How to enable dark mode in Google Drive (2023)

How to enable dark mode in Google Drive (2023)

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This tutorial focuses on how to activate the dark mode option in Google Drive in 2023. By activating the dark mode feature, users can enjoy a display that is more comfortable for their eyes, especially in low-light conditions, thereby reducing eye strain. Below are the steps to enable the dark mode feature in Google Drive.

1. Use Turn Off The Lights Extension

The Turn Off the Lights extension supports the Google Drive dark mode feature and gives a nice dark hue to your Google Drive interface. You can use any browser to access the drive, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Firefox, and the tool works fine. It is a lightweight add-in that turns off your screen light and gives a comfortable experience working on the drive.

Add the Turn Off the Lights extension to Chrome.

Click Add to Chrome
Click Add To Chrome

You can see a gray lamp button when you open Google Drive on your browser. Right-click on it and select “Options” from the context menu. Select Options

The Options page gets opened. Select “Night Mode” in the left menu. Then, on the right side, click the blue and white night switch to view the tool’s icon on the websites.

Click the night switch
Click The Night Switch

Go to Google Drive, and click on the icon to switch to dark mode. Click The Night Switch In Google Drive

2. Use Dark Mode – Night Eye Extension

Dark Mode – Night Eye is a tool that lets all the websites switch to dark mode with a single click of the mouse. When you turn on Google Drive dark mode using the extension, you can work longer hours without hurting your eyes. The lakhs of people who enable dark mode and use Night Eye are happy with the smart conversion to night mode. In addition, you don’t have to worry about data mining or the annoying buttons and ads that pop up now and then. Their technical support is also praiseworthy.

Go to the Chrome Web Store and install Dark Mode – Night Eye by clicking the Add to Chrome button. Once it is added, you will find it in the extension menu in the top-right corner. You can pin it to make it easily visible. Then, click on it and change the mode as and when required. All sites with built-in dark mode feature benefit from this extension button.

However, the tool warns you that it will read and change your website data. This is necessary to analyze the site’s color and give a soothing color scheme that reduces eye strain. But, it will never collect your data and use it for other purposes.

Install Dark Mode - Night Eye
Install Dark Mode – Night Eye

3. Use Dark Reader Extension

Chrome extensions do wonders when it comes to Google Drive dark mode. And the next one on our list is the Dark Reader extension with many settings, including a dark mode setting. Once you have added the extension for Google drive in dark mode, it can be used across all the websites you open.

So you can either set the dark mode version in Google Drive only using the current site shortcut feature or all the sites you have opened.

Go to the Chrome Web Store. Download and install Dark Reader by clicking the Add to Chrome button in blue color. Next, open Google Drive and click on the icon for the extension to open the Dark Reader extension menu. You can easily toggle the button to switch between light and dark modes, but you can also press Alt + Shift + D to get it done.

The toggling feature can work for all websites, but if you want it for specific sites only, you can change the settings by clicking “Setup current site toggle hotkey.” In addition, many custom settings are found under Filter that allows changing contrast, brightness, and more.

Install Dark Reader
Install Dark Reader

4. Use Google Chrome Flags

The experimental settings called Chrome flags can be used to enable Google Drive dark mode. You will not find these dark mode flags in the main versions of Chrome browser; hence, they are not part of the browser settings. But you can still use them carefully if you want. The settings created by the Chromium project have a flag that makes the background dark.

You will notice a warning displayed on the page saying that you could lose browser data or compromise security if the feature is enabled. It is a non-production feature, and admins are not advised to use it. Go ahead only if there is a dire need.

Open Google Chrome on your desktop and type “chrome://flags” in the address bar to open the Experiments page.

Open the Experiments page
Open The Experiments Page

Search for Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents. Then, in the drop-down menu next to the feature, select “Enabled.”

Select Enabled
Select Enabled

Now, a Relaunch button will appear. Click on it to relaunch the browser for the changes to apply.

Note: The forced dark mode feature works well in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers. When you enable the feature, you will not only view dark mode for Google drive, but it also applies to all the other websites.

How To Enable Dark Theme On Android Device

Unlike Google Drive on a PC, mobile devices have a dedicated option to choose Google Drive dark mode. Even though the default mobile app mode color is white, you can follow the following steps to enable the dark mode on Google drive.

Open the Google Drive app on your mobile phone, and tap on the hamburger menu (the three horizontal lines) in the app’s top-left corner. Tap On The Hamburger Menu

Select “Settings” from the left panel. Tap On Settings

Tap on “Choose theme” under the Theme section. Tap On Choose Theme

Tap on “Dark,” and the theme changes to dark.

Choose the dark theme for google drive dark mode
Choose The Dark Theme


Enable Google Drive Dark Mode on Android Open the Google Drive app Tap Menu; It’s In The Top Left Corner. Click Settings Select Choose Theme > Select Dark

Conclusion

For avid users of Google Drive, whether for personal or business purposes, it is likely that the platform is utilized frequently. At times, users may desire to switch to the Google Drive dark mode for its comfort-enhancing benefits. Unfortunately, Google Drive does not have a straightforward option to change the theme to dark.

However, there are alternative methods available such as utilizing browser extensions or Chrome flags to change the background color. However, users must exercise caution as some extensions may change the color of all browser tabs. On the other hand, Android phone users can take advantage of the built-in dark theme option. Choosing the dark theme in Google Drive has similar benefits to enabling the battery life saver mode.

It is important to note that the dark mode option in Google Drive is currently only available on the web version and may not be accessible to all users or regions.