A new feature discovered in the latest Android Canary build introduces an “Expanded” dark mode, an accessibility option designed to force a dark theme onto apps that do not natively support one. The setting, found under the display’s dark theme menu, aims to make more of the mobile experience easier on the eyes for users who prefer dark UIs.
Unlike the standard dark mode, which only applies to the system and supported apps, the new expanded mode attempts to intelligently darken apps that have been left behind by their developers. It is also more sophisticated than the existing color inversion tool, as it avoids inverting the colors of images and other media.
However, the feature comes with a significant catch. Google warns that because this mode forces a theme on apps not designed for it, users “may experience appearance issues.” If visual glitches occur, users are advised to revert to the “Standard” dark mode.
This new option is currently only available to testers on the highly experimental Android Canary channel, and its public release date for the stable version of Android remains unknown. Evidence for the feature has been spotted for over a year, suggesting a lengthy development cycle before its inclusion in this test build.
