Update 2 (09/09/2021 @ 7:56 PM ET): Google has finally announced that the dark theme in Google Search Desktop is rolling out, though you may have had it already. Click here for more information. The article, as published on February 11, 2021, is preserved below.

Google has begun testing a dark mode for Google Search on Windows 10 and macOS. As is usually the case with Google’s feature rollouts, this one too seems to be part of an A/B test, and as such, it’s not available for everyone just yet.

Many users on Windows and macOS are receiving a notification (via Windows Latest) inviting them to try out a new dark theme, which, once enabled, turns the Google Search pages to dark gray for a comfortable nighttime reading experience. Users will have the option to set the theme to Light, Dark, and System Default. Setting the option to System Default will match the current theme of your operating system. Notably, the dark mode has been available on Google Search for Android for months now, but it’s only now that Google is bringing it to desktop users.

Google Search Dark mode notification

Google has been testing the dark theme on Search since late last year, with many users reporting to have their Search pages turned dark gray out of nowhere. At the time, Google experimented with the new dark theme with a tiny subset of users and even reverted it in a few days. But this time around, the testing seems to be broader. I received the dark theme notification in Microsoft Edge last evening, but I accidentally clicked on "No thanks" and couldn’t trigger it again.

Google Search Dark mode

If it’s not available on your desktop yet, you always have the option to use force dark mode (if you're using a Chromium-based browser) or use an extension like Dark Reader, which lets you apply a dark theme to any website.

The dark theme for Google Search on desktop comes as part of Google’s broader push to add a dark mode to its every app and service. Over the last year, we have seen many Google products gaining a native dark mode, including the Google Pay app, Google Translate, Google Docs, Google Chrome on desktop, and many more.

Update 1: Google Search's new dark theme is rolling out widely on the desktop

Google Search on the desktop is finally receiving the much-awaited dark theme which has been in the works since last year. Similar to earlier rollouts, users are seeing a notification inviting them to try out the dark theme. This time Google is also adding a toggle in the top right corner to let users quickly turn on or off the dark theme.

Update 2: Dark theme now available for all users

Hung F., a Product Support Manager on Google Search, announced today that the dark theme in Google Search Desktop is rolling out for all users this week. The dark theme applies to the Google homepage, search results page, Search settings, and more. The Product Support Manager also provided instructions on how to turn on the dark theme, which we've reproduced below.

Here's how it works:
  1. At the top right, click Settings     Search settings.
  2. On the left, click Appearance.
  3. Choose Device default, Dark, or Light,
    • Device default: Automatically match the color scheme of your current device
    • Dark: Light text on a dark background
    • Light: Dark text on a light background
  4. At the bottom, click Save.