While many of us have been excited about all the new features that came out with Android Oreo, including picture-in-picture, notification dots, and auto-fill, we can’t help but wonder if they will work with our favorite Chromebooks. Well, according to Google product manager Kan Liu, some new features will be supported on the Pixelbook, Samsung Chromebook Plus and Pro, ASUS Chromebook Flip C302CA, and Acer Chromebook R13 (and newer). Although that doesn’t seem like a whole lot of devices at the moment, it’s promising news nonetheless.
Turn your brightness all the way down
This is the first and most obvious step: turn your Chromebook’s brightness all the way down. This won’t give you a perfect dark mode, but it will help. You can find the brightness setting in the device section of your settings. If you have an older laptop that only has physical buttons, check under Device Settings for the Brightness slider.
Once you have adjusted your brightness level, adjust your other settings accordingly. For example, if you are using an app like Google Docs or Word (especially in dark mode), set your text size to be small or medium-small. You can also reduce the number of tabs open by closing tabs as they are no longer needed. And lastly, use Chrome’s incognito window so that when you close the browser tab, all sites close out with it. If you’re still looking for more, try turning off the screensaver and/or desktop background. It’s worth trying this if you feel like your eyesight needs less strain from an intensive screen.
Download f.lux
If you’re looking for a way to mostly achieve dark mode on your Chromebook, one option is to download the f.lux app. f.lux is a free app that adjusts your screen’s color temperature based on the time of day, making it easier on your eyes at night. Here’s how to get started 1) Head over to the Google Play Store
2) Search for f.lux
3) Install and open the app
4) Turn off Display brightness from within the f.lux settings panel Within the f.lux settings panel there is an option to turn off display brightness. When turned on, this will result in an experience similar to using macOS Night Shift or Windows Night Light.
5) Use Bluelight filter: Bluelight filter can be installed as an extension from Chrome Web Store and will make your screens dimmer without compromising clarity (or battery life).
6) Use F.Lux shortcuts: You can also use a shortcut command if you want to avoid opening up the settings menu every time.
Use Incognito Mode
If you want to achieve dark mode on your Chromebook, one way to do so is to use Incognito Mode. This mode will turn the majority of your screen black, making it easier on your eyes when browsing the web at night. Plus, it’ll help conserve battery life. Here’s how to activate Incognito Mode:
- Open Chrome and click on the three dots in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Click New incognito window.
- Type in the URL that you need to access and hit enter.
- You’re all set! When you’re done with this, just close out of Incognito Mode by clicking on the X in the upper right hand corner of your browser window. Next time you visit the site, it should load up in normal mode again. You can also change your default browser setting to Dark or Night as an alternative to using Incognito Mode.
- Put Your Chromebook into Night Mode: Another easy trick for achieving dark mode on a Chromebook is by switching over to Night Mode while browsing the web or watching videos.
Activate Night Light
Assuming your Chromebook has been updated with the latest software, you should be able to activate Night Light by going to your settings. Click Device and then Display. Look for the slider labeled Night Light and slide it to the On position. You can also schedule when you want Night Light to come on automatically. For example, if you know that after 5pm you’ll start watching TV or reading for an hour or two, set Night Light to turn on at 6pm. Once activated (and assuming you’ve already set up an automatic update of all apps), Chrome will switch from its bright white interface to a dark interface after sunset.