dark mode is a popular option across the digital board. the darker interface not only helps with the user experience (reduces glare at night and saves battery power), but also looks great.
gmail began rolling out dark mode over the course of 2019 and 2020, allowing users to darken their UI on their desktop, ios, and android devices.
what is gmail dark mode?
not to be confused with the operating system’s “night mode” feature, which can be set to automatically darken the entire background of your device at night, gmail’s dark mode is a theme you choose in your settings . you can choose between different dark modes, and they are permanent until you change the theme again.
how to enable dark mode on desktop
step 1. open gmail.com.
step 2. Log in to your account.
Step 3. Go to settings (the gear icon in the upper right corner).
step 4. scroll down to topics and select see all.
step 5. scroll down to select the black rectangle.
step 6. click save.
Your gmail interface will now be in dark mode until you repeat the process and go back to the original white gmail theme or choose a completely different one.
how to enable dark mode in android
To enable dark mode on android, make sure you have the latest version of gmail installed on your phone. (click “update” if it appears).
Unfortunately dark mode is not available if you are using android pie or earlier. however, you can avoid this by using gmail in your browser by visiting gmail.com from chrome for android or firefox preview.
android 10 has a system-wide dark mode available to enable. or you can activate it manually:
Step 1. Launch the gmail app on your android device.
Step 2. Tap the menu icon in the upper left corner of the screen (three horizontal lines).
Step 3. Scroll down to Settings.
step 4 select theme.
step 5. select dark.
how to enable dark mode on ios
Gmail’s dark mode came to iOS relatively recently, though it’s not clear why it’s taken so long. in fact, google is taking a while to make it available on all devices. If you can’t access it on your device, you may need to update your software. if that doesn’t work, you may need to wait for a future update to enable it on your device.
this is how you choose dark mode in gmail on ios:
step 1. launch the gmail app on your iphone device.
step 2 tap the menu icon in the upper left corner of the screen (three horizontal lines).
Step 3. Scroll down to Settings.
step 4. select theme.
step 5. select dark.
in theory, that’s all you need to do (assuming your ios device isn’t already dark mode enabled). the background of your gmail dashboard is black, with your inbox highlighted in a lighter gray.
however, it’s worth noting that as soon as you open a message to view it, the background will be the usual white.
gmail dark mode: is it good?
There are some advantages to having dark mode available as an option in gmail. Firstly, a darker interface saves battery power because the screen doesn’t need to illuminate the black pixels in modern OLED display devices.
It also reduces glare, which can be useful when using gmail at night, when we know that blue light particles can seriously disturb your sleep when you get to it.
However, what’s cumbersome about dark mode is that not all elements are actually dark within dark mode (when opening messages as an example), so it can be disorienting to go back and forth between two very different experiences.
disadvantages of gmail dark mode
Yes, there are certainly some notable benefits to using Gmail’s dark mode. however, the built-in feature is not without its drawbacks. People commonly complain about a few major issues, particularly with Gmail’s dark mode. The top three potential drawbacks include:
contrast
sure, the main theme is black with white text in the background. but when you read the messages, they are still white. this creates a great contrast for the eye. in fact, it may eliminate the whole point of switching to dark mode in the first place.
limited to gmail
If you work a lot on your phone, tablet, or computer, then you need to make it easier on your eyes. so it goes without saying that email probably isn’t the only app you’re using.
herein lies one of the main problems with gmail’s native dark mode. you can change the theme of your email, but then the rest of your device doesn’t match the color or contrast. therefore, you will end up having to install different software or change different settings yet.
configuration change
If you’ve ever read or watched a tutorial on how to do anything in gmail, you’ve probably experienced some confusion. the settings and locations of those settings often change in gmail.
even the names of whole categories of settings are changed. That means when you want to change your theme again, you may have to search the internet for hours just to find the right step-by-step tutorial.
how to darken chrome with the use of an extension
so, we’ve established that gmail has a built-in way of going dark. however, we also know that it can be confusing, that it’s not consistent across devices, and ultimately doesn’t always give you the user-friendly visual experience you wanted in the first place.
Avoiding these issues is why many people choose to use third-party extensions or apps to implement dark mode.
To use extensions for dark mode, simply navigate to the chrome web store and search for “dark mode”. after doing that, using an extension like dark mode can have the following benefits:
further reading: top gmail extensions for 2022
consistent updates
trust that your dark mode theme will continue to work. As you update your device software, you want to know that there are active developers syncing it with new device protocols.
apply to the entire ecosystem of devices
don’t settle for having dark mode in your email. enjoy it across your phone, computer, or other device you use for digital work. Also, if you play for long hours, having dark mode is a real must.
toggle
If you want to change dark mode manually in gmail, you need to follow several steps. however, extensions often give you a toggle switch. in essence, it has an on/off option that can be easily accessed with just one click, saving you several minutes every time you switch back and forth.
gmail dark mode frequently asked questions (faq)
1. does gmail have a dark mode or a night mode?
yes, gmail allows you to change your theme and make your experience more pleasing to the eye. there are also a variety of other themes depending on your preferences.
2. how do i enable gmail dark mode?
It’s pretty easy to enable dark mode in gmail. just follow the step-by-step instructions in the previous article.
3. is gmail dark mode available on mobile?
yes it is. dark mode not only works for desktop but also for ios and android devices. use the step-by-step guide above to enable it on the device of your choice.
4. is gmail dark mode better for my screen?
Your led lighting can wear out eventually if you use white or bright lights all the time. so yes, using dark mode can increase the longevity of your device by using less power and lighting.
in summary
dark mode in gmail is a good option if you want to try a different look on your interface, reduce glare or save battery power. it’s relatively easy to enable, though it’s a shame it’s taking so long for gmail to implement it for ios.
That said, it’s not a perfect fit, as some interface elements are stuck in the default gmail theme.