4 Ways to Enable Google Chrome’s Dark Mode in Windows

Dark mode isn’t just a trend—it’s easier on the eyes, saves battery life, and looks sleek. If you’re a Google Chrome user on Windows, switching to dark mode can improve your browsing experience, especially at night. Here are four ways to enable dark mode in Chrome on Windows.

1. Use Windows 10/11 System Settings

Chrome follows your system theme by default. So the easiest way to enable dark mode is to switch Windows itself to dark mode.

Here’s how:

1. Go to Settings → Personalization → Colors.
2. Scroll down to Choose your default app mode.
3. Select Dark.

Chrome will automatically switch to dark mode if it’s using the system theme.

2. Force Dark Mode with Chrome Flags

Want dark mode on all websites—even ones that don’t support it? Chrome’s experimental flag can help.

Here’s how:

1. Type chrome://flags in the address bar and hit Enter.
2. Search for Force Dark Mode for Web Contents.
3. From the dropdown, choose Enabled.
4. Click Relaunch to restart Chrome.

Now every site you visit will be rendered in dark mode, even if it wasn’t designed that way.

3. Use a Chrome Extension

There are several extensions that let you toggle dark mode more selectively or customize the look.

Popular options include:

• Dark Reader
• Super Dark Mode
• Night Eye

To install:

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store.
2. Search for your preferred dark mode extension.
3. Click Add to Chrome, then enable it.

These give you more control—like scheduling dark mode or adjusting brightness and contrast per site.

4. Create a Custom Shortcut with Dark Mode Flag

This method forces Chrome to open in dark mode regardless of your system theme.

Here’s how:

1. Right-click your Chrome shortcut and select Properties.
2. In the Target field, add the following at the end (after a space): --force-dark-mode
3. Click Apply, then OK.

Now, launching Chrome from this shortcut will always start it in dark mode.

Final Thoughts

Whether you want a full-system dark theme or just prefer browsing the web with less glare, Chrome gives you multiple ways to go dark. Try one—or mix and match—to find what works best for your workflow.

Let your eyes relax and your tabs stay cool.

Want help setting up any of these steps? Drop a comment or contact us—we’re here to help.