Google Sheets has dark mode in its Android, iPhone and iPad apps: tap Menu > Settings > Choose theme (Theme on iPhone and iPad) > Dark. Google Sheets on the web has no dark mode setting, so on a computer you need a browser-level workaround instead.
beginner 2 min read
Google Sheets Dark Mode: How to Turn It On
Google Sheets has dark mode in the Android and iPhone apps, but no setting on the web. Here's how to turn it on in the app and your options on a computer.
SB
Sheets Bootcamp
September 30, 2026
Table of Contents
Quick Answer
Dark mode is one of the most searched Google Sheets settings, and the answer depends on where you’re using it. The mobile apps have a real dark theme. The web version, the one most people use at work, doesn’t. We checked the web app’s menus on September 30, 2026: there’s no theme option in File > Settings, and nothing under View.
How to Turn On Dark Mode in the Google Sheets App
On Android
- Open the Google Sheets app.
- Tap Menu at the top left.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Choose theme.
- Pick Dark, Light, or System default.
On iPhone and iPad
- Open the Google Sheets app.
- Tap Menu at the top left.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Theme.
- Pick Dark, Light, or System default.
System default follows your phone’s own light or dark setting, so Sheets switches along with everything else. These steps come from Google’s help page, Use Dark theme in Google Docs, Sheets & Slides.
Note
Dark theme is personal. Google’s help page says collaborators can’t see the theme you choose, so turning it on doesn’t change anyone else’s view of the file.
Preview a sheet in light mode
Dark mode recolors your spreadsheet on screen, which can make it hard to judge how it looks to everyone else. In the app, tap More at the top right, then View in light theme, to see the sheet the way your collaborators do.
Dark Mode on a Computer
Because Google Sheets on the web has no dark mode setting, your options all work around it.
A browser dark mode extension. Dark mode extensions for Chrome and other browsers darken the pages you visit, Google Sheets included. It only affects your screen, so it’s the closest thing to a real dark mode on the web. Results vary: some extensions invert colors in charts and conditional formatting, so check anything color-coded before you rely on it.
Color the cells yourself. Select the whole sheet, fill it with a dark color, and set the text to white. This works in every browser, but it’s saved in the file, so everyone who opens the sheet sees it. Only do this on a sheet that’s yours alone.
Warning
Don’t mistake Format > Theme for dark mode. It styles the spreadsheet file itself, and everyone who opens it sees the result. It’s for branding a sheet, not for easier viewing at night.
Related Google Sheets Tutorials
- Google Sheets Shortcuts - Work faster without the mouse
- Getting Started with Google Sheets - The basics, from the first cell
- Alternating Colors - Make long tables easier to read
- Conditional Formatting - Color cells by their values
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google Sheets have a dark mode?
Yes, in the Google Sheets app for Android, iPhone and iPad: Menu > Settings > Choose theme (Theme on iPhone) > Dark. Google Sheets on the web has no dark mode setting. There's none in File > Settings or the View menu.
How do I get Google Sheets dark mode on my computer?
There's no built-in option on the web. The usual workaround is a browser-level dark mode, such as a dark mode extension, which darkens the page for you only. Coloring the cells dark yourself also works, but it changes the file for everyone.
Will dark mode change my spreadsheet for other people?
No. Google's help page says collaborators can't see the theme you choose in the app. Filling cells with a dark color, on the other hand, is saved in the file and everyone sees it.
Can I see how a sheet looks in light mode while using dark mode?
Yes. In the app, tap More at the top right and then View in light theme to preview the file the way collaborators see it.
Is Format > Theme the same as dark mode?
No. Format > Theme styles the spreadsheet file itself, and everyone who opens it sees the result. Dark mode is a personal display setting in the mobile app.
You've googled this formula before. Probably more than once.
The Bootcamp is a real Google Sheet that grades every formula the moment you press Enter. 193 exercises across 9 modules, the 10% of Sheets that does 90% of the work. One payment of $29.
Get It for $29 Get the Bootcamp for $2930-day refund. Reply to any email and you get your money back.
Not ready to pay? Try Basic Training free →