Google is testing dark mode for desktop search

Google is testing a dark mode for desktop search, Google confirmed to The edge. If the test has been deployed for you and your system is set to dark mode, the background of Google search pages will be a very dark gray.

Here’s an example of what dark mode looks like:

It is not known to what extent the test has been deployed. A few Edge staff members automatically switched their search pages to dark mode, and 9to5Google and some people sure Twitter have also seen the new dark mode. But Google’s search pages are still white for me, even though dark mode is enabled on macOS right now.

It’s also unclear if or when Dark Mode for Desktop Search could be officially rolled out more widely. “We are always testing new ways to improve our experience for our users, but we have nothing specific to announce at this time,” Google said in a statement to The edge.

This isn’t the first time that a dark desktop search mode has appeared: 9to5Google reported in January that some people were seeing dark mode then.

If you’re a dark mode fan, it’s been a hectic few days. Twitter’s dark mode changes surprised some people last week when their dark mode unexpectedly turned even darker. And Microsoft is currently testing changes to Word to make entire documents dark when using dark mode.

Updated February 10, 5:18 p.m. ET: Google confirmed to The edge that this deployment was a test, so we’ve updated the title and article to reflect that.