How to enable the dark mode in systems and applications
Enable dark mode
The dark mode is a graphic theme that improves the display in certain environments, protects the eyes of users in low light environments and also some screens.
Photo Pixabay
Especially OLEDs that are more prone to problems due to the higher contrast used by this type of panel, in addition to improving the autonomy of mobile-portable devices because of their generally low brightness.
Dark mode in systems and applications
This type of special display mode is fashionable and has become widespread in recent times.
Not all applications have a dedicated dark mode and some of them get it from the configuration of the operating system where they are installed.
Nor is it achieved equally in all of them, nor does it offer the benefits mentioned, although, given its success.
All software providers are either improving it or are in the process of doing so.
Today we are reviewing its activation in the main systems, services and applications.
Windows 10
Some of the best implementations you will find. It looks good in dark environments and also in others with more light, but it does not reach the whole interface in the same way and it is not reached in the same way in all components.
It is activated on the Settings> Customization> Colors page and you can customize the default mode of Windows and applications.
Unlike the dark mode and for users who prefer exactly the opposite, Microsoft has also implemented a "light mode" that is enabled in the same tool.
macOS
Like Windows, MacOS also has a system-wide dark mode setting.
You can find it by opening Apple> System Preferences> General, selecting the options Dark, Light or Automatic under Appearance.
If you select the latter, the general theme will change according to the time in your time zone.
Applications that support both Dark and Light modes, including all Apple applications, will also automatically change according to the time.
Linux
The vast majority of GNU/Linux distributions and major desktop environments such as KDE and Gnome have options for achieving this type of display mode and third-party software allows a high degree of customization.
An example of a native solution will be seen in Ubuntu 20.04, with a selector located in System Settings > Appearance that - although not called so - allows us to choose a dark, light or standard mode.
Android
How to enable the dark mode in the Google system will vary slightly depending on the device manufacturer and the custom interface you have enabled.
In Android 10, it can usually be found in the Settings > Display menu, by enabling the switching theme to change colors.
Any application that supports this mode, whether internal such as calendar or photo gallery or external such as Gmail, will automatically activate this mode.
iOS and iPadOS
This was one of the new features of the iOS 13 and it is a complete system and a specific application mode that allows to take advantage of the OLED screens of the last iPhone and improve the battery life since these panels turn off the pixels to represent the color black.
It is activated in Settings > Display and Brightness and, as with macOS, offers the three modes, bright, dark and automatic.
It can also be activated in the specialized operating system for tablets, iPadOS.
Google Chrome
In Android, it is activated directly via Settings > Themes, selecting the dark, light or system default mode.
In the desktop versions, it can be activated for a long time with the command -force-dark-mode- at the destination of the application as explained in this practice.
It also has external themes such as Morpheon Dark, one of the most popular.
This theme makes the tab bar, title bar, toolbar and new tab page dark.
Firefox
Firefox's dark mode is currently a hidden feature that must be activated manually through the browser's advanced preferences and is done as we have indicated in this practice.
The first thing you have to do is go to "menu> Accessories" and in the "Themes" section choose the dark mode. Then enter about: config - filter the option ui.systemUsesDarkTheme and change the number to "1".
It works in the desktop version and you don't need to reboot to see its effects.
Edge chrome plating
The new Microsoft browser also has a dark mode and is easily activated through the menu > Settings > Appearance.
Here you can select the dark, light or default mode. It works independently from the one activated in Windows 10.
WhatsApp and WhatsApp Web
The most popular email client is developing an official dark mode and until the final version arrives, it can be activated in Android with this method.
WhatsApp Web runs connected to the browser, download this extension (only available for Chrome or Firefox) and follow this process.
Telegram
Much better is the support of WhatsApp's great rival and longtime favorite in dark mode.
It is activated directly from the menu and is as simple as dragging the button and changing modes:
Gmail
It is activated from the Configuration > Themes tool and is used for the current version of the mail client and previous versions with different interfaces.
Facebook and Facebook Messenger
Facebook is testing the dark mode on the web and on Android. If you have the latest Facebook update on the web, click on your avatar in the upper right corner to find the dark mode switch.
On Android, the dark mode is turned on and off depending on the theme of the phone.
Facebook Messenger for Android and iOS has a switch that touches your avatar on the front screen to access it.
Other applications with the dark mode
- Google Play. The application and content store for Android does not offer a dark mode as such, but takes the Android 10 itself.
So once you choose it in the system, when you enter Google Play Store, the background colors, fonts and icons will be reversed, without any other change of design, functionality or option.
- Twitter. The microblogging service has a built-in dark mode in both iOS and Android.
Touch your avatar in the upper left corner, then touch Settings & Privacy, Display & Sound, and Dark Mode.
The application can follow the configuration of your device or be forced within the application itself.
YouTube.
In Android, YouTube follows the system settings and also allows you to adjust it through the avatar> appearance. Em iOS does not follow the system preferences, but can be activated in Settings> Dark Mode.
- Instagram. Without Android and iOS, you will see that it follows the configuration address of your device.
Every time you run Android 10 or later, or iOS 13 or later, Instagram will match the operating system settings described above.
- Google Calendar. It works like Gmail. On the application settings page, select General, then Themes.
On Android, it can be set to use the light, dark or default mode of the operating system.
Forcing the dark mode on all websites.
Would you like to go one step further and force the dark mode on all websites you visit in the purest Chrome style (or one of the Chrome derivatives, since we are, it works for everyone)?
Firefox is not here yet and to find out if it will be, then using Dark Reader is your best option.
As you have seen, there are many software programs that allow you to use this dark mode, although not all of them allow it from the same application, they are not equally well activated and do not offer the same benefits depending on the environment.
Not all users who prefer brighter display modes appreciate it either, although the ideal for the future will be to have a good implementation of both and sufficient customization.
And they can be application-specific modes, regardless of the operating systems on which they are installed.
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