What is Dark Mode in Gmail?
Gmail dark mode is an interface option that changes the appearance of your email app. Instead of the traditional white background, it will change it to primarily black and dark gray. This feature is meant to help reduce eye strain, especially in low-light environments. It can also help save battery life on OLED and AMOLED screens, which switch off black pixels completely. On an LCD screen the backlight stays on, so the saving is minimal.
Dark mode involves inverting the color scheme of the typical elements found in background, text icons, and anything else on the page. Keep in mind that dark mode is different than the dark theme that changes the aesthetic such as icons. Using dark mode is a great way to customize Gmail and tailor it to your own preferences.
Change Gmail to Dark Mode on Any Device
One thing to know before you start: on the web, the dark theme changes Gmail’s own interface but leaves each email looking as its sender designed it. The Android and iPhone apps invert message content as well, so the same email can look different on your phone and your laptop.
How to Change Gmail Background on Desktop
It’s quite simple to enable Gmail dark mode if you're using it on the desktop:
- Open up your browser and go to your inbox. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create a new Gmail account.
- Navigate to the top right corner and click the gear icon.
- In the Quick settings panel, go to Theme and click View all.
- Scroll down the theme picker to the plain black tile labelled Dark.
- Select this theme, and click Save.
💡 Tip: To personalize your theme even further, in the Theme settings, click My Photos, then select either Featured or My Photos, and then save your customized background.
How to Enable Dark Mode for Gmail on iOS
If you're using iOS 13 or later, you have the option to switch your system settings between light and dark themes. The Gmail app for iPhone and iPad has no theme setting of its own, so it follows whatever your device is set to — you can’t keep Gmail dark while the rest of iOS stays light.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone, then navigate to Display & Brightness.
- Choose the Dark option to enable the dark theme.
- The Gmail app will automatically adjust to reflect your chosen system theme.
How to Activate Dark Mode for Gmail on Android
Gmail’s own theme setting lives in the Android app, and it needs Android 10 or later. Here’s how to reach it:
- Open the Gmail app on your Android device.
- Find the menu icon which should be three lines at the top left of the screen.
- Scroll down to find the Settings option and click on it to access them.
- In the Settings menu, select General settings.
- Tap on the Theme section, then choose Dark. You can also pick Light or System default, which follows your phone’s own theme setting.
You can switch back from the same setting at any time. Along with dark mode, it’s important to organize Gmail, as well.
Upgrade Your Gmail Management With Clean Email
Changing your Gmail background is only the first step in optimizing your inbox to serve you best. What good is an inbox that doesn’t strain your eyes if it’s still cluttered with spam and junk? That’s where tools such as Clean Email come in.
For instance, you can archive a group of messages, move them to the trash, choose to keep the newest emails from this sender, or apply other actions. You can also set up rules and filters for your inbox to automate specific functions.
Along with all of these features, Clean Email is also mobile-friendly. You’ll get all features both on your desktop and phone, allowing for convenient inbox management anytime, anywhere.
FAQs
Does Gmail have dark mode?
Yes, Gmail offers a dark mode option for both its web interface and mobile app.
Can I schedule Gmail dark mode to turn on at night?
Gmail has no schedule of its own. On Android, set Theme to System default and schedule dark theme in your phone’s display settings. On iPhone and iPad, set Dark Mode to Automatic under Settings → Display & Brightness, and Gmail will follow it.
How to customize Gmail background?
To personalize your mailbox background, go to settings, click on “Theme”, then “View all”, click “My photos” and select or upload the desired custom image. Custom background images work only in Gmail on the web — the mobile apps offer just Light, Dark, and System default.
