Adoption of Dark Mode Support in WordPress

Why Add Dark Mode?

Dark mode has become a popular design trend that enhances user experience by reducing eye strain, improving readability in low-light environments, and saving battery life on OLED and AMOLED screens. Many modern websites and applications now provide a dark mode option to meet user preferences.

How to Implement Dark Mode in WordPress?

1. Use a Dark Mode Plugin

The easiest way to add dark mode to your WordPress site is by using a plugin. Here are some popular plugins:

• WP Dark Mode – Offers automatic dark mode switching and customizable color schemes.
• Darklup Dark Mode – Provides an advanced toggle switch for users to switch between dark and light modes.
• Night Mode for WordPress – Simple solution to enable night mode with minimal settings.

Steps to Enable Dark Mode Using WP Dark Mode Plugin:

1. Navigate to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Search for WP Dark Mode and click Install Now > Activate.
3. Go to WP Dark Mode Settings and enable dark mode for both frontend and backend.
4. Customize the toggle switch, colors, and other settings based on your preference.

2. Customize Dark Mode with CSS

For developers who prefer manual customization, CSS can be used to create a dark mode:

1. Add a dark mode toggle button in your theme’s header.php or footer.php.
2. Use JavaScript to store user preferences in local storage.
3. Apply CSS styles to change background colors, text colors, and other elements when dark mode is enabled.

Example CSS for Dark Mode:

body.dark-mode {
    background-color: #121212;
    color: #ffffff;
}

.dark-mode a {
    color: #bb86fc;
}
        

3. Enable Automatic Dark Mode Switching

Many dark mode plugins allow automatic switching based on the user’s system preferences.

• Use prefers-color-scheme: dark in CSS to detect system-wide dark mode settings.

Example:

@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
    body {
        background-color: #121212;
        color: #ffffff;
    }
}
        

Conclusion

Dark mode is a valuable feature that improves user experience and accessibility. Whether using a plugin or custom CSS, enabling dark mode in WordPress enhances site usability and aligns with modern design trends. Start implementing it today and provide your users with a visually comfortable browsing experience!