Guide · Open source

How to use Dark Reader: install, settings and tips

Updated 2026-10-29 · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

Dark Reader is a free, open-source browser extension that analyzes the web pages you visit and generates a dark color scheme for them. It is aimed at people who read the web at night or in dim rooms and want less eyestrain without setting dark mode site by site. This guide explains where to install it, how to adjust its look, how to handle sites that don't darken well, and how developers can use it on their own websites.

Dark Readerdarkreader/darkreader · ★ 22.6k · MIT Install options & downloads

Quick start

1Install the extension. Add Dark Reader from the Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, Edge Add-ons, the Safari page or Thunderbird Add-ons.
2Open a page and click the icon. Visit a website and click the Dark Reader icon in your toolbar to generate a dark version of the page.
3Adjust the look. Use the settings in the interface to customize brightness, contrast and sepia.
4Enable site fixes if needed. Turn on the Synchronize sites fixes setting manually through Dev tools and Advanced settings if a site looks wrong.
5Reload the page. Reload any page after changing settings so the new look applies.

Install Dark Reader in your browser

Dark Reader is published for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari and Thunderbird. Open the extension page for your browser from the links in the project README (Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, Edge Add-ons, the Safari page on darkreader.org, or Thunderbird Add-ons) and add it like any other extension.

The README lists no separate prerequisites for normal browser use. The official store listings are the simplest route; building from source is only needed if you want to make your own build.

Chrome and Edge: install from the Chrome Web Store or Edge Add-ons listing.
Firefox: install from Firefox Add-ons.
Safari: follow the Safari page at darkreader.org.
Thunderbird: install from Thunderbird Add-ons.

Turn dark mode on for a page

After installation, open a website and click the Dark Reader extension icon in your browser toolbar. The extension analyzes the page and generates a dark version of it. Click the icon again to turn the effect off for the current page.

Because Dark Reader aims to reduce eyestrain rather than match a fixed design, some pages will look better than others. Check the result on sites you use often.

Adjust brightness, contrast and sepia

Dark Reader is customizable through its interface. The README describes fine control over how pages look, and the developer API uses the same three settings: brightness, contrast and sepia. Lowering brightness and adding a little sepia can make pages easier on the eyes in a dim room.

The values below are examples of the settings the API accepts. They show the parameters, not recommended values for you.

brightness: adjusts how bright the darkened page is.
contrast: adjusts the contrast of the darkened page.
sepia: adds a warm tint to the page.

DarkReader.enable({
    brightness: 100,
    contrast: 90,
    sepia: 10
});

Fix sites that don't look right

Dark Reader relies on site fixes to improve how certain websites are darkened. The README explains that automatic syncing of site fixes for all users was disabled, because GitHub does not allow it to be used as a CDN. Each new release includes the latest changes.

You can turn on automatic syncing manually. Open the extension, click Dev tools in the bottom-right corner, go to Advanced and click Preview new design. Close the developer tools window, click the extension icon again, then go to Settings, Advanced and enable Synchronize sites fixes.

Open the extension and click the Dev tools button in the bottom-right corner.
Go to Advanced and click Preview new design.
Close the developer tools window and click the extension icon again.
Go to Settings, then Advanced, and enable Synchronize sites fixes.

Enable Dark Reader on restricted pages in Firefox

By default, Firefox's security restrictions stop Dark Reader from working on some sites. The README describes a way to lift these restrictions, but it changes settings that apply to all extensions, not just Dark Reader, and exposes you to a security risk if you do not know what you are doing.

Only follow these steps if you understand the risk, and make sure you have no suspicious extensions installed. The README also asks you to reset those preferences to their defaults afterwards if you changed them. Skip this section if you do not need restricted pages.

In Dark Reader, enable Enable on restricted pages under Settings, then Advanced.
In Firefox, open about:config and accept the risk warning.
Set extensions.webextensions.restrictedDomains to an empty value.
Set privacy.resistFingerprinting.block_mozAddonManager to true.
Reload the page.

Use Dark Reader on your own website

Web developers can offer dark mode on their own site using the npm package or a CDN build. The README lists three options: install from NPM, build from source with the api script, or include the script from unpkg or jsDelivr.

The API provides enable, disable, auto and exportGeneratedCSS, plus an isEnabled check. Auto follows the system color scheme. Be aware that Dark Reader adds a chrome object onto the window object to stub certain functions.

Install with npm install darkreader, or include the script from unpkg or jsDelivr.
Call DarkReader.enable() and DarkReader.disable() to switch the mode.
Call DarkReader.auto() to follow the system color scheme, and DarkReader.auto(false) to stop watching it.

npm install darkreader

Build Dark Reader from source

If you want your own build, the README says to clone the repository and use Node.js or Deno as the build runtime. Node.js is recommended; the README says any version at or above 15 will work, and recommends LTS or higher. Deno support is experimental.

Running the build creates a Chromium zip and a Firefox xpi in build/release. You can list all build flags with the help option.

Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/darkreader/darkreader
Open the terminal in the project root and run npm install.
Run npm run build. Add flags with npm run build -- [flags], or see all flags with npm run build -- --help.

git clone https://github.com/darkreader/darkreader
npm install
npm run build

What people use it for

Reading news and long articles at night with less glare.
Using one dark mode tool across Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari and Thunderbird.
Adding a dark mode option to your own website with the npm package or CDN build.
Fine-tuning brightness, contrast and sepia on pages you read often.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dark Reader free?

Yes. The README describes Dark Reader as a free, open-source, MIT-licensed browser extension. You can read the license and source code in the project repository.

How do I install Dark Reader?

Install it from the official store listing for your browser: Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, Edge Add-ons, the Safari page on darkreader.org, or Thunderbird Add-ons. Building from source is optional.

Why doesn't Dark Reader work on some pages in Firefox?

Firefox security restrictions block Dark Reader on some sites by default. The README describes a workaround in Settings and about:config, but it changes settings for all extensions and carries a security risk.

Why does a site look wrong with Dark Reader?

Dark Reader aims to reduce eyestrain and does not guarantee a perfect dark theme on every site. Site fixes can improve some pages, but automatic syncing is off by default and must be enabled manually.

Can I use Dark Reader on my own website?

Yes. The README says you can install the darkreader npm package or include the script from unpkg or jsDelivr, then control it with DarkReader.enable, disable and auto.

What are alternatives to Dark Reader?

The project lists Stylus, Midnight Lizard and Night Eye as comparable projects. This guide does not compare their features, so check each one before choosing.

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Our verdict

Dark Reader suits people who browse a lot in low light, want one dark mode tool across several browsers, or want fine control over brightness, contrast and sepia. Developers who want dark mode on their own site will also find the npm package and CDN builds useful. If you need a guaranteed perfect dark theme on every site, a system-wide dark mode, or Firefox restricted-page access without changing security settings, pick a different tool.

Install options & downloads