How to Use Slack Dark Mode for Desktop

Slack is a hugely useful messaging and collaboration hub for many. When you're working late, the glare of the default theme can be distracting. Here's how to use Slack dark mode with the Slack desktop app so you can avoid straining your eyes. 

What Is Dark Mode?

Dark Mode inverts your computer's system colors. It reduces the strain on your eyes when you're working at your desk during the evenings, because the colors effectively match up with the darkness or low levels of light you're surrounded by. It's also known to help users with visual impairments or that suffer from migraines or other visual disorders.

Dark Mode doesn't just help you either. It helps your laptop, too, as it reduces strain on the laptop's battery life. Notice how turning down the brightness conserves battery? It's the same with dark mode. It uses less energy than brightness, thereby saving you battery time. This can be useful if you're running low on battery, or you simply want to conserve the battery. 

Many major apps offer dark modes now, like the Slack dark theme, and operating systems are also slowly embracing the concept thanks to there being so many benefits to it.

How to Enable Slack Dark Mode

No one wants eye strain because of looking at bright screens in dark surroundings. Fortunately, it's very easy to switch to Slack dark mode on all major operating systems. Whether you're using Windows, macOS or Linux's Slack desktop app, the same instructions apply. Here's what to do. 

1. Open Slack. 

2. Click your name in the Workspace sidebar. 

3. Click Preferences.

4. Click Themes. 

5. Click Dark.

   You can also change to a different theme here. All themes also have Light and Dark modes.

6. Close the window.

How to Turn Slack Dark Mode Off

Changed your mind about the Slack dark mode and would prefer to switch it off? Here's how to deactivate it. It's just as simple as switching it on.

1. Open Slack.

2. Click your name on the Workspace sidebar.

3. Click Preferences.

4. Click Themes.

5. Click Light.

6. Close the window. Your Slack theme is now 'light' again rather than the dark look you previously had.

How to Switch Between Light and Dark Automatically on macOS

macOS users have an extra feature within Slack. It's possible to set the app up so that it automatically switches between light and dark as and when needed throughout the day. It works by syncing up with the operating system settings that adjust the brightness as the day goes by. Here's how to adjust Slack automatically.

1. Open Slack.

2. Click your name on the Workspace sidebar.

3. Click Preferences.

4. Click Themes.

5. Click Sync with OS setting.

6. Slack will now automatically switch between Light and Dark as and when macOS instructs it to do so.