It has taken a while, but Google has started rolling out a dark mode within the search engine. Such a dark mode gives a calmer image, provides a different contrast and, depending on your taste, also just looks nice. This is how you can turn on dark mode in Google.
After more than half a year of testing, Google has now started rolling out the new function. That doesn’t mean you can use it right away: it can take a few days or weeks before the feature becomes available for your account or browser. Checking if it already works is very easy.
Turn on dark mode in Google
Turning on dark mode in Google is a matter of opening a settings menu that you may not have seen before. Go to google.nl and right clickbelow on Institutions. A drop-down menu will now open.
At the very bottom would be the option Dark theme: off should appear. If you click on it, the dark theme is turned on and your white background screen changes into a dark gray area with white text. Have you already entered a search term? Then you will find the function under the cog in the top right, next to your profile picture.
Don’t see the feature yet? Then you have to be patient: in the coming weeks the function will be rolled out for all accounts and browsers.
Why a dark mode?
Today, many programs and apps offer dark mode. That has a number of advantages. With certain, especially older screens, it is a matter of energy consumption: black simply costs less power than white. This is also the case to a lesser extent with current OLED screens.
In addition, a dark mode is especially calmer for the eyes, especially later in the evening, or if you have to stare at a screen all day for work. The bright white light is thus slightly darkened. And yes, there are also plenty of people who just think it looks cool – another great reason to turn it on.
Windows 10 itself offers a dark mode, but many websites apps for your laptop or smartphone also use the function. For example, you can set a dark mode in WhatsApp, in Google apps such as YouTube and Gmail, and in Microsoft Teams.