Chrome may suddenly appear dark after a browser update, an operating system theme change, or an automatic schedule. You can set Chrome back to a light appearance without changing every other app on the computer or phone.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Chrome on Windows, Mac, or Android. On iPhone and iPad, Chrome follows the device-wide Dark Mode setting, so the change is handled in iOS or iPadOS display settings instead of inside Chrome.
Turn off dark mode on Windows or Mac
This changes Chrome itself while leaving your computer theme alone.
- Open Chrome and go to a New Tab page.
- Click Customize Chrome in the lower-right corner. On some layouts, it appears as a pencil icon.
- Open the Themes tab if Chrome does not show it automatically.
- Choose Light to force Chrome into a light theme. Choose Device only if you want Chrome to follow the operating system theme.
- Close the customization panel. The new look applies right away to open tabs.
Turn off dark theme on Android
Chrome for Android has its own theme choice.
- Open Chrome on the Android phone or tablet.
- Tap the three-dot More menu in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Theme.
- Select Light.
Choose System default only when you want Chrome to match the phone or tablet display theme. If Android changes themes automatically, Chrome will follow that schedule when System default is selected.
More control
Device or System default follows the operating system
The Device option on desktop and System default on Android are not the same as locking Chrome to light mode. Those settings tell Chrome to copy Windows, macOS, or Android. If your device switches to dark mode at sunset, Chrome will switch too. Pick Light when you want Chrome to stay bright all the time.
Some websites have their own dark mode
Changing Chrome theme does not override a dark mode switch built into a website. If only one site still looks dark, open that site account settings or appearance menu and turn off its theme there.
Some pages read the system theme directly
A small number of sites check the operating system color preference rather than Chrome theme. For those sites, changing Windows, macOS, or Android Dark Mode is what affects the page.
Sources
- Google Chrome Help – Browse in Dark mode or Dark theme (2025)
- Google Chrome Help – Browse in Dark mode or Dark theme, Android (2025)
- Google Chrome Help – Download or remove Chrome themes (2025)