Google has officially rolled out the much-anticipated dark mode for its Google Drive web service, providing users with a more visually comfortable browsing experience. This new feature, already available on the Google Drive mobile app, was one of the most requested by users and is now being introduced to the web version after years of anticipation.
Dark Mode for Google Drive: What You Need to Know
The rollout of dark mode for Google Drive began on April 16, 2024, and is expected to be fully implemented globally within 15 days. This new theme option aims to offer a less strenuous viewing experience, especially in low-light environments, reducing the glare from the traditionally bright background.
Who Gets Access?
Google has made dark mode available to a broad spectrum of its users, including:
- Personal Google Accounts – with the standard 15 GB of free Drive storage.
- Google Workspace customers – across various tiers such as Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, and Enterprise.
- Google Workspace Individual subscribers.
How to Enable Dark Mode in Google Drive
Activating dark mode in Google Drive is straightforward:
- Open Google Drive and click on the gear icon in the upper right corner to access ‘Settings’.
- Under the ‘General’ section, find ‘Appearance’.
- Choose ‘Dark’ to switch to dark mode. Alternatively, selecting ‘Device Default’ will align Drive’s theme with your computer’s current color scheme.
What Changes with Dark Mode?
The dark theme changes the color scheme of Google Drive’s user interface, including the sidebar and search bar, which will appear in light gray, while most other elements will be in dark gray, almost black. This feature is designed to make the viewing of files and folders on Google Drive easier on the eyes.
It’s important to note that the dark mode only affects the interface and not the content itself. Documents, spreadsheets, and presentations will still display a white background during editing.
Další funkce a přizpůsobení
Beyond dark mode, Google Drive offers several customization options. Users can choose their default landing page and adjust the spacing between files with ‘Comfortable,’ ‘Pleasant,’ and ‘Compact’ density settings. The platform also allows for file conversion to Google Docs format upon upload and enables offline editing and file creation—though with a caveat about real-time collaboration.
Expanding Dark Mode Across Google Services
With this update, Google Drive joins other Google services like Keep, Chat, Gmail, the search engine, and Youtube, which already have dark mode functionality. This continued expansion of dark mode across Google’s platforms reflects the company’s commitment to user comfort and accessibility.
This enhancement not only improves the usability of Google Drive but also aligns with broader digital trends emphasizing comfort and customization in user interfaces. As dark mode becomes a standard feature across more platforms, users can enjoy a more cohesive and eye-friendly experience across their devices.
