How to Enable Dark Mode on the Google Homepage in Safari
Set Google Search to Dark theme in Safari on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, and fix the settings that can leave the page white.
To make the Google homepage dark in Safari, change Google Search’s Appearance setting to Dark theme. On a Mac, open Google’s Settings, choose See all settings, then Appearance, select Dark theme, and click Save. On iPhone or iPad, go to Google in Safari, tap More (three dots) > Settings, then choose Dark theme under Appearance.
This is a Google Search setting, so it applies to the homepage, search results, and Search settings pages. You do not need a Safari extension to darken Google Search. Google’s Search theme instructions document the desktop steps, and its mobile instructions cover iPhone and iPad.
Enable dark mode on a Mac
- Open Safari and visit google.com.
- Open Settings on the Google page.
- Choose See all settings.
- Open the Appearance section.
- Select Dark theme.
- Click Save.
Google may label the setting Dark theme even if you think of it as dark mode. The choice controls Google Search’s pages, including the homepage and results.
Enable dark mode on iPhone or iPad
- Open Safari and visit google.com.
- Tap More, shown as a three-dot menu.
- Tap Settings.
- Under Appearance, choose Dark theme.
If you want Google Search to switch along with your iPhone or iPad’s system appearance, select Device default instead. Google’s mobile directions use the same More > Settings > Appearance route.
Choose Dark theme, Light theme, or Device default
| Choice | What it does | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Dark theme | Shows light text on a dark background. | You want Google Search dark regardless of the device appearance. |
| Light theme | Shows dark text on a light background. | You want Google Search light even when the device is set to dark. |
| Device default | Matches the device’s current color scheme. | You want Google Search to follow the Mac, iPhone, or iPad appearance setting. |
On Google’s live Search settings page, the control may appear as Dark theme with On, Off, and Device default choices. These correspond to forcing dark, forcing light, and following the device.
Make Google follow your Apple device’s appearance
Choose Device default in Google Search’s Appearance settings. Google will then use the current color scheme of the device. If Google remains light, check that the Mac or iPhone/iPad is actually set to dark appearance in its system settings.
Choose Dark theme when you want Google Search to stay dark regardless of the device setting. Choose Device default when automatic switching is the goal.
Save and keep the setting
On desktop, complete the change with Save. Google says that when you are signed in, the desktop theme choice is saved on each desktop. On mobile, Google says the choice can be saved across signed-in mobile devices and tablets.
If you are not signed in, verify the selection on the browser and device where you use Google. If the setting does not appear to stick, open Search settings again, check the selected Appearance option, and save it again.
Troubleshoot Google Search still appearing white
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The Google homepage is still light. | The Appearance setting is set to Light theme or was not saved. | Return to Google Settings > See all settings > Appearance, select Dark theme, and click Save. |
| Google is light even though the iPhone or Mac is in dark mode. | Google is set to Light theme, or its setting is not Device default. | Choose Dark theme to force dark, or Device default to follow the system appearance. |
| Google changes when the device appearance changes. | Device default is selected. | This is expected. Select Dark theme if you want Google to remain dark all the time. |
| The setting changed on one device but not another. | The choice may be saved separately, or you may not be signed in. | Set the preference on the other device. Signing in helps Google preserve the choice across supported devices. |
| You cannot find the same menu labels. | The desktop and mobile settings pages use different navigation. | On Mac, use Settings > See all settings > Appearance. On iPhone or iPad, use More > Settings > Appearance. |
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FAQ
Does Safari have a separate setting for Google’s dark theme?
No. Use Google Search’s Appearance setting to control its homepage and results pages.
Will Google’s dark theme change every website I visit in Safari?
No. This setting controls Google Search pages. It does not set a dark appearance for other websites.
Which option makes Google black on a Mac?
Select Dark theme in Google Search Appearance settings and save the change.
Can I make Google Search switch automatically at night?
Select Device default in Google. Google then follows the device’s current color scheme; automatic switching depends on the device appearance setting.
Why does my Google setting not appear on another device?
Set it on that device as well if needed. Google says signing in helps save the choice across supported desktop or mobile devices.
