Google Tests Dark Mode for Its Desktop Web Search Page

Google is reportedly testing a dark mode for its desktop web search site, following a trend of introducing darker user interfaces across its mobile apps.

Google Search dark mode web 1

Image via 9to5Google

Apple introduced Dark Mode in macOS Mojave and iOS 13, and support for the system-wide option is now a staple feature of most third-party apps on both mobile and desktop.

For example, Google has added belated support for ‌Dark Mode‌ to its Gmail and Search apps, but it looks like Google for desktop web could be on its way, too.

According to 9to5Google, the tech giant is performing A/B testing of a dark interface for desktop-based browser searches for a random selection of users.

Instead of the traditional plain white background, users are seeing a dark grey color on the Google search page, with results appearing in lighter text. Black text is now gray, while a different shade of blue is being used for page names/links.

Other affected page elements include the Google logo altered to match the background, and the search filters like Images and News, which are now blue.

It's not clear how long Google plans to test the feature before rolling it out to all users, but if it's anything like how long it took to bring Dark Mode to Gmail, it could be a while yet.

In the meantime, users who want to try a web browsing experience that's easier on the eyes should check out the browser extension Dark Reader, available for Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

Tag: Google

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Top Rated Comments

xxray Avatar
60 months ago
DuckDuckGo has had this for over a year, and they respect my privacy too.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SkyRom Avatar
60 months ago
Microsoft introduced Dark Mode in 1981...



Attachment Image
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
oohh Avatar
60 months ago

DuckDuckGo has had this for over a year, and they respect my privacy too.
And their dark mode looks way better than Google's current implementation.

I try to use DuckDuckGo as much as possible since I do not want to support Google, but I have to admit I almost always switch to Google because their search is just way better :/
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
n0va Avatar
60 months ago
im not saying that its correlated or anything, but youtube went down minutes after this
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
imlynxy Avatar
60 months ago
They tested the darkest mode ever, all down :cool:
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Weaselboy Avatar
60 months ago

And their dark mode looks way better than Google's current implementation.

I try to use DuckDuckGo as much as possible since I do not want to support Google, but I have to admit I almost always switch to Google because their search is just way better :/

True. However its results are substandard at best.
I do use it as my default engine but more often than not I need to switch back to Google to do stuff…
https://www.startpage.com

Try Startpage. You get Google results without using Google.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)