Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Guides

How to use dark mode in Gmail on PC

Anita George
By

If dark mode is your preferred way of viewing apps and websites on your PC, you might also want to learn how to set it up for your Gmail inbox.

Turning on dark mode in Gmail on a PC only takes a few steps, and we can show you how to do it. Follow our guide below and you'll be viewing a darkened Gmail inbox in no time.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • A Gmail account

  • A PC

  • A web browser

A note about using dark mode in Gmail on PC

Before we get into showing you how to turn on dark mode in Gmail, there is something you should know. Known as Dark Theme, Gmail's version of dark mode is a bit limited at this time for PCs. Basically, while it darkens the inbox, Dark Theme doesn't seem to darken much else in Gmail's user interface for its desktop website.

When Dark Theme is turned on, the dark mode feature only seems to apply to your inbox. You won't see it applied to other aspects of Gmail, such as the individual email messages that you read and the New Message (compose) screen. These latter screens will still appear to be bright.

How to use dark mode in Gmail on PC

If you still want to view dark mode in Gmail on a PC despite its limitations, follow the steps below to set it up for your inbox.

Step 1: Open up your web browser on your PC and go to the Gmail website. Log into your Gmail account if you haven't already.

Step 2: Once you're logged in, select the Settings gear icon in the top right of your screen.

Selecting View All option from Gmail Settings menu on desktop web.
screenshot/Anita George / Digital Trends
Related

Step 3: On the pop-up menu that appears, navigate to the section called Theme. In this section, select View all.

Step 4: On the Pick your theme screen, scroll down until you see a solid, black rectangle. This is Dark Theme. Select the solid, black rectangle. Once you do, your inbox will immediately darken.

Selecting Dark Theme in Gmail settings and the inbox immediately darkens.
screenshot/Anita George / Digital Trends

Step 5: Select the blue Save button to save your changes and to exit the Pick your theme screen.

That's it! Your Gmail inbox on PC has dark mode turned on now.

Want to keep customizing your Gmail experience? Take a look at our how-to guides on creating folders in Gmail and adding a signature in Gmail.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Anita George
Anita George
Computing Writer
Anita has been a technology reporter since 2013 and currently writes for the Computing section at Digital Trends. She began…
How to create folders in Gmail
A gray cloth bag that has the words "Office Stuff" emblazoned on it, resting on a wooden table. There is also a pen on top of the bag.

Keeping your emails organized is essential to finding the ones you need when you need them. One easy way to do this is by creating folders and moving your messages to them.

If you use Gmail, you’ll see default folders, those already created for you, in the menu on the left side. When you set up your own, they’ll fall in line in that same spot, giving you a quick and easy way to organize your inbox. Here’s how to create folders in Gmail and move emails to them.

Read more
Google just made this vital Gmail security tool completely free
google makes gmail dark web monitoring free laptop stephen phillips

Hackers are constantly trying to break into large websites to steal user databases, and it’s not entirely unlikely that your own login details have been leaked at some point in the past. In cases like that, upgrading your password is vital, but how can you do that if you don’t even know your data has been hacked?

Well, Google thinks it has the answer because it has just announced that it will roll out dark web monitoring reports to every Gmail user in the U.S. This handy feature was previously limited to paid Google One subscribers, but the company revealed at its Google I/O event that it will now be available to everyone, free of charge.

Read more
ChatGPT gets a private mode for secret AI chats. Here’s how to use it
A MacBook Pro on a desk with ChatGPT's website showing on its display.

OpenAI just launched a new feature that makes it possible to disable your chat history when using ChatGPT, allowing you to keep your conversations more private.

Previously, every new chat would appear in a sidebar to the left, making it easy for anyone nearby to get a quick summary of how you've been using the AI for fun, schoolwork, or productivity. This can prove problematic when you're discussing something you want to keep secret.

Read more