How to Turn On Dark Mode in Google Docs (Phone and Computer)

Google Docs has a built-in dark mode only in its phone and tablet apps. On Android, open the Docs app and tap Menu > Settings > Choose theme > Dark. On iPhone or iPad, tap Menu > Settings > Theme > Dark. The Docs website on a computer has no dark mode setting, so you need a browser extension or an experimental browser setting to darken it.

Applies to: the Google Docs app for Android, iPhone and iPad, and the Docs website in Chrome on Windows, Mac and Chromebook. Mobile steps checked against Google’s Docs Help pages in October 2026.

Contents

• Which kind of dark mode do you need?
• Turn on dark mode in Google Docs on Android
• Turn on dark mode in Google Docs on iPhone or iPad
• Check how a document looks in light theme
• Make Google Docs dark on a computer
• Turn dark mode off
• Troubleshooting
• FAQ

Which kind of dark mode do you need?

“Dark mode” can mean three different things in Google Docs. Pick the one that fits.

What you want	What to use	Changes the file?
A dark screen in the Docs app on your phone or tablet	The app’s Theme setting	No
A dark screen on the Docs website on your computer	A browser extension or a Chrome experiment	No
A document that really has a black or dark background	File > Page setup > Page color	Yes, everyone sees it

The first two are personal display settings. Google’s help page says collaborators can’t see the theme you choose. The third one edits the document’s design, so it also affects printing, PDFs and every other reader.

Turn on dark mode in Google Docs on Android

Use the Google Docs app, not the Docs website in your phone’s browser.

1. Open the Google Docs app. You’ll see your list of documents.
2. Tap Menu (the three lines) at the top left. A side panel opens.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap Choose theme. A list of options appears.
5. Tap Dark. The app and your documents switch to dark colors right away.

You can also tap System default instead. Docs then follows your phone’s own dark or light setting. The same steps work in the Google Sheets and Google Slides apps, which have their own theme settings.

Turn on dark mode in Google Docs on iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Google Docs app and go to your document list.
2. Tap Menu (the three lines) at the top left.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap Theme. On iPhone and iPad the option is called Theme, not Choose theme.
5. Tap Dark, Light or System default.

If you pick System default, Docs turns dark whenever your iPhone or iPad is in Dark mode. You set that in the iOS Settings app under Display & Brightness.

Google’s instructions for Android and iPhone and iPad list these same options.

Check how a document looks in light theme

In dark theme, Docs adjusts the colors of your document to make it easier to read. That means a dark page on your phone doesn’t show you what other people see. To check:

1. Open the document in the Docs app.
2. Tap More (the three dots) at the top right.
3. Tap View in light theme. The page turns white, while the app’s menus stay dark.

This preview only affects the document you have open. Google lists it for Docs and Sheets, not Slides.

Make Google Docs dark on a computer

The Docs website has no theme setting. Two things that look like a fix don’t darken your document:

• Chrome’s dark mode. Google’s Chrome help says it darkens the homepage, toolbar, settings and some Chrome pages. Websites, including Docs, mostly keep their own colors; the document page stays white.
• Windows or Mac dark mode. This darkens the system and many apps. The Docs page stays white.

To darken the Docs page itself, use one of the two options below. Neither comes from Google Docs, so the result can vary.

Option 1: Install a dark mode extension (recommended)

An extension is a small add-on for your browser. Many free dark mode extensions are available in the Chrome Web Store. Choose one with a large number of users and recent updates. Before you add it, read the access it asks for: dark mode extensions usually need to read the pages you visit, including your documents. If you use a work or school computer, your organization may block extensions.

1. In Chrome, open the Chrome Web Store and search for dark mode. Open an extension’s page and check its rating, user count and last update date.
2. Click Add to Chrome. A box lists the access the extension needs.
3. Click Add extension if you accept. The extension’s icon appears in the Extensions menu (the puzzle piece) next to the address bar.
4. Open your document in Google Docs. Most of the page should turn dark within a few seconds.
5. Click the extension’s icon to adjust its settings. Most dark mode extensions let you turn them off for a single site, such as Docs.

Check the document carefully. Colored text, highlights, tables and images may look different from the real file. Chrome’s extension help page explains how to turn off or remove an extension.

Option 2: Turn on Chrome’s experimental auto dark mode

Chrome has a hidden test feature, called a flag, that forces every website into dark colors. Flags can change or disappear in any Chrome update, and this one affects all sites, not just Docs. Save your work first, because Chrome needs to restart.

1. Type chrome://flags in the address bar and press Enter.
2. Type dark mode in the search box at the top.
3. Find Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents and change its menu from Default to Enabled.
4. Click Relaunch. Chrome closes and reopens with your tabs.
5. Open Google Docs. Pages now appear with dark backgrounds and light text.

If you can’t find the flag, your version of Chrome doesn’t offer it. Use an extension instead. To undo the change, set the flag back to Default and relaunch.

Turn dark mode off

• Android: Menu > Settings > Choose theme > Light.
• iPhone or iPad: Menu > Settings > Theme > Light.
• Extension: click its icon and switch it off for Docs, or turn the extension off on the Extensions page.
• Chrome flag: set Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents back to Default and relaunch.

Troubleshooting

I can’t find Theme or Choose theme. You may be in the Docs website in your phone’s browser. Install and open the Google Docs app instead. If you’re in the app, update it from the Play Store or App Store.

Docs is dark, but one document looks wrong. Tap More > View in light theme to see the original colors. Dark theme adjusts colors only on your screen.

My computer is in dark mode, but Docs is still white. That’s expected. Use an extension or the Chrome flag.

The extension darkened the menus but not the page. Make sure Docs isn’t turned off in the extension, then reload the page. Try the extension’s other display modes, if it has them. If it still doesn’t work well, switch it off for Docs.

Text disappeared after I changed colors. If you changed the document’s own text color to white, it will be invisible on a white page for everyone else. Undo the change with Ctrl + Z (Windows, Chromebook) or Cmd + Z (Mac).

FAQ

Does Google Docs have a dark mode on desktop?

No. As of October 2026, only the Android, iPhone and iPad apps have a theme setting. On a computer you need an extension or Chrome’s experimental flag.

Will my collaborators see my document in dark mode?

No. The app theme, extensions and Chrome flags only change your screen. Google states that collaborators can’t see the theme you choose.

Does dark mode change how a document prints?

No. Printing and PDF downloads use the document’s real colors. Only a page color you set in Page setup changes printed output.

Can I make just one document dark for everyone?

Yes. Change its page color with File > Page setup > Page color, then change the text to a light color. See how to change the background color on Google Docs for the steps.

Does this work for Google Sheets and Slides?

Yes. The mobile apps use the same Menu > Settings path, and extensions affect all Google sites in your browser. For a dark browser frame to go with it, see how to turn on dark mode in Google Chrome.

Start with the built-in app setting on your phone or tablet. On a computer, try a dark mode extension first, and check a few documents to make sure colors still read correctly.