Skip to Content

How to Enable Dark Mode in the Gmail iOS App

by

gmail logoSince the release of iOS 13, Apple has included a system-wide Dark Mode option for iPhones and iPads, similar to the one it brought to the Mac in 2018 with the release of macOS Mojave.

Many third-party app developers have since added support for Dark mode to their apps, although it has to be said that some popular apps have been quicker than others.

On September 24, 2019, Google announced a new dark mode for its Gmail app, but rollout of the feature has been glacially slow. Fast forward to December, and the option still isn't showing up for all its users. You can follow the steps below to find out if it's available for you.

Okay, But Why Should I Use Dark Mode in Gmail?

The Dark theme in Gmail is designed to be easier on the eyes by providing less harsh display brightness in situations where ambient lighting is lower, while maintaining contrast and vibrancy.

gmail app dark mode
If you have an OLED iPhone, such as an iPhone X, iPhone XS, or iPhone 11 Pro, enabling ‌Dark Mode‌ can also conserve battery life, since black pixels in an OLED panel basically switch off and consume far less power.

How to Enable Dark Mode in Gmail for iOS

  1. Launch the Gmail app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap the Menu icon (the three lines) in the top-left corner of the screen.
  3. Scroll down and tap Settings.
    2how to enable dark mode in the gmail app for ios

  4. Tap Theme. (If you don't see the option, try force-quitting and then relaunching the app.)
  5. Select Light, Dark, or System default. The latter option makes Gmail's theme default to your device's system settings, which is a useful option if you've set the appearance of iOS to change automatically depending on the time of day.
    1how to enable dark mode in the gmail app for ios

Note that if your device is running iOS 11 or iOS 12, you'll see a Dark theme toggle instead of a Theme submenu in the Settings screen.

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Mock Quick

iOS 27 Will Reportedly Be Like Mac OS X Snow Leopard

Sunday March 15, 2026 9:42 am PDT by
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that iOS 27 will be similar to 2009's Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense that one of Apple's biggest priorities is bug fixes for improved performance and stability. During WWDC 2008's State of the Union, Apple showed a slide that said Mac OS X Snow Leopard had "0 new features," as it opted to focus on performance and...
AirPods Max 2 Feature

Apple Announces AirPods Max 2 With H2 Chip and More

Monday March 16, 2026 6:12 am PDT by
Apple today unveiled AirPods Max 2, with key upgrades including the H2 chip, increased active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and features such as Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation. The new AirPods Max have the same overall design as the previous generation, with most of the new features coming from the upgrade to the H2 chip:- Adaptive ...
apple design award 2025

Apple Announces 2025 Design Award Winners Ahead of WWDC 2025

Tuesday June 3, 2025 10:14 am PDT by
As we wait for WWDC to kick off next Monday, Apple today announced the winners of its annual Apple Design Awards, recognizing apps and games for their innovation, ingenuity, and technical achievement. The 2025 Apple Design Award winners are listed below, with one app and one game selected per category: Delight and Fun - CapWords (App) and Balatro (Game) Innovation - Play (App) and PBJ -...