I use many Chrome extensions, but the one I rely on every day is Dark Reader. This open-source Chrome browser extension helps protect my eyes at night and makes the websites I visit easier to read. I permanently use dark mode on Chrome because it increases website contrast and reduces eye strain, making it easier to read or browse at night.
However, some websites are not optimized for dark mode. Dark Reader ensures these sites remain readable and comfortable on the eyes, offering unique additional features that enhance the overall experience.
- OS
-
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS/iPadOS, ChromeOS
- Developer
-
Google LLC
Granular theming option
Make every website comfortably yours
Dark Reader lets you customize nearly every aspect of its dark theme. You can adjust settings such as brightness, contrast, sepia, grayscale, color scheme, and theme mode. However, that’s not all it offers.
What makes the Dark Reader extension truly remarkable is its extensive theming customization options. You can manage background colors, text color, scrollbar color, select highlighter color, and the overall color scheme.
In addition to color adjustments, Dark Reader lets you customize fonts, change stroke width, and apply styles using system colors. You can create an entirely new theme from available presets and even export it. This theme can be customized for individual sites and can easily be enabled or disabled on a site-by-site basis.
Open source extension
Use the extension without compromising on privacy
Dark Reader is an open-source Chrome extension. This means you can view its source code on GitHub and decide whether using this extension is safe. Generally, Chrome extensions are safe, though there are some malicious exceptions, so the open-source nature of Dark Reader is an advantage. While it may not appeal to everyone, you can inspect the code and verify its authenticity with the community.
Manual control
Take control of whether you want it or not for each website
I typically keep Dark Reader configured with its default settings, which provides an automated, pleasant dark mode experience for most websites. However, I can toggle the extension on or off for individual sites as needed. There are instances where certain websites may feature unique icons, specific fonts, or interactive elements that do not render correctly in dark mode.
This can make it frustrating to read content or complete tasks. That is when I deactivate the dark theme in the extension for that particular website and add it to my whitelist. The next time I visit that website, dark mode will remain disabled, providing a seamless browsing experience without manual adjustments.
Keyboard shortcuts support
Make enabling or disabling the extension quick
Dark Reader offers several keyboard shortcuts in Chrome that let you turn it on or off quickly. This feature is especially useful when visiting a website with elements that don’t display correctly due to a forced dark theme.
For a faster experience, you can use keyboard shortcuts instead of manually toggling the extension. You can set custom shortcuts to activate the extension, toggle it for the current website, open the theme generation mode for the site you’re visiting, or toggle the extension specifically for that website in Chrome.
Configurable automation
Let it take control at your convenience
If you prefer not to use dark mode all the time, like I do, Dark Reader offers an option to automate dark mode. You can schedule Dark Reader to turn on and off at specific times, or set it to activate at sunset and deactivate at sunrise based on your location.
Additionally, you can choose a system-based theme that automatically toggles based on your computer’s settings, ensuring that websites match your PC’s aesthetic.
With a customizable website whitelist, once you have everything set up, you won’t have to switch modes manually again. This greatly enhances the streamlined experience of using the Dark Reader extension.
Go further and beyond with customizations to make it yours
Dark Reader provides direct access to its developer tools, allowing you to edit its code and extensively customize the Dark Reader theme. While I don’t recommend that everyone alters the developer options, a convenient reset button is available. If you make changes that break the functionality, you can easily revert to the original settings.
In the developer tools, you can adjust every detail of the themes within the Dark Reader extension to make it uniquely yours. Several options are available, including the dynamic theme editor, the static theme editor, the inversion fix editor, and advanced options that enable the prototype design. Remember that using the prototype design may break the extension, but it offers a more refined and advanced design experience.
Level up your browsing comfort with Dark Reader on Chrome
I haven’t added many customizations with Dark Reader, as what it gives by default is enough for me, but with the Dark Reader extension installed on your Chrome browser, you can customize every aspect of website themes. This extension lets you tweak everything related to website theming to your heart’s content. But most important of them all, the Dark Reader extension ensures a comfortable browsing experience that is easy on the eyes while giving you control over the site’s aesthetics.