Force Dark Mode for Web in Microsoft Edge

[Corrine]

From How to force enable dark mode for web contents in Microsoft Edge?:

Forced dark mode for web contents is a feature that came with Google Chrome version 78. As the new Microsoft Edge browser also uses the chromium engine, it also inherits this feature. Many of you might not know about this feature and how to enable it in Microsoft Edge.

This feature can be turned ON by enabling a browser flag.

To find out how to enable this setting in the referenced article scroll down to "How to enable dark mode for web contents in Microsoft Edge?" After following those steps, Microsoft Edge will automatically apply dark mode to all web pages.

 

[Digerati]

I note that article is nearly 3 years old. Does Edge still work the same way as back then? Is that procedure different from just enabling Dark Mode through Edge Settings > Appearance > Overall appearance > Dark?

 

[Corrine]

Thanks, Bill. I came across the article via a Windows Insider MVP. Actually, I had missed the addition of that option from three years ago as well as via Settings. Both methods work.

 

[Digerati]

Thanks, Corrine. I probably should have just tried both methods to see if I got the same results. I guess I was being lazy. Thanks for checking it out.

 

[Corrine]

Actually, I hadn't tried both methods. Rather, I looked at the settings and it appeared to me that they accomplished the same. However, they didn't. With the setting edge://flags/#enable-force-dark following a restart, Sysnative is now in dark mode.

 

[Digerati]

Thanks for that (the information and the thoroughness).

That said, not sure I like the idea Edge changing the appearance of forums when forum members have the option to choose the appearance.

I am going to have to play around with the settings, and think about that for a bit.

 

[Digerati]

You are right - it definitely flips to dark. It is not perfect - the flag in my sig, for example, for me is not right. Neither are the thumbs up "Thanks" emojis or your rose avatar.

 

[Corrine]

Curiously, of the sites that I checked, it only seemed to be here that the images were off with the forced dark mode.

 

[Digerati]

I am seeing a mixed bag. Your rose, for example, looks good at LzD. But my flag is not always displayed right.

I wonder if it depends on the theme set on the site?

 

[Corday]

Hold the left mouse button and drag over the flag. Some colors become invisible in dark mode but appear when highlighting.

 

[Digerati]

They are not invisible - more like the contrast is way off. The red and white stripes, for example, are mostly red and black. And when I click and drag to highlight, everything turns blue.

 

[Digerati]

Hmm, well, I have to undo it. The grid here is totally washed out - at least for these 70 year old eyes.

 

[Corrine]

I wish there was a way to select or exclude sites.

 

[Digerati]

I wish there was a way to select or exclude sites.

That's an excellent idea. If only we knew someone who was an insider to the Windows development teams who could suggest that!

 

[Corday]

LOL, yes I know who you were not so subtly referring to. BTW, whenever I'm supposed to hear back from the MS Development Team, it never happens. I wonder if they're really aliens and the X Files wasn't fiction.

 

[Corrine]

I did a search at Microsoft Edge Insider and found this extension: Dark Mode. Since it is dinner time here, I'll experiment with it later.

 

[Digerati]

I just installed that extension - it has problems.

Corrine's rose and my flag look good. But up top, the address bar and favorites bar are all in the light theme.

But the crossword puzzle grid is unchanged - meaning the puzzle itself looks the same as in light mode. But the rest of the page is in dark mode.

And there is a big bug with selecting text in dark mode. I can't!

 

[Corrine]

Address bar and favorites bar are in the dark mode for me -- here and at LzD.

I would think the puzzle is likely best with a white background. Anyway, you could click the icon in the taskbar and turn off dark mode when on that site.

And there is a big bug with selecting text in dark mode. I can't!

That is strange. I didn't have a problem selecting text to quote you.

 

[Digerati]

It is odd.

I can select text in your posts above no problem. But in this text box I am editing now, I cannot select text I have just typed.

Yes, the crossword puzzle definitely is better with a white background. But the entire page looks odd with dark mode everywhere else.

 

[Corrine]

I see what you mean about not being able to select text you have just typed. With the extension, I can select text I've just typed in light mode but not dark mode.