Chrome 78 Forces Dark Mode on Any Website, And You Can Try It Now

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The internet is about to get much darker for Chrome users, literally. Google on Tuesday released Chrome 78 for Mac, Windows, Linux and iOS, bringing with it a Forced Dark Mode feature that enables Dark Mode on every website, whether they support one or not.

The feature doesn't tamper with a websites' source code; Instead, it uses color inversion theory to swap light interfaces with chromatic dark ones. The change might appear jarring at first, but there are several benefits to using Dark Mode.

Studies have shown that Dark Mode can protect your eyes from the strain put on them by a bright white screen. Dark mode can also prolong the battery life of your device, especially if your laptop or smartphone has an OLED panel. 

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

It's worth noting that this is different from the color themes Google added to Chrome earlier this year. If you want an official dark theme on your browser today, you can install one of many color theme extensions uploaded by The Chrome Team. 

Apart from Dark Mode, Chrome 78 brings with it several quality-of-life improvements to the internet's most popular browser. Google's Password Checkup extension will now be integrated into the browser. This feature tells you if you're logging in to a website with credentials that have been compromised in a data breach. Another experimental feature will give you information about a tab when you hover over it, which is especially helpful for folks who keep dozens of websites open and have trouble navigating their crowded browser bar. 

How to enable Forced Dark Mode in Chrome

Once you've downloaded the Chrome 78 update, you'll be able to enable Forced Dark Mode by using the Chrome flag: chrome://flags/#enable-force-dark. If you haven't tinkered with these flags before, don't worry, the process is pretty simple. First, either paste the above URL into your address bar or go to chrome://flags/.

Note the warning at the top of the screen that the list below contains experimental features, and that enabling them could cause browser disruptions. If you're OK with the risk, scroll down until you find the #enable-force-dark flag (or do a keyword search to save time) and enable it. The websites you visit should now appear in Dark Mode.

Phillip Tracy is the assistant managing editor at Laptop Mag where he reviews laptops, phones and other gadgets while covering the latest industry news. Previously, he was a Senior Writer at Tom's Guide and has also been a tech reporter at the Daily Dot. There, he wrote reviews for a range of gadgets and covered everything from social media trends to cybersecurity. Prior to that, he wrote for RCR Wireless News covering 5G and IoT. When he's not tinkering with devices, you can find Phillip playing video games, reading, traveling or watching soccer.

Latest in Browsers
Google Chrome on Android
How to stop your personal data from appearing in Google searches
Opera Air
I just tested the world’s first mindful browser — it’s calmly convinced me to ditch Google Chrome
A photo of the Google Chrome logo on a white background, displayed on the screen of a large MacBook Pro which is situated on a table with green foliage behind.
Google Chrome just got three new modes — and it's a game changer for performance
Google Calendar app on iPhone
Google Calendar just got the dark mode we’ve been waiting for — here’s how to activate it
Image of an Apple MacBook with a Google Chrome logo on the display
This new Google Chrome upgrade made me say 'whoa' out loud — and it's a game changer
Two Opera Browser Days attendees standing in front of a screen displaying the Opera logo
How Opera is challenging Google by putting privacy first
Latest in News
Mac Studio on desk plugged into Studio Display
Apple reportedly working on two new Studio Display monitors — here's what I want to see
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 on a green and black patterned background
RTX 5090 price continues to rise — prepare to spend around $3,000 for Nvidia's GPU
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air could lead to portless iPhones and thinner Apple products — if it sells well
Elipson Planet L
These planetoid speakers make me feel like I’m living in The Jetsons
iPhone Flip Concept
iPhone Flip and Foldable iPad could finally go into mass production next year — what we know
Google Pixel 9a render
Google Pixel 9a benchmarks leaked — and the scores are underwhelming