Changing the theme and appearance in Edge on Android starts in one place: Settings, then Appearance. The current build offers Light, Dark, and System default modes, plus an Apply theme (Beta) gallery with wallpapers and accent colors.
You can also force dark mode on stubborn websites, move the address bar to the top or bottom, and adjust text size for easier reading.
In this guide, I have covered:
Contents
Open the Theme and Appearance Settings in Edge on Android
If you want to change the theme and appearance in Edge on Android, every control starts in the same menu. You open Settings first, then Appearance.
- Launch Microsoft Edge for Android.
- Tap the
menu in the bottom toolbar. - Tap Settings.
- Tap Appearance.
The Appearance screen lists four controls: the Light/Dark mode row, the Apply theme (Beta) gallery, Address bar position, and Force dark mode for websites.
Switch Between Light, Dark, and System Default
If your phone flips to dark mode but Edge stays bright, this is the row to change. Earlier Edge builds had only Light and Dark. The current stable build adds System default.
- On the Appearance screen, tap Theme (labeled Mode on some builds).
- Pick Light, Dark, or System default.
The change applies immediately. Menus, tabs, the new tab page, and InPrivate tabs all pick up the new color scheme.
With System default, Edge flips whenever Android’s theme changes. That includes night schedules your launcher applies.
Try the Apply Theme (Beta) Gallery
If you want more than a light or dark skin, the Apply theme (Beta) option sits below the mode selector. It opens a gallery of full visual themes.
The gallery includes wallpapers (nature, illustrated artwork, animals, fantasy, Minecraft-style designs) and accent colors (blue, green, orange, pink, purple). You can preview a theme before you commit to it.
- On the Appearance screen, tap Apply theme (Beta).
- Swipe through the theme tiles and tap one to preview it.
- If the theme offers an accent color, pick one.
- Tap to commit, or to return to the system theme.
The gallery controls the look of the browser chrome (toolbars, menus, tabs). Website content keeps using its own colors unless you also turn on forced dark mode below.
Open a new tab afterward to see the new wallpaper and accent color in place.
Force Dark Mode on Stubborn Websites
Some sites ignore Edge’s dark mode and keep their own bright background. The Force dark mode for websites toggle on the Appearance screen overrides those colors.
- On the Appearance screen, scroll to Dark mode for websites.
- Toggle Force dark mode for websites on.
- Reload any site you want to see in dark.
TIP: If only a few sites look wrong, leave this off and use an extension like Dark Reader instead. For a site that still looks off, you can compare the desktop view using how to view desktop site in Edge on Android.
Move the Address Bar to the Top or Bottom
If the address bar is hard to reach, you can move it. Edge puts the position control inside Appearance.
- On the Appearance screen, scroll to Address bar position.
- Pick Top or Bottom.
The bar and its controls (back, tab count, More) move together. Sites keep their layout. Only the browser chrome changes.
Other Look-and-Feel Settings Worth Knowing
If the Appearance screen did not fix a readability problem, a few related controls live one tap away under Settings. They change how Edge presents pages.
- Text size under Accessibility scales every page.
- Force enable zoom lets you pinch to zoom on pages that block it.
- Show Reading mode under the
menu strips ads and clutter from supported pages.
You can also customize the theme and appearance in Edge on a computer if you use Edge there too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Edge for Android have a true black mode for OLED screens?
No. Edge’s Dark mode is a dark gray theme, not full-AMOLED black. Dark reader extensions can darken website content further, but they cannot change the browser chrome itself.
Why does dark mode disappear on some sites?
If a site has its own light or dark theme set in code, Edge respects it by default. Turn on Force dark mode for websites under Appearance to override the site’s choice and render every page in Edge’s dark palette.
Can Edge follow my phone’s dark mode setting?
Yes. Pick System default in the mode selector. Edge then flips between light and dark whenever you change Android’s theme, including any schedule your launcher adds for night hours.
Does the Apply theme (Beta) gallery replace the Light/Dark switch?
No. The gallery controls the wallpapers, accent colors, and overall visual style of the browser chrome. The Light, Dark, and System default mode still controls the basic white-or-black skin of menus, tabs, and the new tab page.
Do theme changes also affect InPrivate tabs?
Yes. Both the mode switch and any custom theme you apply carry over into InPrivate tabs because they are part of the browser app, not a per-tab setting. If you launch private tabs separately, the same theme waits there. See how to open InPrivate tabs and new tabs in Edge on Android.
