Dark Mode in Notion offers a sleek, eye-friendly interface that enhances your productivity. In this comprehensive 2024 guide, we’ll show you how to enable and customize Dark Mode in Notion. Follow our step-by-step instructions to transform your Notion workspace, improve visibility, and reduce eye strain. Whether you’re a Notion beginner or an experienced user, this guide provides everything you need to make the most out of Notion’s Dark Mode features.
If you're like me and prefer using all your screen devices and apps in the dark mode because the light mode is just too blinding, then you know the frustration of opening Notion and finding it in light mode. Sure, pressing the shortcut to switch to dark mode is quick, but why not make the change permanent if dark mode is your go-to?
Dark mode isn't just about aesthetics; it offers real benefits like reduced eye strain, especially in low-light environments, and improved battery life on devices with OLED or AMOLED screens. This blog is the perfect step-by-step guide to help you easily switch to dark mode in Notion. We’ll cover everything you need to know, including the benefits of using dark mode in Notion, step-by-step instructions on how to enable it, tips for customizing dark mode to fit your personal preferences, and how to create dark mode-enabled Notion Sites.
How to Enable Dark Mode in Notion
On Desktop
Open Notion: Launch Notion on your desktop. The first step is to ensure the application is up and running.
Access Settings: On the left-hand sidebar, find and click on "Settings & members" at the top. This will open a new settings window.
Navigate to Appearance: In the new window that appears, look at the sidebar and click on the tab labeled "My notifications & settings".
Choose Dark Mode: In the "My notifications & settings" section, find the "Appearance" dropdown menu. Here, you will see three options: "Use system setting", "Light", and "Dark". Select "Dark" to enable dark mode.
Select Use system setting to follow your system appearance setting.
Select Light to display light mode.
Select Dark to display dark mode.
On Mobile
Open Notion App: Launch the Notion app on your mobile device. Make sure you have the latest version installed for the best experience.
Open Sidebar: In the app, tap on the ••• icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen. This will open the sidebar menu.
Go to Settings: Within the sidebar menu, tap on "Settings". Scroll down until you reach the "Appearance" section.
Select Dark Mode: In the "Appearance" section, use the dropdown menu to choose "Dark". This will switch your Notion app to dark mode. If you ever wish to revert, you can follow the same steps and select "Light" or "Use system setting".
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
On Mac
Open Notion: Launch the Notion app on your Mac.
Activate Dark Mode: Press Cmd + Shift + L. This keyboard shortcut will instantly toggle between light and dark mode.
On Windows
Open Notion: Start by opening the Notion app on your Windows PC.
Activate Dark Mode: Press Ctrl + Shift + L. This will switch Notion between light and dark mode instantly.
Using these keyboard shortcuts is a quick and efficient way to switch to dark mode without navigating through menus.
How to Enable Dark Mode on Notion Sites
Notion upgraded its "Publish" button to include a full suite of features, making it easier than ever to create personal websites, portfolios, travel guides, and more. Now you can transform any page you create into a stunning website with a single click.
Enabling dark mode for your Notion Sites can enhance readability and provide a more cohesive look, especially if your personal or brand aesthetic leans towards darker themes.
Step 1: Publish a Notion Site
Open the page you want to publish: Navigate to the Notion page you want to make public and ensure it contains all the content you want to share.
Select Share at the top: Click on the "Share" button located at the top right corner of the page to open the sharing options.
Open the Publish tab: Within the sharing options, switch to the "Publish" tab to access the publishing settings for your site.
Select Publish: Click the "Publish" button to make your Notion page live on the web. This action transforms your Notion page into a publicly accessible website.
Select View site: After publishing, click on "View site" to see your Notion Site live on the web. Any changes made to the content of the published Notion page will automatically update on the site.
Step 2: Set a Theme
Navigate to Publish > Site customization: In the sharing options, go to the "Publish" section and then select "Site customization" to access the theme settings.
Under Theme, select System, Light, or Dark: Choose your preferred theme from the options available. "System" will follow your device's theme settings, "Light" sets a bright theme, and "Dark" applies a darker aesthetic.
Note that additional theme options may only be available if you are on a Paid plan. As a Free plan user, you might not have access to all theme settings.
Click “Publish changes”at the top of the screen
Discussions and Common Issues (in Notion Communities)
X and Reddit Notion communities are buzzing with opinions about Notion’s dark mode. Some users are calling for new features, others are asking for more color customization, and some just aren’t fans of the new dark mode at all. In this section, we’ll dive into some common topics of discussion so you can get a better idea of what might work best for you.
A constant topic of discussion is Notion’s new and old versions of dark mode. The previous dark mode had a greyish background, while the newest version features a dark black background with dark grey property text, making it harder to read for some users. The new dark mode is great for late-night work, but less suitable for daytime use. Many users suggest that the best solution would be to offer a theme selection option, allowing them to choose between the old and new color schemes. Additionally, introducing a color HEX selector for text and backgrounds would give users the flexibility to customize their Notion experience further. At the very least, keeping the old dark mode as an option would have been appreciated by users.
To these suggestions, a Notion employee explained: "Four separate color schemes are already a lot to maintain in our code base — if we kept the old dark mode too, that would add even more complexity, slowing down our development process.”
After the launch of the new dark mode, users encountered issues with blending widgets into the dark black background. This sparked discussions, leading to the suggestion of using Indify widgets with a background color of #191919. Indify allows users to enhance their Notion documents with customizable widgets, such as charts, maps, calendars, forms, and embedded media. To add an Indify widget:
Create or choose a widget from Indify's website.
Customize the widget and copy the URL provided at the bottom left corner of the page.
In Notion, navigate to the page where you want to add the widget, type '/embed', paste the copied URL, and select "Create Embed".
A common issue faced by Notion users is that the app randomly toggles between light and dark modes. While Notion hasn’t fixed this bug yet, there are a few solutions you can try.
Match OS Theme: If you want Notion to always match your OS theme, go to "Notification and Settings" and set the appearance to "Use system settings." This will sync Notion's theme with your device's light or dark mode.
Set a Fixed Theme: If you prefer Notion to stay in a specific theme regardless of your OS settings, you can use shortcut keys to toggle between light and dark modes. This is useful since the theme may change randomly due to the bug.
Additional Solutions: If these solutions don’t work, you can refer to this thread for more troubleshooting tips and potential fixes.
By following these steps, you can mitigate the issue until a permanent fix is provided by Notion.
Advantages of Using Dark Mode in Notion
Reduced Eye Strain
Dark mode lessens glare and eye fatigue, especially in low-light environments.
Enhanced Sleep Quality
Reduces blue light emission, making it easier to fall asleep after late-night work.
Improved Battery Life
Extends battery life on OLED and AMOLED screens by using less power for darker pixels.
Modern Aesthetic
Offers a sleek, professional look that many users find visually appealing.
Accessibility
Easier on the eyes for users with visual impairments or sensitivity to bright light.
User Testimonials on Dark Mode
Chris, a renowned Notion template creator, conducted a poll on X (formerly Twitter) to see if people preferred Notion in dark or light mode. The results showed a clear preference for dark mode, though light mode still had its share of fans.
Opinions on Notion's dark mode have been mixed since its introduction, reflecting the diverse preferences among users. While many appreciate the eye comfort and sleek look of dark mode, others stick with light mode for its clarity and brightness.
Specific scenarios where dark mode is especially beneficial
After reading numerous X and Reddit threads, we've identified several scenarios where Notion users particularly prefer dark mode over light mode. Some of these scenarios include:
Certain templates look more aesthetic in dark mode, appealing to users who want their Notion pages to have a sleek and stylish appearance. This also helps creators cater to buyers who prefer dark mode.
Users often switch to dark mode at night or in low light settings. This reduces eye strain and helps them wind down, making it easier to transition to sleep.
Dark mode can be beneficial for extended work sessions, providing a more comfortable viewing experience and reducing the glare from white backgrounds.
FAQs
Does Notion switch to dark mode automatically?
Notion can switch to dark mode automatically if you choose the "Use system setting" option. This matches Notion's appearance with your device's system settings, switching between light and dark modes based on your device's current mode.
Can I keep dark mode always enabled in Notion?
Yes, you can keep dark mode always enabled by selecting the "Dark" option in the Appearance settings. This ensures Notion remains in dark mode regardless of your system settings.
How is Notion's dark mode different from the dark mode of Notion Sites?
Notion dark mode applies to your app's interface, while the dark mode for Notion Sites affects the appearance of published pages. The latter requires customization through the site settings.
Do Notion Sites have a dark mode? Does it change automatically?
Yes, Notion Sites can have a dark mode. You can set it manually in the site customization settings. However, it doesn't change automatically unless you select the "System" theme, which syncs with your device's settings.
Does Notion have a keyboard shortcut for dark mode?
Yes, Notion has a keyboard shortcut for dark mode. On Mac, press Cmd + Shift + L, and on Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + L to toggle between light and dark modes.
What are the color codes for Notion dark mode?
Here are the color codes used in Notion dark mode:
Background color: #17212B
Sidebar color: #1E262F
Text color: #FFFFFF
Accent color: #4CBFAC
Code block background color: #212B36
Can I customize the colors of Notion dark mode?
Currently, Notion does not offer built-in options to customize the dark mode colors. You can use browser extensions for more customization. Refer to this guide to customize the CSS of Notion.
How does dark/light mode affect my battery life?
Dark mode can help extend battery life, especially on devices with OLED or AMOLED screens, as these displays consume less power when displaying black pixels.
Is Notion dark mode available for all mobile devices and operating systems?
Notion dark mode is available for all mobile devices and operating systems. However, if you want to turn on/off dark mode on a mobile device, your phone or tablet must support the dark mode feature. For iOS users, dark mode is available only on iOS 13 or later. Check if your device supports these systems by visiting Apple's Forum list.
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