this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023
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Since I got a nice extension called Dark Reader for Safari on my Mac I fell in love with that extension, now I can't stand webpages which do not support system based dark mode, and this happens on Android too.

I am using Chrome as my default browser and since it does not support extensions I think it would be hard to achieve this.

Do you know about a workaround for this?

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You should use Firefox for Android which has really good support for Dark Reader. It also supports uBlock Origin, so the adblocking is unmatched. You just press addons then press + on Dark Reader. I have the dark mode sync to my system settings.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use Pixel Launcher does Firefox merge well with the Google Search 'widget'?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

If I remember right the google search widget searches within the google app, but then opens link results in your default browser, or in the "in app browser" webview thing (depending on your settings in the google app), so if you set Firefox as your default, and set the google app to use an external browser then it should integrate just fine. And for me, when I have firefox set as my browser it uses firefox for the in app browser when apps are set to use that, so I think it should integrate just fine, even if you just set it as your default browser

Frankly just download the firefox app and try it out, its not like it costs anything to try it, see if you like the dark mode, see if things work the way you want when you set it as your browser, etc.. Past a certain point, no one can tell you your ideal solution- go try some options and see if you can come up with a set up that works for you.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank you, this helps me as well.

I'm gonna try it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Hope you're able to find something that's a good fit for your needs :)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Kiwi would be a possible alternative. It's a Chromium based webbrowser that supports dark mode websites natively. As if that wasn't enough it also supports extensions. You can simply install those from the Chromium webstore. So if its native dark mode implementation isn't to your liking, you could use one of your preferred extensions. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kiwibrowser.browser

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Interesting, but if I'm walking away from chrome, wouldn't Firefox be a better alternative, as suggested by another user here?

I'm trying to get the full picture as I'm "maining" Chrome since I moved from iOS to Android in 2020 😅

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yes, Firefox would also be a great alternative. Chromium itself, on which kiwi is based, is a open source webbrowser supported by large corporations. As you were already using chrome, kiwi will bring you a more familiar experience.

The underlying blink engine, which these browsers (chromium, kiwi, edge, opera, Samsung, etc) use, has a combined market share of over 70%(over 80% on desktop). This can be both a positive or a negative. For you the user, it ensures compatibility. Every website with any kind of active development, will run in your browser, as who would ignore over 70% of the market?

Though while it is open source, having one engine this big, and being mostly backed by large corporations, will possibly bring issues similar to the internet explorer days of old. A stagnating non open standardized web. This makes our support for alternatives a possible necessity to ensure a open and free web.

Firefox is a great alternative, though of course with its own quirks. Being on the smaller side, though rare, means website support isn't always there, so that would be something you'd have to be able to deal with. I would definitely try the browser yourself and see if it fits the purpose you seek.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can as some said use the hidden option in the chrome://flags menu but it is not convenient to use and not customizable as you can't enable it on a per-domain basis, although other browsers like Firefox do offer a much more convenient and customizable way to force dark mode using extensions like the one I'm currently using which is dark reader which you can use to force pitch black mode if you are a fan of not just dark which is more OLED friendly and looks better IMO

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah, for now I am using the chrome://flags method, but I am on my way to check if I finally got back to FF since many years ago.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It works with flags, just like on desktop. Go to chrome://flags in your address bar and search for "dark". You'll find "Auto dark mode...". Enable it, restart chrome. Done.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But this will force them to go black regardless if the website does not support it?

Also I wouldn't want it to be dark all the time, only when my system is set in dark mode.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Yes, this forces all websites into dark mode, regardless of whether they support it. Based on your title, I assumed that's what you wanted.

Very few websites have already extended their stylesheets for dark mode. If you want more control, I would also recommend a browser that supports extensions (I use Firefox).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, that is what I want, but I was thinking this would trigger dark web pages even when my phone is set at light mode, It seems that this is not the case, pretty much this solution is perfect for me right now.

I still will consider FF, especially if I find a way to keep it synced with Safari.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes, use Vivaldi or Samsung browser. They're basically Chrome, but without Google telemetry and with an optional "make all webpages dark" setting without the need of an additional extension

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

But is this auto/system? I also use a light theme, so I wouldn't want to go full dark all the time.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

vivaldi is full dark all the time except the UI which can be light, don't know about samsung browser that i don't use it

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not with chrome, but a lot of browsers support that. I'm using via, and it auto switches to dark mode.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Via? I have never heard of that.