Google Testing Dark Mode Feature on Desktop Search: Report

The dark mode doesn’t appear to be enabled on the Google homepage yet but would likely change when the feature goes live.

Advertisement
By Gadgets 360 Staff With Inputs From ANI | Updated: 15 December 2020 15:42 IST
Highlights
  • The look matches the dark mode version of Google's search app on mobile
  • Scrollbars don't show changes when switched from light to a dark mode
  • Update is already provided for testing through the Chrome Canary channel

Upcoming enhancements will allow Chrome to apply a dark theme to additional elements including scrollbars

Google is reportedly testing the dark mode feature on its desktop search results. Late last month, Google brought improvements to its dark mode on Chrome browsers, expected to be rolled out soon to Windows 10 and macOS.

In its report, 9to5Google noticed that the company is testing a dark theme for desktop search. In this feature, the white background has been replaced with a dark grey hue, while Google's colourful logo has been replaced by white lettering.

The look matches the dark mode version of Google's search app on mobile, that has been available since May 2020. Notably, the report claimed the dark mode is not enabled on the Google.com homepage, which is odd, but would likely change when the feature goes live.

Advertisement

Dark mode on Google's desktop search currently appears to be available to only a small number of users. One Reddit user who has seen it said the dark mode just randomly turned on by itself, and it reverted back to light mode shortly after. Strangely, the same user says that the dark mode did not come with any sort of toggle button, meaning he was unable to turn it off while it was active.

Earlier in November, a report suggested that a commit was made by Google engineers on the Chromium Gerrit that detailed the improvements coming to Chrome's dark mode. The search giant is said to be updating WebUIs to bring a complete dark mode experience, with scrollbars appearing in grey colour, according to the commit.

The upcoming enhancements will allow Chrome to apply a dark theme to additional elements including scrollbars. At present, scrollbars don't show any changes when you switch from the light mode to a dark one. The update is already provided for testing through the Chrome Canary channel. It can be tested by adding --enable-features=WebUIDarkMode,CSSColorSchemeUARendering \ --force-dark-mode to the command line.

Advertisement


Is MacBook Air M1 the portable beast of a laptop that you always wanted? We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.
 

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2026 hub.

Further reading: Google, Google Chrome, dark mode
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Colourways Spotted in Leaked SIM Tray Images
  2. Oakley Meta HSTN Smart Glasses Review
  3. JioHotstar Announces Monthly Subscription Plans Across All Tiers
  4. Infinix Note Edge Debuts With MediaTek Dimensity 7100 , 6,500mAh Battery
  5. Honor Magic 8 Pro Air, Magic 8 RSR Porsche Design Launched At These Prices
  6. Realme Neo 8 Key Specifications Confirmed Ahead of January 22 Launch
  7. Arc Raiders Will Get Multiple New Maps This Year, Says Embark
  8. Amazon Great Republic Day Sale: Best Deals on Printers Under Rs. 10,000
  9. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 May Sport a Smaller Crease Using This Technology
  1. Global RAM Shortage Is Reportedly Causing GPU, Storage Drive Prices to Skyrocket
  2. Viruses and Bacteria Evolve Differently in Space, ISS Study Finds
  3. Rockstar Games Said to Have Granted a Terminally Ill Fan's Wish to Play GTA 6
  4. Oppo K15 Turbo Series Tipped to Feature Built-in Cooling Fans; Oppo K15 Pro Model Said to Get MediaTek Chipset
  5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Said to Feature Dual Ultra-Thin Glass OLED Panel to Reduce Crease Visibility
  6. Honor Magic 8 Pro Air Launched Alongside Honor Magic 8 RSR Porsche Design: Price, Specifications
  7. Realme Neo 8 Key Specifications Including 8,000mAh Battery, Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor Confirmed
  8. Astronomers Find Massive Iron-Rich Feature Lurking Under the Ring Nebula
  9. Asus Reportedly Halts Smartphone Launches ‘Temporarily’ to Focus on AI Robots, Smart Glasses
  10. JioHotstar Announces Monthly Subscription Plans Across Mobile, Super, and Premium Tiers
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.