Is There a Way to Put Google Docs in Dark Mode?

Nikita M.

Media-savvy content creator, with a curiosity for all Salesforce experiences.

Updated: Jan 9th, 2025

Asking how to enable dark mode in Google Docs is a popular question requested by people who suffer from eye strain caused by long hours spent on editing documents. This situation is made worse, when they have to work in low-light conditions. 

In this case, a darker theme is very beneficial in bringing document owners and editors comfort so that they can continue to work efficiently.

To find out more about activating Dark Mode in your Google documents, join us in the article below.

Let’s get started!

What is Google Docs Dark Mode?

It’s a popular extension for your Google Chrome browser with a 3.5 star rating from 1,200 users. Looking at this solution alone, the total number of individuals using Google Docs Dark Mode for workflows and planning is around 700 000! 

This is just one example, but we can see why these types of extensions are installed. Darker themes are designed specifically for people who work regularly in Google Docs and need a comfortable solution that is easier on the eyes. 

Similarly, if you are interested in this alternative design solution for other applications, you can get Google in dark mode. Simply search for “How do I turn dark mode on in Google?” and you can select a theme. 

How to Make Google Docs Dark Mode on Desktop

So, is it as simple as it sounds to make your Google Docs look way cooler in real life? Let’s find out! Follow our simple guide below to switch to dark mode in Google Docs. 

1. Install one of the Google Docs Dark Mode extensions from the Chrome Web store by clicking the Add to Chrome button. 
2. Open Google Docs and click the Google Docs Dark Mode icon in your browser.
3. Activate dark mode by flipping the switch to on.

Google Sheets Dark Mode: A Quick Guide

Unfortunately, no extensions have been created and uploaded to the Chrome Web store to make Google spreadsheets appear in dark mode. However, there are other browsers that offer plugins to switch your Google Sheets to darker themes, such as: 

Safari

Edge

Firefox

Opera

Alternatively, you can search the Chrome Web store for plugins that give you Dark Mode solutions for websites. Some of them are able to flip Google Sheets into a dark theme. 

And while we are discussing Google Sheets, we suggest you check out our Data Validation in Google Sheets or Export Data to Google Sheets articles if you are in the mood to learn about software features keeping company analytics accurate. 

But back to Google Docs!

Common Issues with Dark Mode in Google Docs and How to Solve Them

As we learned, it’s easy to convert Google Docs into a dark theme with toggles or icons from installed software. However, what are some drawbacks we need to watch out for?

Let’s take a look at two issues people regularly face when working with Dark Mode for Google Docs and how you can resolve them in no time at all:

People struggle to read the text as it might appear faint in Dark Mode. To make the text stand out again in Google Docs, users simply switch back to the original Light Mode theme. 

Another issue with Dark Mode is that it does not work well with certain formatting styles. For example, it’s not easy to read darker-colored text on dark backgrounds. In this case, you could preview your document using the “Print Layout” view. This view will show you what your document looks like in Light Mode while you continue to work in Dark Mode. 

Wrapping Up Dark Mode for Google Docs

Thanks for reading our short article on how to use Dark Mode in Google Docs. We also covered Dark Mode usage in Google Sheets and provided a few solutions for common problems that occur while using this popular theme. 

See you soon!

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Disclaimer: The comparisons listed in this article are based on information provided by the companies online and online reviews from users. If you found a mistake, please contact us