Those days are over now, though, with a new update from Android that has substantially expanded the dark theme mode, even to apps that don’t offer that kind of customizable functionality.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/android-16-qpr1-notifications-unread.jpg\"\/)
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Related<\/p>\n
\t\t My favorite Android 16 customizations after trial and error<\/p>\n Expanded dark theme is here<\/p>\n We’re in the dark ages now<\/p>\n If you’re an avid dark mode user like me, you know that not every app follows suit.<\/p>\n While the majority of the Android operating system will present in a dark theme, some apps won’t go dark, no matter what settings you change.<\/p>\n In the most recent update to the Android operating system, however, Pixel phones were granted the ability to take dark mode to the next level.<\/p>\n Dubbed “Expanded dark theme,” this new feature forces these non-compliant apps into dark mode, whether they want to or not.<\/p>\n That’s right, apps like TikTok<\/a>, FitBit, and even the Foxtrot loyalty app are made completely black in this mode, finally removing the brutally bright white background they forced on us over the years.<\/p>\n How to enable the expanded dark mode<\/p>\n The time for negotiation is over<\/p>\n If you’re tired of looking at white backgrounds after you’ve clearly opted for the dark mode experience, you are very much not alone.<\/p>\n This new feature is as easy to find as it is a breath of fresh air, and I’ll walk you through the basics so you can take advantage as well.<\/p>\n For starters, you’ll want to go to the Settings menu, as these kinds of walkthroughs often start. Then, you’ll scroll down and select the Display & touch menu.<\/p>\n There, you’ll find the Dark theme menu near the bottom of your display, and you’ll want to click the menu, not the actual toggle.<\/p>\n In that menu, you’ll see the Standard dark theme option, and below that is the Expanded dark theme option.<\/p>\n There is a little explainer beneath it to give you a better idea of what you’re agreeing to, along with a toggle button to get started. After you press that, you’re all set to avoid white backgrounds for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n It’s also worth noting that, while this feature is only available on Pixel devices right now, that may not be the case moving forward.<\/p>\n Expanded dark mode is a native Android 16 feature from the QPR2 update, so brands like Samsung and Motorola could add the functionality to their devices in the future.<\/p>\n Related<\/p>\n \t\t My eyes needed this<\/p>\n It’s far from perfect<\/p>\n But it gets the job done<\/p>\n Now, I must admit, while I was impressed with this feature at the start, I did notice some notable caveats to using the Expanded dark theme that could be a bit of a dealbreaker for some users.<\/p>\n Right out of the gate, the dark mode that is forced upon apps that are incompatible with the Standard dark theme is not the aesthetically pleasing dark mode we’ve come to love over the last few years.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tI spent hours customizing Android 16 and only these changes actually mattered
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/android-16-qpr2-beta-1-forced-dark-mode-fitbit.jpeg\")
\n Credit:\u00a0Android Developers Blog<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/a-woman-using-her-phone-while-rubbing-her-tired-eyes-with-an-eye-icon-beside-her-and-multiple-warnin.jpeg\"\/){kind=icon}
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\n\t\t\tMy quest to reduce phone eye strain revealed which Android tweaks actually matter
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