Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browser used for both day-day users and even web developers. The latest stats show this with an impressive 1 billion annual users of the platform. With that being said, when Google releases updates for the web browser, it affects many individuals and professionals. The newest update of the Chrome web browser, Chrome 74 has officially been released on Linux, Windows and Mac OS and it has many features that users can benefit from. One key feature that you should be aware of is the dark mode which is now available for any Windows 10 user.
What is the dark mode?
The dark mode may be familiar to some users and new to others. It provides the opportunity to protect your eyes from the bright glaring lights emitted from your device screen. This is important especially when you are scrolling through posts during the night and with providing little to no discomfort to your eyes. In addition to its functionality, it is also a stylish dark theme extending across the entire web browser, which you can easily switch dark mode on or off using Windows 10. Lastly, another perk of the dark mode is that there is less consumption of energy. The dark mode is likened to that of Chrome’s Incognito Mode theme.
Advantages of Dark Mode
- Relieves eyes fatigue and strain
- Reduced flickering on darker backgrounds
- The medical issue, photophobia, will not be irritated
- Less blue light released leading to a better sleep cycle
- Energy-saving option for some displays
However, there are some minor settings when dark mode may not be a suitable option:
- Where are small fonts or thin lines
- No backlit display
- In a well-lit room or there is too much ambient light
How to Enable Google Chrome’s Dark Mode on Windows 10
Even though Google Chrome is taking the steps in integrating dark mode on Windows 10, the company has not completely enabled the feature as yet. As a matter of fact, a community manager of Chrome clarifies this by saying, “I can confirm that we are rolling out this feature to a small number of Chrome M74 users now and that it will become more widely available in the near future.”
Not to worry, there is still a feasible and simple method that you can use to enable dark mode on your Chrome if the wait is not for you.
- Locate the shortcut for the Chrome web browser, this can be found on the desktop.
- Right-click the icon and select ‘Properties’ from the drop-down menu
- In the ‘Target:” section add the following sentence at the end of chrome.exe”
–force-dark-mode
- Click ‘Apply’ then ‘OK’.
- Close the Window
- Open the Chrome Web Browser
*For those who open Chrome Web Browser from a pinned icon on the taskbar, you will have to unpin the icon, then pin it again. This will allow the changes to take place.
At the end of this, you will now reap the advantages of using the dark mode that was officially executed by Google Chrome. There are many dark themes that were created by contributors to the Chrome Web Store. However, even though they provide a host of great features, they are still limited. For instance, the official dark mode released by the Chrome web browser can extend across the entire web browser, which includes the context menus. You will also be able to view the download bar with no issues.
There are other features that the update, Chrome 74 has to offer. These include:
- Reducing motion sickness through a ‘Remove Animations’ setting
- Security Fixes
- Various features for Web Developers to improve the usability
- Improved stability and performance for Android and iOS devices
Conclusion
With these many remarkable aspects, it would be smart to fully make use of what Chrome 74 has to offer. The dark mode has many great benefits that you can take advantage of, which naturally includes, less strain on the eyes when reading in a dimly lit room. In addition to the dark mode, Chrome 74 comes with many other features that boost security, performance, and usability for users that also includes web developers. With the latest update, Google is showing users that they are listening and always improving.
