Bold claim: Android 16’s Expanded dark mode turns your phone into a true, system-wide dark experience that most apps don’t natively support yet. And this is where it gets controversial: forcing dark mode across every app can be a mixed bag, with some UI elements turning hard to read. Here’s a clear, beginner-friendly rewrite of the original piece, keeping all key details while making the language more unique and accessible.
I gave Android 16 a complete dark-mode makeover, and the result is noticeably better.
Published February 14, 2026, 7:00 AM EST
Sanuj is a tech enthusiast who loves exploring smartphones, tablets, and smart wearables. He began his tech journey with a Lumia smartphone and Windows Phone, then shifted to Android to enjoy tweaking and customizing ROMs.
Sanuj has been active in the tech scene since 2018. Most recently, he served as Managing Editor at Pocketnow (https://pocketnow.com/author/sanuj-bhatia/) before joining Android Police. Before his stint at Pocketnow, he contributed to outlets such as Pocket-Lint (http://www.pocket-lint.com/author/sanuj-bhatia/), MakeUseOf (https://www.makeuseof.com/author/sanuj-bhatia/), and Android Central (https://www.androidcentral.com/author/sanuj-bhatia).
When he isn’t delving into tech, you’ll likely find him enjoying chai, following football, or playing cricket. You can reach him via Twitter direct message or by email at sanujb6 [at] gmail [dot] com.
What is dark mode on Android, and why does it often feel limited?
Dark mode has been a feature on Android for years. On Google Pixel devices, there’s even an option to theme your entire system by your wallpaper—the system extracts colors from the wallpaper and applies them across menus, settings, and supported apps.
Even so, many of us still default to the classic dark mode or prefer light themes, which can be hard on the eyes in certain lighting conditions. If you’re like me and favor built-in dark mode above all else, you may have noticed a common frustration: not all apps follow dark mode by default.
Fortunately, Android includes a hidden setting that can force dark mode across all apps, even those that don’t support it natively.
Here’s how I fully activated dark mode on my Android device, and how you can do the same.
Related topics
- How to enable expanded dark mode on Android
- A hidden toggle that forces all apps to follow the dark theme
What is Expanded dark mode, and how does it work?
Expanded dark mode is the feature that compels all apps to use dark mode, even if they don’t have native support. Google added this to Pixel phones with the December 2025 Android 16 QPR2 update.
Before you enable it, ensure your Pixel is up to date: Settings > System > Software updates, then install any pending updates.
How to enable Expanded dark mode on a Pixel
1) Open Settings and go to Display & Brightness.
2) In Display settings, scroll to Dark theme and tap the arrow next to it.
3) Turn on Use dark theme.
4) Below that, choose Expanded.
That’s all there is to it. Dark mode should apply across your Pixel almost instantly.
Note on visual results
If you’re using Material 3 Expressive, you may not notice a dramatic difference at first, since Android will continue pulling colors from your wallpaper. If you’d rather disable that and keep a standard dark mode, go to Settings > Wallpaper & style > Home screen > Colors > Other colors, and select the first dark option. This reverts to the traditional dark mode and stops Material 3 Expressive theming across the system and apps.
What Expanded dark mode actually does
- It forces dark mode across all apps, including those that don’t natively support it.
- You’ll likely see a noticeable improvement in many apps, like Amazon and Airbnb, and previously Fitbit, which adopted dark themes through this feature even without formal support.
- In practice, the experience is solid and provides a near-consistent dark-mode feel across Android, even if some apps aren’t perfectly polished yet.
Trade-offs and considerations
- The forced dark mode can feel a bit artificial since apps may default to a standard dark color rather than the softer grays some developers craft for native dark modes.
- Some apps may display UI elements that aren’t perfectly legible under Expanded dark mode. This is the price you pay for enforcing a theme across apps that haven’t prepared for it.
- Google could improve this feature by offering user controls to adjust intensity or fine-tune how it’s applied, but those controls aren’t available yet.
Despite these caveats, Expanded dark mode is a valuable hidden gem in Android, letting you use your device according to your preferences rather than relying solely on developers’ defaults.
Why this matters
There are plenty of other hidden features on Pixel phones that are worth exploring, such as swipe-to-start search in the app drawer and Private Space. These tricks can enhance your daily smartphone experience and are often overlooked.
Would you try Expanded dark mode on your Pixel? Do you think forcing a dark theme across all apps improves usability, or do you prefer native app theming? Share your thoughts in the comments.
