could be more susceptible to vulnerabilities. If you handle sensitive information online, trying out experimental features might not be the best option.

In some cases, flags can also bring about website compatibility issues as well as interfere with the proper functioning of the browser. This can result in the loss of bookmarks, browsing history, or other saved data.

Lastly, Chrome flags are subject to frequent updates and changes. The experimental features you enable today may be modified, moved, or removed in browser updates. This can lead to inconsistencies and unexpected behavior if you come to rely on flags for your browsing preferences. If you're uncertain or uncomfortable with the potential downsides, it might be best to stick with the stable, default settings of the browser.

How to enable flags in Chrome

Enabling flags in Chrome is straightforward. However, before you proceed, it is best to check for documentation or community feedback related to the specific flags you intend to enable. Experiences, tips, and potential issues shared by users on online forums can provide valuable insights into the stability and compatibility of certain experimental features.

If you want to enable multiple flags, adopt a selective approach. Enable one, assess their impact on your browsing experience, and gradually incorporate additional flags based on your observations. We also recommend backing up browser data like  saving and transferring bookmarks before enabling Chrome flags. This will ensure that in case of unexpected issues or data loss, you have a recent backup to restore your preferences, bookmarks, and other essential information.

To enable flags in Chrome:

• Launch Chrome and enter chrome://flags/ in the address bar.
• Click Enter.
• In the Available tab, look for the flag you want to enable.
• Expand its dropdown and choose Enabled. Do the same for all the other flags you want to enable.
• Once done, click Relaunch.

To disable Chrome flags, expand the dropdown for the targeted flag and choose Disabled. Alternatively, click on the Reset all button and select Relaunch. This will simultaneously disable all the flags.

Best flags to enable in Chrome

If you want to try out the flags feature but aren't sure which flags to enable, below are some common Chrome flags that users have found useful. You can also create a temporary user profile on Chrome to see if they are compatible with your browser version.

• Smooth Scrolling : This flag is designed to enhance the scrolling experience when navigating web pages. When this flag is enabled, it modifies the default scrolling behavior, making it smoother and more visually appealing. You can enable it by heading over to "chrome://flags/#smooth-scrolling" in Chrome.
• Parallel downloading : This flag divides your downloads into multiple chunks to speed up the downloading process. The files are downloaded in parallel, faster than the usual time. You can enable it by heading over to "chrome://flags/#enable-parallel-downloading" in Chrome.
• Auto Dark Mode : Dark mode is easier on the eyes of a lot of users, especially in low-light conditions. This flag forces a dark theme on all web pages, even if they don't support it natively. You can enable it by heading over to "chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark" in Chrome.

Remember that while these flags are commonly recommended, they are still experimental, and their effectiveness may vary. Additionally, the availability of flags can change with browser updates.

Recommended

How to enable auto dark mode for all websites on Google Chrome

Google's Chrome browser now has a feature to force dark mode on web content automatically, and these are the steps to enable it.

• To enable auto dark mode for web content on Chrome, open “chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark,” choose “Enabled” for the “Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents” option, and click “Relaunch.”
• To turn on dark mode for search results, open Google.com > Settings > Other settings > Dark mode , choose “On,” and click “Confirm.”

On Google Chrome , you can force every website (including search engines like Google) to load in dark mode, regardless of their color theme support, and in this guide, I’ll show you how to complete this configuration.

The “Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents” option is an experimental feature designed to automatically apply a dark theme to websites that do not natively support dark mode, enhancing the browsing experience in low-light conditions and providing a consistent appearance across all web content when dark mode is enabled in the browser or Windows 11 (or 10) settings.

When the feature is enabled, Chrome analyzes the page’s colors and inverts them where necessary to create a dark theme. This process includes adjusting text colors, backgrounds, and other elements to ensure readability and reduce eye strain. The feature aims to maintain the original design and readability of the website as much as possible, even while applying the dark theme.

If you don’t want to force enable the color scheme for all websites, you can always change the settings so that only Google search results load always in dark mode.

The ability to force enable a dark mode theme is particularly beneficial during nighttime browsing or in environments with dim lighting. It’s also helpful for users who prefer dark mode settings to reduce the screen’s bright light, which can be harsh on the eyes.

In this guide , I’ll teach you how to enable dark mode for web content in the Chrome browser on Windows 11, 10, macOS, or Linux. (If you use the first method, you don’t have to turn on the dark mode for Google results.)

Force dark mode for web content on Chrome

Force dark mode for google results on chrome.

To force dark mode for web content on the Chrome browser, use these steps:

Open Chrome .

Type the following path in the address bar and press Enter :

Choose the Enabled option in the “Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents” setting.

Click the Relaunch now button.

Once you complete the steps, the browser will continue to use the color mode for its appearance, but Google and Bing search results and virtually every website you visit will load in dark mode by default, regardless of whether the site supports the feature.

The feature includes different options for inverting colors. If the sites you frequently use don’t look correctly with the default “Enabled” option, you should try the different options:

• Enabled with simple HSL-based inversion.
• Enabled with simple CIELAB-based inversion.
• Enabled with simple RGB-based inversion.
• Enabled with selective image inversion.
• Enabled with selective inversion of non-image elements.
• Enabled with selective inversion of everything.

To enable the dark mode for Google search results, use these steps:

Open Google (web).

Click the Settings option at the bottom-right of the page.

Select the Search settings option.

Click on Other settings .

Click the Dark mode setting from the right side.

Choose the On option.

Click the Confirm button.

Once you complete the steps, only Google.com and search results will open with a dark color scheme. The rest of the internet will load using their default color scheme.

Update February 26, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter) , YouTube , LinkedIn and About.me . Email him at [email protected] .

• How to enable dark mode for Google Chrome on Windows 11, 10
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• Easily switch Google Chrome into dark mode on any device for a more comfortable browsing experience.
• Follow simple instructions to enable dark mode for Chrome on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, providing a fresh new look and reducing glare.
• For a more comprehensive dark mode experience, force websites to display inverted colors by following a few additional steps in Chrome settings.

Google Chrome's dark mode gives you an experience that's far easier on the eyes for those late-night Google searches , allowing you to customize your browser . But, the process for switching over to that black background isn't always an obvious one. For starters, the process is different on a smartphone and a computer. To complicate things further, iPhone users can't switch Chrome into dark mode without switching over every app to the darker appearance. Thankfully, once you learn how to turn on dark mode in Chrome for your particular device, the process is straightforward.

If you want to go a step further, you can even force websites with a light theme to display inverted colors, giving you a dark background and light-colored text. If you're looking to conserve battery life on your mobile , reduce the glare from your desktop monitor , or just want a fresh new look, here are some step-by-step instructions on how to enable it on Windows, macOS, Android, and iPhone.

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If you feel like Chrome is a vampire draining data from your computer, there are alternative browsers. I tried these 7 to see what was the best.

How to turn on dark mode in Chrome on a computer

Adjusting your chrome settings can activate dark mode for many websites.

Adjusting your Chrome settings on a computer is a quick and simple process that will adjust the colors of your toolbars and will also make some, but not all, websites appear with a dark background. Here's how.

• Open Chrome.
• Click the plus icon to open a new tab.
• On the bottom right corner of the new tab, click the pencil icon.
• The Customize Chrome toolbar should now appear on the right of the screen. Under appearance, select dark. Or, to tell Chrome to match the color mode of your device, select system.

How to force dark mode for all Chrome sites

Change the appearance of web content using an experimental chrome feature.

While adjusting the settings above will switch many websites to a dark background, it doesn't work for all websites. Chrome has an experimental feature that may work on more websites, if the above steps don't switch that frequently visited website to dark mode.

• Open a Chrome browser, then enter the following address in your URL bar: chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark
• This will bring up a hidden Chrome settings menu and the Force Dark Mode option. This menu is a long one, so if the URL doesn't bring you right to the Dark Mode setting, use the Control/Command F shortcut then type dark mode into the search bar to find it on the page.
• Go to the drop-down menu next to Force Dark Mode and select Enabled .
• At the bottom, hit the Relaunch button to restart your browser.

In Step 3 above, you'll see several options in the drop-down menu; they all work similarly, simply switching up the color combinations. You can test them all if you want. It just boils down to your personal preference.

MacBooks are powerful machines that professionals use to get work done. Here are the best ones available now.

How to turn on Chrome dark mode on Macs

Go to appearance in system preference to choose dark.

• Open System Settings.
• Then select Appearance .
• Click on the Dark option. Similar to Windows, all apps with a native dark mode will switch over.

From regenerative AI to stunning cameras, there are plenty of fantastic Android phones available right now.

How to turn on Chrome dark mode on Windows

Go to personalization in settings to change interface and menu colors.

• Click on Start, then the Settings menu.
• Click Personalization .
• Choose Colors .
• Scroll down to the switch marked Choose your color , or on Windows 11, Choose your mode .
• Change this to Dark to enable dark mode on all apps with native support, including Google Chrome.

This will only affect the browser's interface and menus. To turn on more dark backgrounds in Chrome, use the settings above inside the Chrome browser.

If you want to change the appearance of web content, in effect forcing light-colored web pages to show a dark background and white text, follow the next steps.

How to turn on Chrome dark mode on Android

Previously an experimental feature, android users can now turn on dark mode for the chrome app.

Dark mode on Android used to be enabled the same way as web content on the desktop. It was an experimental feature, but now official support has rolled:

• Open Chrome on your Android device.
• Tap More (three dots) at the top right, then go to Settings > Theme.
• System Default: Chrome will use the Dark theme when Battery Saver mode is activated or if your device is set to Dark theme in the system settings.
• Dark: Enables Chrome's Dark theme.
• Light: Keeps Chrome in Light theme.

Many phones and devices have the option now - but will it make your battery go further?

How to turn on Chrome dark mode on iPhone

Go to settings to choose dark mode.

Since the launch of iOS 13, Apple has offered a dark mode option for the whole operating system on both iPhone and iPad. However, there isn't an option to turn only Chrome dark -- iOS users can only turn on the system-wide dark mode that applies to every applicable app. Selecting this option will automatically switch Chrome into dark mode..

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap on Display & Brightness.
• Tap to place a check mark under Dark Mode .
• Optional: To automatically enter dark mode at sunset and revert back to light mode in daylight hours, tap the "automatic" toggle.
• When you next open Chrome, it should reflect these changes.

Should you use dark mode in Chrome?

There are lots of good reasons to use dark mode, especially on a battery-powered device with an OLED screen, as displaying black pixels draws less power than displaying white. As we've mentioned, it's much easier on the eyes in dimly lit situations. If you need to check something on your phone at night quickly, you can do so without waking up your partner or melting your eyeballs with a glowing white home screen.

There are downsides, however. Not so much with having the Chrome interface in dark mode, but if you use the forced dark mode option, it can often make websites look a bit strange -- and in extreme cases, it may make them completely unreadable. Thankfully, disabling forced dark mode only takes a few seconds. You'll quickly figure out whether you like it and can continue from there.

If you want to know more handy tips and tricks for Google Chrome, we have some great guides that can tell you everything you need to know. Maybe you'd like to customize your browser , you could try adding some awesome Chrome Extensions , or you could search the web with Google Lens right from your browser .

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How to force enable Google Chrome Dark Mode for web content?

I am trying to enable the new experimental dark mode feature in Chrome for web content. I tried looking into my Chrome settings but I found no straightforward way of doing so.

• google-chrome

To enable Forced Dark Mode in Chrome 78 and later, follow these steps:

• Enter the following address in your URL bar: chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark
• This will bring up a hidden Chrome settings menu and the Force Dark Mode option.
• Go the drop-down menu next to Force Dark Mode and select Enabled.
• At the bottom, hit the Relaunch button to restart your browser.

Source: How to force Google Chrome to show any website in dark mode

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What are Chrome flags?

Activate additional debugging tools, or try out new or experimental features.

Chrome flags are a way to activate browser features that are not available by default.

For example, Chrome wanted to allow users to try picture-in-picture video features, before rolling it out to everyone.

The feature was made available behind a flag, so any user could try it out and give feedback. The code and design were tested and polished based on the feedback, so now you can use picture-in-picture by default in Chrome—and it works really well.

Understand the risks

Most Chrome users will never need to use Chrome flags .

If you do set Chrome flags, you need to be careful. By activating or deactivating features, you could lose data or compromise your security or privacy—and features you toggle with a flag may stop working or be removed without notice.

If you're an enterprise IT administrator, you shouldn't use Chrome flags in production. You might want to take a look at enterprise policies instead.

...and proceed with caution

Having said all that, if you're a web developer who needs to try out new technology—or just a curious geek—then getting to know Chrome flags can be really worthwhile.

There are a large number of flags for many different types of features. Some flags affect the way Chrome looks or works, and some activate features such as new JavaScript APIs. The availability of flags depends on which version of Chrome you're running.

There are two ways to set Chrome flags:

• From the chrome://flags page.
• By opening Chrome from the command line in a terminal.

chrome://flags

To set a flag from the chrome://flags page in Chrome, you need to find the flag, toggle the setting for the flag, then relaunch the browser. For example, to activate Chrome's heads-up display for performance metrics:

Now you can use the heads-up display that shows technical information about web page performance.

Command-line flags

If you're a web developer, you may want to set flags by opening Chrome from the command line in a terminal. You run the command to open Chrome, and add the flags you want to set. There are a lot more Chrome settings you can configure from the command line than those available from the chrome://flags page.

For example, to run Chrome Canary from a terminal on a Mac, with the Topics API activated and epoch length set to 15 seconds, use the following command:

That's just one example! There are hundreds of other flags for activating, deactivating and configuring less well-known features.

If you regularly use different Chrome channels with command-line flags, you might want to create a function for each channel, and add these to your shell RC file. For example, on macOS:

• Open a terminal.
• Create a function: cf(){ open -a 'Google Chrome Canary' --args $*; }
• Use the function: cf --enable-features=TrackingProtection3pcd

Set the Chrome user data directory

In Chrome engineering language, Chrome user refers to an "individual human user of Chrome".

A Chrome client refers to an individual installation of Chrome on a device.

More precisely, a Chrome client corresponds to an individual user data directory . Each Chrome profile is stored in a subdirectory within the user data directory.

If you run Chrome from the command line, you can set the user data directory with the --user-data-dir flag .

That means you can have a separate user data directory for development, with its own profile subdirectories. Creating a new user data directory makes Chrome behave as if it had been freshly installed, which can be helpful for debugging profile-related issues.

To run Chrome from the command line with a new temporary user directory, use the following flag:

You might also want to add the following flags to avoid the browser check and first run UI:

Beware of flag conflicts

It's possible that the flags you set could conflict with each other. chrome://flags settings override command-line settings for the same flag, and the defaults for a chrome://flags setting might, in some cases, override your command line configurations. If the flags you set running Chrome from the command line don't work as expected, you should check your chrome://flags page.

Note that the settings shown on the chrome://flags page don't reflect flags set from the command line. Instead, take a look at the chrome://version page. The Command Line section shows flag settings.

Two other ways to try out experimental features

You can enable a range of experimental features that don't have their own flag, by toggling the chrome://flags#enable-experimental-web-platform-features flag. Documentation for new features will explain when this is an option.

In Chrome Beta you can try out featured experiments and give feedback, by toggling Experiment settings and relaunching the browser. Test experimental features in Chrome provides more detail.

Which features get a flag?

Not all experimental features get their own Chrome flag:

• Some features only become available when they ship in Chrome Canary, and can't be activated by a flag before that. This is quite rare.
• For 'smaller' features that require no more than 1–2 quarters of work, experimental availability is provided by enabling the following flag: chrome://flags#enable-experimental-web-platform-features This activates multiple minor features.
• Major features are made available for experimentation with flags specific to the feature, using chrome://flags or command line switches.

What about Chrome settings?

Chrome settings and Chrome flags serve different purposes.

Chrome flags enable the user to activate or deactivate experimental features, whereas the controls available from the chrome://settings page allow the user to customize their experience for features that are available by default.

What about origin trials?

Origin trials are a way for developers to test a new or experimental web platform feature at scale, and give feedback to the web standards community before the feature is made available to all users.

Features undergoing an origin trial are activated on all pages that provide a valid token for that trial. This allows website owners to activate an experimental feature for all their users, without requiring users to change browser settings or set flags. By comparison, Chrome flags allow individual users to activate or deactivate an experimental feature, on all websites they visit. Getting started with Chrome's origin trials provides more detail.

Find out more

• The chromium.org website explains how to set flags from the command line , for mobile and desktop on different platforms.
• Learn about features, flags, switches, and other patterns for browser experimentation.
• Chrome Flags for Tooling documents flags relevant to tools, automation, and benchmarking.
• List of Chromium Command Line Switches is automatically updated with all available flags and, last time we checked, there were more than 1400 of them!
• Chromium Flag Updates is a bot that tweets changes to the chrome/browser/flag-metadata.json file.
• There are even more flags available to configure individual JavaScript API features. You can find out more about them from API documentation and proposal explainers.
• Experimental features in Firefox

Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License , and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License . For details, see the Google Developers Site Policies . Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.

Last updated 2023-02-08 UTC.

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Here are 12 Chrome Flags that will improve your web-browsing experience

Published on September 12, 2024

Chrome is known for its simplicity and speed. Despite this, there are a lot of extra tools under the hood. This includes several experimental features that can be accessed through special Chrome Flags.

Considering these are all test features that might not even make it to the stable version of Chrome, bugs are expected. Nonetheless, if you are willing to go through the occasional hiccup, some enable an improved browsing experience. Let’s take a look at some of our favorites.

The best Chrome Flags

Smooth scrolling, touch ui layout.

• QUIC Protocol
• Zero-copy rasterizer
• Force Dark Mode
• Parallel Downloading

Show autofill predictions

Live caption.

• GPU rasterization

Tab Scrolling

Override software rendering list, partial swap.

Editor’s note: We’ll regularly update this list with new Chrome Flags. All instructions moving forward were put together using a custom PC running Windows 11 and Chrome version 122.0.6261.129, unless otherwise specified.

Ever notice your scrolling stutter or that it can get a bit sluggish? There could be many reasons it’s happening, but this Chrome Flag will likely improve the situation. Search for “Smooth Scrolling” in the search bar and enable the feature. It’s a great feature Android users should enable, but you can also use it on Windows, Linux, and Chrome OS.

Many convertible laptops, Windows tablets, and other devices now come with capable touch screens. This makes it possible to interact with content more naturally. Sometimes, the desktop interface doesn’t work well with touch commands, though. The browser has a touch-optimized UI hidden in the Chrome Flags.

In the search bar, search for “Touch UI Layout.” Click on the drop-down menu next to it and select Enabled .

Experimental QUIC Protocol

Certain Chrome Flags speed up your browsing experience. QUIC is Google’s protocol, and it’s designed to make the web faster. Enabling this one will speed things up, but only when websites have been optimized for it. Something is better than nothing, though!

On the main page, search for “Experimental QUIC Protocol.” Click on the drop-down menu next to it and select Enabled .

Enable Zero-copy rasterizer

If you want Chrome’s general performance to be faster, one neat trick is to enable Zero-copy rasterizer. This will allow Chrome threads to write directly to the GPU for tile management. In turn, Chrome should operate faster, at least theoretically. Whether you’ll actually notice a difference is another story. Also, it makes Chrome more prone to crashes. You can definitely give it a try, though.

Search for “Zero-copy rasterizer” and enable it in the drop-down Chrome Flags menu.

Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents

Dark Mode is pretty cool, both aesthetically and for eye comfort reasons . If you are also a fan of it, you want all website content to support it. Sadly, not all websites cooperate, but a secondary option forces the option on all websites.

Open the Chrome Flags page and search for “Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents.” Enable the feature through the drop-down menu next to it.

Parallel Downloading Chrome Flag

Waiting for large files to download can be a hassle. Let’s cut delays by dividing downloads into multiple files to be downloaded simultaneously.

Search for “Parallel Downloading” and enable the feature using the drop-down menu to the right.

Nobody likes filling out forms, so Google simplifies this process using autofill. Still annoying? You can automatically have Chrome autofill form information by enabling the “Show autofill predictions” feature.

Search for “Show Autofill Predictions” and enable the feature using the drop-down menu to the right.

Some video players and websites offer captions, but this isn’t a universal feature. Those who want transcripts for all recognized words in media can use the Live Caption Chrome Flag.

Search for “Live Caption” and enable it.

GPU Rasterization

Is Chrome simply not fast enough for you? We know how you can harness the full power of your computer to speed things up. There’s a trick, though; you need to have a dedicated GPU for this one to make any improvements to Chrome’s performance. GPU Rasterization allows Chrome to take some of the workload off the CPU and have your GPU take care of it.

Here’s how to do it. Search for “GPU rasterization” and enable the feature using the drop-down menu.

I like keeping my tabs in check, but we know many of you like to have a bunch of tabs open at all times. This results in a row of what seems like a million tiny tabs that become unrecognizable, and I have no idea how anyone can figure out which tab is which. The Chrome UI just wasn’t made for so many tabs, but Google is starting to change this with scrollable tabs. This keeps them larger, but allows you to scroll through all open tabs, giving you at least a bit of readability.

Just go to the Chrome Flags and look for “Tab Scrolling,” then enable the feature using the drop-down menu.

GPU acceleration on Chrome is usually only available for supported devices. But, of course, there is a Chrome Flag for nearly everything. You can force Chrome to use GPU acceleration, even on unsupported devices. Just be warned that this may cause compatibility issues, as systems are often not supported for a reason.

Just look for “Override software rendering list” and enable the Chrome Flag.

Partial Swap improves memory management, and can supercharge your browser’s performance. It basically swaps memory usage, prioritizing tabs and tasks you are using at the moment. The thing is, this can also cause issues from time to time.

Partial swap comes enabled by default, so search for “Partial swap” to disable it. Or, if it’s disabled, you can try to enable it and see if it helps.

What is a Chrome Flag?

Chrome Flags are experimental features Google hasn’t released yet, but you can access and test. Just remember these aren’t ready for an official release just yet. This means they may not work very well all of the time. You may encounter the occasional hiccup, bug, or crash.

How do you access Chrome Flags settings?

No matter how much you dig into menus and options, you won’t find them in the settings unless you know how to access this section. You need to know your way in!

How to access the Chrome Flags page:

• Open Chrome .
• Click on the address and delete any URL that might be in it.
• Type the following in the address bar: “chrome://flags/” (without quotation marks).
• Press Enter .
• You are in!

By the way, these steps work both on mobile and desktop. That said, not all Chrome Flags are available for all platforms. There are two primary tabs on the page: Available and Unavailable . Some of these experimental features are only available on specific devices. You can’t use features made for Android on devices like a laptop, for example.

How to enable a Chrome Flag:

• Once you find yourself within the page, go ahead and search for the Chrome Flag you want to try out.
• Select the drop-down menu under the Flag you want to use. It usually reads either Default or Disabled .
• Select Enabled .
• You’ll need to relaunch Chrome most of the time. Hit Relaunch if the option shows up.

Note: These instructions were assembled using a Google Pixel 8a  running Android 15. These steps are identical across all Chrome browsers, though. The same steps will work on desktop and iOS.

Are Chrome Flags safe?

Once in the Chrome Flags settings, you will see a warning message telling you about the dangers of using them. This is because experimental features can cause issues and hiccups in the browser. They are usually not too unstable, but some can be. Regardless, you can easily disable them. The worst that could happen is you’ll encounter the occasional crash or bug, so they are safe to use.

How to disable Chrome Flags:

• Access the Chrome Flags settings as directed in the previous section.
• Find the experimental Chrome Flag you want to disable. If you’ve manually enabled them, they will show up at the beginning of the list.
• Select the drop-down menu and select Disabled .
• Alternatively, you can press the button in the top-right corner that says Reset all to deactivate all of them.

Using Chrome Flags is safe, but it can make your experience a bit buggy. The team also warns you could lose data and compromise privacy. This is just Google being careful, though. The worst that can usually happen is that you’ll need to relaunch Chrome and turn off the Chrome Flags, if anything goes wrong.

Chrome Flags are experimental features the Google team is testing. The team will make these official Chrome features once they are in good working order, if they are deemed worthy. This isn’t always the case, though. Additionally, Chrome Flags are often killed.

You can use Chrome Flags on both mobile and desktop browsers, but not all Chrome Flags are available on every device. Some are desktop or mobile-specific. However, Chrome will separate unavailable Flags and put them into the Unavailable tab.

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Browse in Dark mode or Dark theme

When you browse in Dark mode or Dark theme in Chrome, your homepage, toolbar, settings, and some other pages will be dark. 

Tip:  This feature is called "Dark mode" on Desktop and iOS and "Dark theme" on Android devices.

Manage Dark mode in Chrome

Manage Dark mode on your device

• Mac: Find out how to use Dark mode .
• Windows: Find out how to change desktop background and colors .
• Chromebook: Find out how to use Dark mode .
• Open Chrome.

Related resources

Learn more tips and shortcuts at Chrome.com .

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How to turn off dark mode in google chrome.

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Turn off chrome's dark mode on windows 10, disable chrome's dark mode on windows 11, deactivate chrome's dark mode on mac, turn off chrome's dark mode on chromebook, disable dark mode on android, get rid of chrome's dark mode on iphone and ipad, disable chrome's forced dark mode.

Think Google Chrome looks better in its original light mode? If so, it's easy to turn off dark mode in Chrome on both desktop and mobile. Keep reading to learn how!

Related: Dark Mode Isn’t Better For You, But We Love It Anyway

On Windows 10, Chrome respects your system's default mode. This means you'll have to turn off dark mode within your system settings to bring Chrome to light mode.

To do that, launch the Settings app by pressing the keyboard shortcut, Windows+i. In Settings, choose "Personalization."

From the left sidebar, select "Colors."

In the right pane, if the "Choose Your Color" drop-down menu says "Dark," click the menu and choose "Light."

If the "Choose Your Color" drop-down menu says "Custom," in the "Choose Your Default App Mode" section, select "Light."

Chrome should now return to light mode.

Like with Windows 10, you'll have to disable dark mode in your system settings  to bring Chrome back to the light theme.

To do that, open Settings by pressing the keyboard shortcut Windows+i. Then, from the left sidebar, select "Personalization."

In the right pane, choose "Colors."

If the "Choose Your Mode" drop-down menu says "Dark," click the menu and select "Light."

If the "Choose Your Mode" drop-down menu has "Custom" selected, in the "Choose Your Default App Mode" section, enable "Light."

And that's it. Chrome is now back to its original light appearance .

Related: How to Reset Chrome Settings to Default

On Mac, you'll have to disable your system's dark mode to use light mode in Chrome.

To do that, head into the Apple Menu > System Preferences > General.

On the "General" page, next to "Appearance," choose "Light."

Chrome on your Mac is now in light mode.

Like all other desktop operating systems, on Chromebook, you'll also disable the system's dark mode to use Chrome in light mode.

To do that, in your Chromebook's Shelf , tap or click the clock icon.

From the menu that opens, turn off the "Dark Theme" option.

Your Chromebook's dark mode is now disabled, forcing the Chrome browser to use light mode.

Unlike other devices, on Android, you can use Chrome in light or dark mode regardless of what the system theme is.

To switch to the light mode in Chrome, launch the Chrome browser on your phone. In the browser's top-right corner, tap the three dots and choose "Settings."

In "Settings," select "Theme."

On the "Theme" page, choose "Light."

On iPhone and iPad, Chrome will only use light mode if you turn off your device's dark mode .

To do that, on your iPhone or iPad, launch the Settings app and tap "Display & Brightness."

Choose "Light" to turn off dark mode.

If Chrome continues to use a dark theme despite following the above methods, your browser may be using the forced dark mode .

This mode is in Chrome's flags (where all other experimental features are), and you'll have to turn it off from there.

To do that, launch Chrome on your device. In the address bar, type the following and press Enter:

chrome://flags

At the top of the "Experiments" page, select the search box and type dark .

In the flag list, next to "Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents," click the drop-down menu and choose "Disabled."

Quit and reopen Chrome by selecting "Relaunch" at the bottom of the browser. This will bring your changes into effect.

And that's how you turn on the lights in your favorite web browser!

Want to turn the lights back off? Check out our guide to learn how to change back to dark mode in Chrome.

• Web Browsers
• Google Chrome

chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark: Force Dark Mode on Chrome

chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark can help you force dark mode on every web content in Google Chrome. This post from MiniTool tells you how to do that on a Chrome desktop and mobile browser. Keep on your reading.

Chrome makes it easy to switch to dark mode for a more comfortable late-night Google search experience. Besides, Chrome can even force sites with a light theme to display inverse colors, giving you a dark background and light text. How to force dark mode on every web content in Google Chrome on Windows and Android/iOS?

The chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark URL can help you do that. It is available as a hidden flag in Chrome 78. Like all flags, it is an experimental option and may be changed or removed at any time.

This post teaches you how to turn on dark mode on Google Chrome on Windows 11/10, Mac, Android phones, and iPhones with detailed steps.

How to Force Dark Mode on Every Website in Google Chrome on Windows

Here is how to force dark mode on every website in Google Chrome with chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark on Windows.

Step 1: Open Google Chrome. Enter chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark in the address bar.

Step 2: Then, you can see the hidden Chrome settings menu and the Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents option.

Step 3: Click the drop-down menu next to  Force Dark Mode  and select  Enabled . You can also try other Force Dark Mode options. Different modes will produce different results on a web page. Some of them even invert bright images, making those images darker. You can choose one of them based on your needs.

• Enabled with simple HSL-based inversion
• Enabled with simple DLEAB-based inversion
• Enabled with simple RGB-based inversion
• Enabled with selective image inversion
• Enabled with selective inversion of non-image elements
• Enabled with selective inversion of everything

Step 4: Click the  Relaunch  button at the bottom to restart your browser. Your changes will take effect the next time you relaunch Chrome.

After restarting the browser, your Google Chrome has been changed to dark mode. If you don’t like it, you can go back to Chrome’s Experiments screen, change the Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents option back to Default and restart the browser. When this option is disabled, Chrome will stop confusing website colors.

How to run Chrome safety check with chrome://settings/safetycheck on Windows? How to run Chrome safety check on mobile phones? Here are the details.

How to Force Dark Mode on Every Website in Google Chrome on Android

Here is how to force dark mode on every website in Google Chrome on Android.

Step 1: Open Google Chrome on your phone and enter  chrome://flags  in the address bar. 

Step 2: Hit the  Search flags  box and enter dark mode . Then, you can see two options:  Android web contents dark mode  and  Android Chrome UI dark mode . 

Step 3: Tap on the drop-down menu under each option and change the setting to  Activated , then close and restart the app.

Step 4: Open the settings menu, select  Themes , and then  Dark .

Final Words

Now, you have known how to force dark mode on Chrome with chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark. Besides, you can also know how to force dark mode on every web content on Android. I hope that this post can be helpful to you.

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How To Turn On Dark Mode In Chrome

• Software & Applications
• Browsers & Extensions

Introduction

Dark mode has become increasingly popular among users due to its ability to reduce eye strain and conserve battery life, especially in low-light environments. With the widespread use of web browsers like Chrome, enabling dark mode can significantly enhance the browsing experience. Whether you prefer the sleek aesthetic of dark backgrounds or simply want to minimize eye fatigue during late-night browsing sessions, Chrome offers several methods to activate dark mode.

In this article, we will explore three simple and effective ways to turn on dark mode in Chrome. From utilizing built-in settings to leveraging advanced features like Chrome flags and extensions, you'll discover the flexibility and customization options available to tailor your browsing experience to your preferences. Whether you're a night owl who enjoys browsing in the dark or simply seeking a change from the traditional light interface, these methods will empower you to transform your Chrome browser effortlessly.

By the end of this guide, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to seamlessly transition your Chrome browser into a visually appealing and eye-friendly dark mode. Let's delve into the step-by-step instructions and unlock the potential of dark mode in Chrome.

Method 1: Using Chrome Settings

Enabling dark mode in Chrome using the built-in settings is a straightforward process that allows you to seamlessly switch to a darker interface. Follow these simple steps to activate dark mode through Chrome settings:

Open Chrome Settings : Launch your Chrome browser and click on the three-dot menu icon located in the top-right corner of the window. From the dropdown menu, select "Settings" to access the browser's configuration options.

Navigate to Appearance Settings : Within the Settings menu, scroll down and click on "Appearance" to reveal customization options for the browser's visual elements.

Select Dark Mode : Under the "Appearance" section, you'll find the "Theme" option. Click on the dropdown menu and choose "Dark" to instantly transform the Chrome interface into a sleek, dark-themed layout.

Enjoy Dark Mode : Once you've selected the dark theme, Chrome will immediately apply the changes, and you'll notice a significant shift in the overall appearance of the browser. The background, tabs, and various interface elements will adopt a darker color scheme, providing a more comfortable browsing experience, especially in low-light environments.

By utilizing Chrome's native settings, you can effortlessly switch to dark mode without the need for additional installations or configurations. This method offers a convenient and user-friendly approach to customizing your browsing experience to align with your visual preferences.

Whether you're working late into the night or simply prefer the aesthetic appeal of dark themes, Chrome's built-in settings provide a seamless solution to activate dark mode and enhance your browsing experience. With the visual transformation complete, you can navigate the web with reduced eye strain and a modern, stylish interface that reflects your personal taste.

Embracing dark mode in Chrome through the native settings empowers you to optimize your browsing environment according to your preferences, ensuring a visually appealing and comfortable experience as you explore the vast expanse of the internet.

Method 2: Using Chrome Flags

Utilizing Chrome flags provides a more advanced and customizable approach to enabling dark mode in the Chrome browser. Chrome flags are experimental features and settings that allow users to access and modify functionalities that are still in development or testing phases. By leveraging Chrome flags, you can unlock additional customization options, including the ability to activate dark mode before it becomes widely available in the standard settings. Follow these steps to enable dark mode using Chrome flags:

Access Chrome Flags : To begin, open a new tab in your Chrome browser and type "chrome://flags" in the address bar, then press Enter. This will direct you to the Chrome flags page, where you can explore and modify various experimental features.

Search for Dark Mode : Once you're on the Chrome flags page, you can use the search bar at the top to look for "dark mode." This will filter the available flags and display relevant options related to dark mode customization.

Enable Dark Mode Flag : Look for the specific flag related to dark mode, such as "Force Dark Mode for Web Contents," and click on the dropdown menu next to it. Select "Enabled" from the options to activate the dark mode flag.

Relaunch Chrome : After enabling the dark mode flag, you'll be prompted to relaunch Chrome to apply the changes. Click on the "Relaunch" button that appears at the bottom of the screen to restart the browser .

Experience Dark Mode : Once Chrome restarts, the dark mode flag will take effect, transforming the appearance of web content to align with the dark mode setting. Websites and web pages will now display with a darker color scheme, enhancing readability and reducing eye strain, especially in low-light environments.

By leveraging Chrome flags, you gain access to experimental features and functionalities that offer a glimpse into the future of Chrome's capabilities. Enabling dark mode through Chrome flags allows you to customize your browsing experience with a level of flexibility and control that extends beyond standard settings.

With dark mode activated through Chrome flags, you can enjoy a visually optimized browsing experience that aligns with your preferences, all while exploring the web in a more comfortable and eye-friendly environment. Embracing the advanced capabilities of Chrome flags empowers you to stay ahead of the curve and personalize your browsing experience with cutting-edge features.

Utilizing Chrome flags to enable dark mode showcases the adaptability and innovation that Chrome offers, allowing users to explore and customize their browsing environment with experimental features that cater to their unique preferences and visual comfort.

Method 3: Using a Chrome Extension

In addition to the built-in settings and advanced features offered by Chrome, users can also leverage the expansive ecosystem of Chrome extensions to enable dark mode. Chrome extensions are third-party add-ons that enhance the functionality and customization options of the browser, allowing users to tailor their browsing experience to their specific preferences. By installing a dedicated dark mode extension, users can seamlessly transform the visual appearance of Chrome to align with their preference for a darker interface.

To enable dark mode using a Chrome extension, follow these simple steps:

Explore the Chrome Web Store : Open your Chrome browser and navigate to the Chrome Web Store, which serves as the central hub for discovering and installing Chrome extensions. You can access the Chrome Web Store by clicking on the Apps icon in your bookmarks bar or by typing "chrome://extensions/" in the address bar and pressing Enter.

Search for Dark Mode Extensions : Once you're in the Chrome Web Store, use the search bar to look for dark mode extensions. You'll find a variety of extensions designed to enable dark mode across websites and customize the overall appearance of Chrome. Popular extensions include "Dark Reader," "Midnight Lizard," and "Night Eye – Dark mode."

Select and Install the Extension : After exploring the available dark mode extensions, choose the one that best suits your preferences and browsing habits. Click on the extension's listing to view more details, then click the "Add to Chrome" button to initiate the installation process. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the installation of the extension.

Customize Dark Mode Settings : Once the dark mode extension is installed, you may have the option to customize its settings to align with your specific preferences. Some extensions offer adjustable parameters such as contrast, brightness, and color schemes, allowing you to fine-tune the dark mode experience according to your visual comfort.

Experience Enhanced Dark Mode : With the dark mode extension activated, you'll immediately notice the transformation of web pages and interface elements into a darker, more visually comfortable presentation. The extension will apply dark mode across websites, providing a consistent and seamless browsing experience with reduced eye strain and enhanced readability.

By utilizing a dedicated dark mode extension, users can extend the visual customization capabilities of Chrome, tailoring the browsing experience to their unique preferences. Whether you prefer a subtle dark theme or seek advanced customization options, dark mode extensions offer a versatile and user-friendly solution to enhance the visual aesthetics of Chrome.

Embracing the flexibility and diversity of Chrome extensions empowers users to personalize their browsing environment with a wide range of functionalities, including dark mode enhancements. With the installation of a dark mode extension, users can immerse themselves in a visually optimized browsing experience that aligns with their preferences and promotes comfortable, eye-friendly interactions with web content.

Incorporating a dark mode extension into your Chrome browser not only enhances the visual appeal of the interface but also underscores the adaptability and customization options available within the Chrome ecosystem. By seamlessly integrating dark mode extensions, users can elevate their browsing experience and navigate the web with enhanced visual comfort and style.

In conclusion, the ability to turn on dark mode in Chrome presents users with a versatile array of options, each catering to different preferences and levels of customization. Whether you opt for the simplicity of Chrome's built-in settings, the advanced capabilities of Chrome flags, or the expansive functionality offered by third-party extensions, the journey to dark mode is characterized by flexibility and user empowerment.

By leveraging Chrome's native settings, users can seamlessly transition to a darker interface, enhancing visual comfort and reducing eye strain during extended browsing sessions. The straightforward process of accessing Chrome settings and selecting the dark theme underscores the user-friendly approach that Chrome offers, ensuring that the transition to dark mode is both accessible and convenient.

For those seeking a more advanced and experimental route, Chrome flags provide a glimpse into the future of Chrome's capabilities. Enabling dark mode through Chrome flags not only offers early access to cutting-edge features but also showcases the adaptability and innovation that Chrome embodies. Users can explore and customize their browsing environment with experimental features that cater to their unique preferences and visual comfort, setting the stage for a more personalized and forward-thinking browsing experience.

Furthermore, the integration of dark mode extensions introduces a new dimension of customization, allowing users to tailor their browsing experience with a diverse range of functionalities. The installation of a dedicated dark mode extension empowers users to immerse themselves in a visually optimized browsing experience, promoting comfortable, eye-friendly interactions with web content. The ability to customize parameters such as contrast, brightness, and color schemes underscores the adaptability and versatility of dark mode extensions, offering a tailored approach to visual aesthetics within the Chrome browser.

In essence, the journey to dark mode in Chrome transcends a mere visual transformation; it embodies the spirit of user empowerment and customization. Whether through native settings, experimental features, or third-party extensions, the activation of dark mode in Chrome reflects a commitment to enhancing the browsing experience, promoting visual comfort, and accommodating diverse user preferences. As users navigate the vast expanse of the internet, the availability of dark mode in Chrome serves as a testament to the platform's dedication to user-centric design and innovation.

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Mastering Google Chrome Flags: The Ultimate Power User‘s Guide

Google Chrome is the world‘s most popular web browser, with over 2.65 billion active users as of 2020. But did you know that lurking beneath Chrome‘s simple interface is a hidden realm of experimental features and settings? Enabling certain "flags" allows you to unlock powerful functionalities and customize your browsing experience like never before. In this in-depth guide, we‘ll take you through everything you need to know to become a master of Chrome flags.

What Are Chrome Flags?

Chrome flags are essentially experimental features that are not yet enabled by default in the browser. They allow users to try out cutting-edge functionalities and modify the browser‘s behavior in advanced ways.

Some flags serve as a sneak peek at upcoming features that Google is still developing and testing. Others provide niche customization options catering to power users and developers. And a few flags exist solely for the purpose of diagnosing issues or measuring performance.

Accessing Chrome Flags

To view and enable flags in Chrome, you simply need to navigate to a special URL in the browser. Here‘s how:

• Open Google Chrome on your computer.
• In the address bar at the top, type chrome://flags and press Enter.
• You should now see a long list of available flags, along with a search bar for easier navigation.

Each flag entry includes a brief description of what it does, as well as a dropdown menu with options like "Default," "Enabled," and "Disabled." To turn on a flag, simply select "Enabled" from the dropdown and then click the "Relaunch" button that appears at the bottom of your screen.

Caution: Proceed With Care!

Before we dive into some of the most useful flags you can enable, it‘s important to understand that these features are experimental for a reason. They may be unstable, cause performance issues, or even introduce security vulnerabilities.

Google displays a prominent warning message at the top of the chrome://flags page:

WARNING: Experimental features ahead! Enabling these features may destabilize your browser or compromise your security or privacy. Enabled features apply to all users of this browser.

In general, it‘s best not to enable flags unless you‘re comfortable troubleshooting potential problems that may arise. And if you do choose to experiment with flags, make sure to only enable them one at a time so you can easily identify the culprit if something goes wrong.

Top Chrome Flags for Power Users

With those caveats out of the way, let‘s explore some of the most useful and interesting flags available in Chrome today.

#1: Reader Mode

The internet is full of distractions. Flashing ads, auto-playing videos, and cluttered layouts can make it hard to focus on the content you actually want to read. Reader Mode aims to fix that.

When you enable the Reader Mode flag (by searching for "Enable Reader Mode" on the chrome://flags page), a new icon will appear at the right side of your address bar whenever you‘re on a compatible web page. Clicking that icon will strip away all the extraneous elements and present the main text and images in a clean, distraction-free format.

Reader Mode is perfect for long-form articles, blog posts, and other text-heavy content. It even lets you adjust the page‘s text size and color scheme to your liking. Give it a try the next time you find yourself struggling to read a cluttered web page.

#2: Tab Hover Cards

If you‘re the type of person who always has a ton of tabs open, you know how frustrating it can be to find the one you‘re looking for. You end up hovering over each tiny tab, waiting for the page title to appear so you can figure out what‘s what.

The Tab Hover Cards flag offers a better way. When enabled, hovering your mouse over a tab will display a large preview thumbnail of that page‘s content. This makes it much easier to visually identify the tab you want without having to squint at tiny text.

To turn on Tab Hover Cards, search for "Tab Hover Cards" in the flags page and select "Enabled" from the dropdown menu. Note that this flag may cause performance issues on low-end systems or if you have a very large number of tabs open.

#3: Parallel Downloading

One of the most under-the-hood flags in Chrome, Parallel Downloading can significantly speed up the process of downloading large files. When this flag is enabled, Chrome will break down a download into smaller chunks and download several pieces simultaneously.

In a 2019 benchmark test, researchers found that enabling Parallel Downloading allowed Chrome to achieve a peak download speed of 135 MB/s, compared to 32 MB/s with the default sequential downloading. That‘s over 4x faster!

Of course, your actual results will depend on factors like your internet connection speed and the size and type of file you‘re downloading. But if you frequently download large files like videos or software installers, enabling Parallel Downloading is a no-brainer.

#4: Force Dark Mode

Dark mode has become an increasingly popular feature across all sorts of apps and operating systems. It‘s easier on the eyes, especially at night, and can even help conserve battery life on devices with OLED screens.

Many websites now offer their own dark themes, but what about the ones that don‘t? That‘s where the Force Dark Mode flag comes in. When enabled, this flag instructs Chrome to automatically generate a dark version of every web page you visit.

The results can be a bit hit-or-miss, as the forced dark mode doesn‘t always play nicely with a website‘s existing colors and layout. But if you‘re a die-hard dark mode fan, it‘s worth giving this flag a shot. Just be prepared to toggle it off if a particular page looks too wonky.

#5: Heavy Ad Intervention

We‘ve all been there. You‘re trying to read an article or watch a video, but the page is so bogged down with resource-intensive ads that it‘s practically unusable. Your computer‘s fan starts spinning up, the browser slows to a crawl, and you start to wonder if the content is even worth the hassle.

Chrome‘s Heavy Ad Intervention flag aims to combat this problem by selectively blocking ads that consume an excessive amount of system resources. When the flag is enabled, Chrome monitors each ad‘s network and CPU usage. If an ad exceeds a certain threshold (4MB of network data or 60 seconds of total CPU usage), Chrome will block it and display an "Ad removed" message in its place.

This flag is still a work in progress, and Google acknowledges that it may inadvertently block some non-invasive ads. But for users who are fed up with overly aggressive advertising, Heavy Ad Intervention can be a lifesaver.

Chrome Flags Throughout The Years

The Chrome flags system has been a part of the browser since its earliest days. Let‘s take a trip down memory lane and see how flags have evolved over the years.

The Early Days (2008-2010)

Google Chrome first launched in 2008 and quickly gained popularity for its clean interface and speedy performance. Even in those early versions, the chrome://flags page was present, but it looked quite different than it does today.

Back then, the page was a simple plain-text list of experimental features, many of which were highly technical in nature. There was no search function or prettified layout – just a wall of jargon that looked intimidating to the average user.

Some notable early flags included:

• Browser Crash Cleanup : Automatically reloaded recently crashed tabs
• HTML Web Worker : Allowed HTML pages to spawn background threads
• GPU Accelerated Canvas 2D : Enabled GPU acceleration for 2D canvas rendering

The Rise of Flags (2011-2015)

As Chrome‘s user base grew, so too did the prominence of the flags system. Power users and tech bloggers began writing guides on how to access the chrome://flags page and recommending their favorite experimental features.

Google took notice and began to curate the flags list to include more user-facing options. They also made the page more approachable by adding features like a search bar and collapsible section headers.

During this period, many of Chrome‘s most iconic flags made their debut, including:

• Mute Tab : Allowed users to easily silence audio from any background tab
• Reader Mode : Removed distractions from articles and blog posts for easier reading
• SPDY Protocol : Improved web page loading speed and security (later replaced by HTTP/2)

Modern Day Flags (2016-Present)

In recent years, the Chrome flags page has continued to grow and evolve. Google has become more proactive about promoting certain experimental features to stable defaults once they‘ve proven their worth.

For example, Picture-in-Picture mode started life as a flag before graduating to a standard feature in Chrome 70. The same is true of Default Lazy Loading, which was promoted from a flag in 2019.

Chrome‘s developers have also started using flags as a way to A/B test different variations of a feature. For instance, when Google was working on a redesign of the New Tab Page, they pushed out several different versions as individual flags. This allowed them to gather data on which design users preferred before making a final decision.

Some of the most exciting recently-added flags include:

• Tab Search : Adds a search bar to quickly find open tabs
• Privacy Sandbox : Helps protect user privacy by limiting tracking across websites
• Copy Link To Text : Lets you easily copy a link to selected text on a page

The Future of Chrome Flags

As web technologies continue to advance at a breakneck pace, Chrome flags will undoubtedly remain an essential part of the browser‘s development process. They provide a safe space for engineers to prototype new features and gather real-world feedback before rolling changes out to everyone.

So what might the chrome://flags page look like in the future? While the specifics are always kept under wraps, we can make some educated guesses based on emerging trends and web standards.

More Performance Boosting Features

Google has always been obsessed with speed, and that focus shows no signs of slowing down. Expect to see more flags aimed at accelerating page loads, reducing memory usage, and conserving battery life.

For example, a recently added flag called "Back-Forward Cache" keeps a page active in memory when you click away and then return via the back or forward button. This speeds up navigation within a tab and removes the need to reload content.

Increased Privacy Options

With concerns over online tracking and data collection at an all-time high, it‘s a safe bet that future Chrome flags will include more granular privacy controls.

The already-released Privacy Sandbox is just the tip of the iceberg. Google is actively exploring new ways to deliver targeted advertising without the need for invasive cross-site tracking. Various pieces of that initiative, like the Federated Learning of Cohorts API, are currently available as individual flags.

Deeper AR/VR Integration

Virtual and augmented reality are no longer just science fiction. These technologies are quickly becoming mainstream, and web browsers are racing to keep up.

Chrome already offers an array of flags related to VR/AR functionality, like the WebXR Device API which allows web pages to access connected VR headsets and controllers. As more immersive web experiences are developed, expect to see a proliferation of flags dealing with 3D rendering, spatial audio, and other VR-specific features.

Streamlined Customization

With Great Power Comes Great Confusion – one of the biggest drawbacks of the current Chrome flags system is that it can be overwhelming for the average user. There are simply too many options, many of which are cryptically named or poorly explained.

In the future, Google may work on streamlining the flags page to make it more accessible to non-technical users. This could involve a redesigned interface, more user-friendly descriptions, or even a curated list of "recommended" flags for common use cases.

Empowering Users With Flags

For all their complexity and potential drawbacks, Chrome flags remain an incredibly powerful tool for customizing your web browsing experience. By enabling the right combination of flags, you can mold Chrome into the perfect browser for your specific needs and preferences.

Whether you‘re a developer testing cutting-edge web features, a power user looking to squeeze every last drop of performance out of your machine, or just a curious tinkerer who likes to explore new settings, the chrome://flags page has something to offer.

So go ahead and dive in. Enable a few flags, see what works for you, and don‘t be afraid to experiment. Just remember to proceed with caution, keep an eye out for unintended consequences, and enjoy being part of Chrome‘s ongoing evolution.

Happy flagging!

Shane Barker is a seasoned digital marketing consultant and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the industry. A graduate of New York University's Stern School of Business with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Shane has established himself as a thought leader in the realms of content marketing, SEO, and e-commerce strategy.

Specializing in Google Ads optimization, independent website development, and social media marketing, Shane has helped numerous startups and established brands alike to enhance their online presence and drive measurable results. His data-driven approach, combined with a keen understanding of the latest digital trends, has consistently delivered impressive ROI for his clients across various sectors.

Shane's expertise extends beyond traditional marketing strategies. With a self-taught foundation in web development, including proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, he brings a unique technical perspective to his marketing consultations. This blend of marketing acumen and technical know-how allows him to optimize landing pages and user experiences effectively, resulting in higher conversion rates for his clients.

A sought-after speaker and industry commentator, Shane regularly contributes to leading marketing publications and has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Inc. He also shares his insights through his popular blog and podcast, where he discusses cutting-edge marketing techniques and interviews industry innovators.

Shane is committed to educating the next generation of digital marketers. He frequently conducts workshops and webinars, sharing his knowledge on topics ranging from advanced PPC strategies to the intricacies of building a successful e-commerce platform. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, Shane Barker remains at the forefront, constantly adapting his strategies and expanding his skill set to deliver innovative solutions that drive growth and success in the online marketplace.

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At the edge of tweaking

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To Enable Dark Mode for Any Site In Google Chrome,

This will open the flags page directly with the relevant setting.

• You are done.

Here is how Winaero looks in Dark Mode:

The flag supports a number of other options, such as

• Simple HSL-based inversion
• Simple CIELAB-based inversion
• Selective image inversion
• Selective inversion of non-image elements
• Selective inversion of everything

You can play with them and see what works best for you.

Keep in mind that overriding the default CSS of a web page may make it unreadable. The forced dark mode is an experimental feature, it has issues, and may not reach the production branch at all. I tried it in Chrome Canary Version 78.0.3882.0 .

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2 thoughts on “Enable Dark Mode for Any Site In Google Chrome”

I’m not seeing the same flag in the same version of Chrome running on my computer :-/

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Privacy Overview

Everything needs a Dark Mode now that OLED is everywhere

It's 2023. Let's say goodbye to white backgrounds for good

• How to force Chrome Dark Mode

The year is 2023, and I am here to say everything needs a dark mode. 

I'm tired of straining my eyes staring at blinding white backgrounds while browsing the web all day, and I know I'm not alone. More people than ever are working from home and staring at screens all day, most of which feature islands of text and images laid out across an endless ever-scrolling ocean of white space.

Designers and developers still seem to gravitate to bright white as the default background color choice, even though the shade can become absolutely excruciating to look at on a bright OLED."

And while I would never dare dispute the vision of a web developer who's truly on one, there's no reason I can fathom why every website on the Internet today doesn't offer something akin to a dark mode. I have to assume it's a significant amount of work to implement, because even a billionaire-backed titan like Amazon doesn't seem interested in making a dark mode easily accessible.

I know my poor eyes feel the lack of a dark mode on Amazon's website while scouring it to find this year's best Black Friday deals . That surprises me because I'd bet offering a dark mode would increase, on average, the amount of time people spend on a website, and thus maybe cause a concomitant rise in people buying things on said website. It's certainly true that having the option to view a site or storefront in a more muted color palette makes the prospect of browsing it seem a lot more comfortable to me.

And yet, try as I might there's no dark mode to be found on Amazon, eBay and other major websites. Instead, I had to figure out my own way of forcing it in Chrome (more on that later). The lack of a dark mode on these commonly-visited sites felt strange a decade ago, but nowadays it just seems rude. I say that because display tech is finally getting to the point where stuff like HDR support and OLED screens are becoming, if not commonplace, at least broadly accessible. 

Now I love this tech because it really makes a difference in image quality. I love OLED displays on laptops, monitors and TVs because OLED tends to deliver deeper blacks, brighter whites and more impressive contrasts than LCD screens. And HDR support is great because it helps you see a whole new spectrum of shades between light and dark, giving games and videos more of the depth of light and shadow you get in real life. In general, I think the experience of looking at stuff on screens is better than it's ever been.

Yet designers and developers still seem to gravitate to bright white as the default background color choice, even though the shade can become absolutely excruciating to look at on a bright OLED with HDR enabled. I don't know if you've had the chance to browse Amazon on an OLED monitor or launched a PS5 game with a white menu background on one of the best OLED TVs , but it can quickly become an eye-watering nuisance.

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I know it seems like a nit pick in the grand scheme of things, and it is. But the solution seems so obvious, so straightforward and so worthwhile to implement that in 2023 I have a hard time understanding why any digital product or service lacks a dark mode. 

For years we've read about concerns that we're harming ourselves by staring at screens too late at night, or for too long. It seems like ensuring every app, site and service offered a "dark mode" (or other alternative viewing options for more comfortable reading) would help with that, and even if it didn't it would surely make the experience of using technology and the Internet a lot more pleasant for everyone involved.

How to force Dark Mode in Chrome

If you've made it this far, let me share my simple trick for enabling Dark Mode on every website I visit in Chrome, even if they don't offer one. Note that this trick will make some sections of some websites look strange or unreadable, since it's forcing them into color configurations they weren't designed for.

1. Navigate to Chrome's Experiments page

You can enable Chrome's auto force dark mode feature by flipping on a flag in Chrome's Experiments page, where Google lists all of Chrome's experimental features. 

To get there simply type chrome://flags into the Chrome omnibar and press Enter . Alternatively, you can jump directly to the flag we want by typing chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark into the Chrome bar and pressing Enter . 

2. Enable "Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents"

Now you just need to set Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents to Enabled and restart Chrome and voilà, you should see everything in muted tones, even websites like Amazon and eBay.

Note that you can play around with this flag and try different options if you don't like the way things look in Chrome , as some will change the way images render and perhaps make them easier to see.

That's all there is to it! If you like the taste of power over Chrome this brief guide brings, you might like how it feels to learn how to block ads on Chrome , how to install Chrome extensions , how to lock incognito tabs on Chrome mobile and how to block a website on Chrome .

More from Tom's Guide

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Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more than a decade of experience covering both for outlets like Game Developer, Black Hat, and PC World magazine. A lifelong PC builder, he currently serves as a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering all things computing, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice. 

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• manlyfists Or, here me out here, you can simply turn your monitor down unless you're playing a game or watching something, instead of blasting your eyes for absolutely no reason? Reply
• mdulcey In the early days of the web I designed pages using a cream-colored background, reserving pure white as a highlight color. I never figured out why that didn't catch on; it was far less eye-searing than white. That was back in the days when we were still using CRTs. Reply
• MisterWhisker There is a program that might be of use to those who are forced to use legacy applications which do not support dark mode: https://darkmodeanyapp.com/ It is called "dark mode any app" and as the title suggests, it will make anything run in dark mode - even that 20 year windows program you can't live without. Reply
• View All 3 Comments

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How to get Google Chrome dark mode on iOS, Android and Windows

Get Google Chrome dark mode on any device, and enjoy a new look for more comfortable browsing at night time

Switching to Google Chrome dark mode on any device is not only incredibly easy but well worth doing. Not only does it decrease the risk of eye strain in low light conditions, but it also reduces screen glare and saves energy - what's not to love?! 

Dark mode is a supplemental mode that allows you to change the user interface (UI) on any of your devices from light to dark. While the light reduces, making for a more comfortable reading experience at night, the minimum color contrasts required for readability are still maintained, so you'll get exactly the same experience you would in the day, just with far fewer risks to your eye health.

Bursting onto the scene in 2016, dark mode first appeared as part of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, but Apple were quick to jump on the bandwagon with their own launch in 2018 and Google Chrome dark mode dropped in 2021. Fast forward to 2022 and it doesn't matter whether you want to use Instagram in dark mode to scroll through all those jaw-droopingly beautiful images or use YouTube dark mode to watch those must-see videos, it's widely available across all your favorite platforms. 

Whether you're using one of the best windows laptops or you're more a fan of the best MacBook and Macs , you'll find Google Chrome dark mode super beneficial when you're browsing first thing in the morning or late at night. While more research is needed, studies are showing that using dark mode may improve your sleep and cause less disruption to your circadian rhythm than blue light does. 

But while Google Chrome dark mode can be set up on some PC operating systems , it's mobile users who will get the most benefits, with switching to dark mode resulting in less energy usage and therefore, longer battery life. Although it's hard to say how much battery savings are up for grabs, it's estimated that you can conserve anywhere between 15% and 60% of screen energy depending on the level of screen brightness you choose while in dark mode - which is pretty impressive!

Whether you're wanting to save your device’s battery life or protect your eye health, you’ll find switching to the dark side brings with it all kinds of benefits. If you find these reasons compelling to turn on Google Chrome dark mode, then read on to find out how to make the switch in Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

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Changing Chrome to dark mode for Windows 11

1. Enter the Settings menu, choose 'Personalization' click 'Colors' and scroll down to the switch marked 'Choose your default app mode'.

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2. Change this to 'Dark' and all apps with a native dark mode, including Chrome, will change color. There's no need to restart your browser.

Changing Chrome to dark mode for macOS

1. Open 'System Preferences', click 'General', select 'Appearance'.

2. Select the 'Dark' option. As with Windows, all apps with a native dark mode will change automatically with no further input from you.

Changing Chrome to dark mode for Android 12

1. Dark mode is still an experimental feature in Chrome for Android, so bear in mind that some design elements might look a little strange. To activate it, enter chrome://flags in the browser's address bar. 

2. Tap the 'Search flags' box and enter the work dark . You'll find two options here: 'Android web contents dark mode' and 'Android Chrome UI dark mode'. If you activate the first option, Chrome will detect if a site's developers have created a dark version and select it automatically. If there's no dark version available, the browser will invert the site's colors. Activating the second option means that the browser interface itself will turn dark.

3. Tap the drop-down menu under each of these options and change the setting to 'Activated', then restart Chrome.

4. Now open the settings menu, tap 'Themes' and select 'Dark'. If you can't see the Themes option, restart Chrome again and it should appear.

Changing Chrome to dark mode for iPhone and iPad

When Apple released iOS 13, it introduced dark mode to the whole operating system, both for iPhone and iPad.

Since then, Google Chrome for iOS has been updated to accommodate this.

You only need to make sure that Dark Mode is enabled in Settings > Display > Dark Mode, and Chrome will reflect this.

Are there other Google apps that support dark mode?

There's plenty of other apps from Google that can also switch to a dark mode. Gmail dark mode lets you view your inbox without the glare of the standard white interface, and there's now a universal dark mode for Google Maps too, alongside a dark mode in Android .

This is particularly handy for mobile devices, as it lets you conserve a little extra energy while using your phone's battery-hungry GPS navigation.

• How to enable dark mode in WhatsApp

Daryl had been freelancing for 3 years before joining TechRadar, now reporting on everything software-related. In his spare time, he's written a book, ' The Making of Tomb Raider '. His second book, ' 50 Years of Boss Fights ', came out in 2024, with a third book coming in 2025. He also has a newsletter called ' Springboard '. He's usually found playing games old and new on his Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, and MacBook Pro. If you have a story about an updated app, one that's about to launch, or just anything Software-related, drop him a line.

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