How to turn on dark mode in Google apps (Update: Now including more apps)

Martin6

4 years ago

Update: December 20, 2019 (03:50 PM ET): We have updated this list with many more Google apps that can now take advantage of a built-in dark mode.

Original article: A system-wide dark theme is coming with Android 10, but the new version of Android won’t be available for everyone for quite some time. To tide us over, Google has been rolling out dark themes to all its system applications, including Google Calendar, Google Fit, YouTube, and more.

Let’s take a look at which Google apps officially feature a dark mode and how to enable them.

Google dark mode apps

Editor’s note: We will update this list as Google updates more apps with dark mode support.

How to enable dark mode in Google Calculator

By default, the Google Calculator app changes its theme based on whether Battery Saver is enabled. However, there’s an easy way to make it so the Calculator app displays a dark mode at all times:

Open the Calculator app.
Tap the three dots on the top right.
Tap Choose theme.
Select Dark.

How to enable dark mode in Google Calendar

As with the Calculator app, the Google Calendar app changes themes based on whether Battery Saver is enabled. That said, you can go into the app’s settings and enable dark mode. Here’s how:

Open the Calendar app.
Tap the hamburger icon on the top left.
Tap Settings near the bottom.
Tap General.
Tap Theme.
Select Dark.

How to enable dark mode in Google Chrome

The Google Chrome mobile app can change themes either when Battery Saver is enabled, or you can change it manually. Here’s how:

Open the Google Chrome app.
Tap the three dots on the top right.
Tap Settings.
Under Basics, tap Themes.
Select Dark or System default.

How to enable dark mode in Google Clock

Google Clock already enables a dark mode by default, with no option for a light theme. However, there’s a way to enable an even darker Google dark mode for the app’s screensaver:

Open the Clock app.
Tap the three dots on the top right.
Tap Settings.
Swipe down until you get to the Screen saver section.
Tap Night mode.

How to enable Google dark mode in Google Contacts

By default, Google Contacts enables a dark theme if you enable Battery Saver. However, you can manually switch on the dark mode:

Open the Google Contacts app.
Tap the hamburger icon on the top left.
Tap Settings.
In the Display section, tap Choose theme.
Select Dark.

How to enable dark mode in Digital Wellbeing

Believe it or not, Google’s Digital Wellbeing app also comes with a dark mode. In order to enable it, you simply need to change your device theme to dark mode and Digital Wellbeing will follow suit.

How to enable dark mode in Google Drive

Like several other Google apps, Google Drive can change themes either when Battery Saver is enabled, or you can manually set it to a dark theme. Here’s how:

Open the Google Drive app.
Tap the hamburger icon on the top left.
Tap Settings.
In the Theme section, tap Choose theme.
Select Dark or Set by Battery Saver.

How to enable dark mode in Google Duo

Like Google Drive, users can either set Google Duo‘s dark mode to trigger when Battery Saver is enabled, or they can manually set it. Here’s how:

Open the Google Duo app.
Tap the three dots on the top right.
Tap Settings.
Tap Choose theme.
Select Dark or Set by Battery Saver.

How to enable dark mode in Files by Google

Open the Files by Google app.
Tap the hamburger icon on the top left.
Tap Settings.
In the Other Settings section at the bottom, tap Dark theme.

The steps only apply to the Files by Google app found in the Play Store.

How to enable dark mode in Google Discover feed

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Sitting in the left-most part of the home screen, the Discover feed now features a proper dark mode. Unfortunately, there’s no option to manually enable it — the dark theme automatically kicks in when you have a dark wallpaper or certain display settings.

Here’s hoping that Google will let you manually toggle between light and dark modes in a future update.

How to enable dark mode in Google Fit

As of version 2.16.22, Google Fit features a dark mode. With the update. you can now choose the app’s theme to be light, dark, or switch automatically with battery saver.

Open Google Fit.
Tap Profile on the bottom navigation bar.
Tap the gear icon on the top left.
Swipe to the Theme option at the bottom.
Choose between Light, Dark, and System default.

How to enable dark mode in Google Gallery Go

Google’s lightweight Photos alternative — Gallery Go — also has a simple to use dark theme toggle:

Open Google Gallery Go.
Tap the three dots on the top right.
Tap Settings.
Toggle Dark theme on.

How to enable dark mode in Gmail

The Gmail app can either follow suit with your device’s current dark/light theme, or users can set the dark theme manually. Unfortunately, it is only available on Android 10 at the time of entry.

Open Gmail.
Tap the hamburger icon on the top left.
Tap Theme.
Toggle Dark or System default.

How to enable dark mode in Google Keep Notes

Unlike some of Google’s other apps, the dark mode in Google Keep Notes doesn’t have a default for Battery Saver mode. Instead, there’s a simple toggle to turn dark mode on or off.

Open Google Keep Notes.
Tap the hamburger icon on the top left.
Tap Settings.
Toggle Enable Dark Theme on.

How to enable dark mode in Google Keep Notes on the web

Google

In addition to the mobile app, the web version of Keep Notes also offers a dark mode. If you don’t yet see it, don’t worry — dark mode is currently rolling out to everyone. If you think you have dark mode, here’s how to enable it:

Navigate to the Google Keep Notes website.
Click the gear icon on the top right.
In the dropdown menu, click Enable Dark mode.

How to enable dark mode in Google Maps

Google Maps doesn’t offer an app-wide dark theme. Instead, the app darkens the map during navigation. The pseudo-dark mode automatically kicks in based on the time of day, but there’s a way to manually enable it:

Open Google Maps.
Tap the hamburger icon on the top left.
Tap Settings.
Scroll down and tap on Navigation settings.
Scroll down to the Map display section.
In Color scheme, tap Night.

How to enable dark mode in Google Messages

Google Messages’ dark theme doesn’t rely on Battery Saver. Even better, it’s ridiculously easy to activate dark mode within the app:

Open Google Messages.
Tap the three dots on the top right.
Tap Enable dark mode.

How to enable dark mode in Google News

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By default, Google News turns on dark mode once Battery Saver kicks in. However, you can have dark theme automatically turn on at night and with Battery Saver, never turn on, or always be on.

Open Google News.
Tap your profile icon on the top right.
Tap Settings.
In the General section, tap Dark theme.
Select Always, Automatically, Battery saver only, or Never.

How to enable dark mode in Google Pay

Google Pay version 2.96.264233179 features an automatic dark mode. Unfortunately, there’s no way to turn on or off Google Pay’s dark mode manually, so you’ll need to rely on Android 10’s system-wide dark mode or battery saver to do it for you.

Make sure you’re running the latest version of Google Pay, version 2.96.264233179.
1. To check which version of Google Pay you’re on, open the Google Pay app, tap the overflow menu button on the left side of the screen, tap About, then check the version number on the top.
  1. If you’re not on this version, head to the Play Store to see if there’s an update. If an update is available, download the update.
  1. If an update is not available, you can download the latest version from APK Mirror.
Once you’re running the latest version of Google Pay, open the app. If battery saver or your system-wide dark theme are turned on, Google Pay will show a dark theme. If you have neither of those features activated, Google Pay will show its normal light theme.

How to enable dark mode in Google Phone

Open Google Phone.
Tap the three dots on the top right.
Tap Settings.
Tap Display options.
Toggle Dark theme on.

How to enable dark mode in Google Photos

Google Photos’ dark mode is only available when you have a system-wide dark mode enabled and there is no way to turn it on or off apart from that. Luckily, this isn’t exclusive to Android 10. We were able to get this functionality working on Android 9 as well.

How to enable dark mode in Google Play Books

Unlike the Google Play Store, Google Play Books includes a dark mode. Even better, it’s relatively easy to access:

Open Google Play Books.
Tap the hamburger icon on the top left.
Tap Settings.
Under General, check Dark theme.

How to enable dark mode in Google Play Games

Like Google Play Books, Google Play Games includes a dark mode, and it’s also easy to enable:

Open Google Play Games.
Tap the three dots on the top right.
Tap Settings.
Toggle Use dark theme on.

How to enable dark mode in Google Playground

This is a bit of a strange one since there’s no toggle to enable or disable dark mode. By default, dark mode is enabled in Playground. We’ll have to wait and see whether Google throws in a dark mode toggle in a future update.

How to enable dark mode in Google Podcasts

Unfortunately, for the time being, dark mode for Google Podcasts is only available if you have the Google app beta version 10.89 or later installed on a device running Android 10. And like Playground, there is no toggle to enable/disable dark mode in Podcasts. In order to enable dark mode in the app, you need to have it enabled system-wide.

How to enable dark mode in Recorder

Google’s new Recorder app comes with a dark mode too. Here’s how to enable it:

Open Recorder.
Tap the three dots on the top right.
Tap Settings.
In the General section, tap Choose theme.
Select Dark.

How to enable dark mode in Snapseed

Surprisingly, even Google’s Snapseed image editing app features a dark mode.

Open Snapseed.
Tap the three dots on the top right.
Tap Settings.
In the Appearance section, toggle Dark theme on.

How to enable dark mode in Sound Amplifier

Like several other apps, Google’s audio accessibility tool — Sound Amplifier — has a dark mode, but it can only be enabled or disabled by the system theme. It works on both Android 9 and Android 10.

How to enable dark mode in Google Tasks

Google Tasks is a fairly simple task management app with an easy way to enable dark mode. Users can either set the mode manually or let Battery Saver determine when the app should use it:

Open Google Tasks.
Tap the three dots on the bottom right.
Tap Theme.
Choose Dark or Set by Battery Saver.

How to enable dark mode in Google Voice

Google Voice hasn’t been excluded from the dark mode party. You can now manually enable its built-in dark mode in just a few clicks or let the system theme do the work for you: