PayPal Dark Mode: How to Turn It On for the Website and App
PayPal's website is bright white, and there's no theme switch in your account settings. Here's how to get a dark PayPal in Chrome with the Dark Mode extension, and what to try on your phone.
By Ivan Charad Updated First published 6 min read
Quick answer
At the time of writing, paypal.com has no built-in PayPal dark mode. To make it dark in Chrome, install the free Dark Mode extension, open paypal.com and press Alt+Shift+D (or click the extension icon). Adjust Brightness and Contrast to taste. On mobile, check the PayPal app's settings or turn on your phone's system dark mode.
Does PayPal have a dark mode?
Not on the website. At the time of writing, PayPal dark mode isn't an option on paypal.com: there's no theme or appearance setting in your account, and the site doesn't switch to a dark theme when your computer is in dark mode. Requests for a dark theme have been a recurring topic in the PayPal Community forums for years, so you're not the only one looking for it.
That leaves two routes on a computer: a browser-level night mode such as the Dark Mode extension, which redraws paypal.com with dark colors, or a browser-wide setting like Chrome's experimental dark flag (covered below). The extension is the more practical choice because you control which sites go dark and how dark they get.
Is there dark mode in the PayPal app?
Dark mode support in the PayPal mobile app has varied between app versions and platforms, and we couldn't confirm a dedicated, documented theme switch that applies to everyone. Here's what to try on your phone:
- Check the app first. Update the PayPal app, open its settings and look for an appearance or theme option. If your version has one, choose dark there.
- Turn on system dark mode. On iPhone, go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Dark. On Android, open Settings → Display and turn on Dark theme (the wording varies by phone maker). Apps that support dark mode follow this setting.
The Dark Mode extension is a desktop browser extension, so it can't change the PayPal app. It's for paypal.com in Chrome and other Chromium browsers on your computer.
How to enable PayPal dark mode in Chrome
These steps make paypal.com dark in Chrome, or in any Chromium browser that installs extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
- 1
Install the Dark Mode extension
Open the Dark Mode page in the Chrome Web Store and click Add to Chrome. It's free. Pin the icon from the puzzle-piece menu so it's always one click away.
- 2
Open PayPal and log in
Go to paypal.com and sign in the way you normally do. Your summary, activity, wallet and settings pages are ordinary web pages, so the extension can restyle them.
- 3
Turn dark mode on
Click the extension icon and flip the big On/Off switch, or press Alt+Shift+D. PayPal is redrawn with a dark background and light text.
- 4
Adjust Brightness, Contrast and Sepia
Use the sliders in the popup. Raise Contrast a little if you read long lists of transactions, lower Brightness for evenings, and add Sepia if you like a warmer tone.
- 5
Decide where and when it applies
Use the site list to darken only the sites you choose, or everything except them, and press Alt+Shift+A to add or remove paypal.com. Active hours or sunset activation can switch it on automatically.
Turn on PayPal dark mode now
Free Chrome extension · works on every website · no account needed.
Is it safe to use a dark mode extension on PayPal?
It's a fair question for a site that handles your money. The Dark Mode extension only changes how colors are displayed in your own browser: it restyles the page locally and doesn't change what you send to PayPal. Its Chrome Web Store listing includes the developer's disclosure that it does not collect or use your data.
If you'd still rather keep PayPal exactly as it is, switch the site list to "Not invert listed" and press Alt+Shift+A on paypal.com. Every other site stays dark, and PayPal stays in its original colors.
Other ways to make PayPal dark
- Chrome's dark theme. Choosing dark under Settings → Appearance only darkens the browser frame: tabs, toolbar and menus. Since paypal.com has no dark theme of its own, the page itself stays white.
- Chrome's "Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents" flag. This experimental setting at
chrome://flagsforces dark colors on every website. It's all or nothing, with no per-site list and no sliders, and it may change in future Chrome versions. - Your phone's system dark mode. For the PayPal app, system dark mode is the setting to try (see above). It doesn't affect paypal.com on your computer.
PayPal dark mode not working? Quick fixes
- Logos, card images or icons look inverted. Open the extension settings and switch the generation mode to Dynamic (the default) or Filter+, which preserves color saturation, so images keep their natural colors.
- PayPal stays white. paypal.com may be excluded by your site list. Press Alt+Shift+A to toggle the current site and reload the tab. Also check that "Only for" isn't applying your settings to a different website.
- A page can't be darkened. Pages protected by the browser, such as
chrome://pages and the Chrome Web Store, are off-limits to every extension.
How to turn off dark mode on PayPal
Press Alt+Shift+D or flip the On/Off switch in the popup to turn the extension off everywhere. To restore PayPal's normal look but keep other sites dark, click the per-site button ("Change mode on current site") while you're on paypal.com, or press Alt+Shift+A. On your phone, turn off dark mode in the PayPal app's settings if your version has the option, or switch your system appearance back to light.
Why use dark mode on PayPal?
Checking payments at night
Confirming a payment or a refund late in the evening is easier when the page doesn't light up the whole room.
Reading your activity
Scrolling through transactions and statements is more comfortable for many people on a dark theme with good contrast.
Online shopping
If you already browse stores in dark mode, PayPal no longer breaks the flow with a bright white page.
Business accounts
Sellers who keep PayPal open all day can match it to the rest of their dark workspace.
Best Dark Mode settings for PayPal
Contrast for numbers
Amounts, dates and fees are easier to scan with slightly higher Contrast.
Dynamic or Filter+ mode
Both keep logos and card images in natural colors while the page goes dark.
Brightness
Lower Brightness a little for evening sessions; raise it if text starts to look washed out.
Site list
Choose exactly which sites go dark with "Invert listed only" or "Not invert listed". Alt+Shift+A toggles paypal.com.
Follow the system
"Use system color scheme" turns the extension on whenever your operating system is in dark mode.
Frequently asked questions
Does PayPal have a dark mode on the website?
At the time of writing, no. paypal.com has no theme setting and doesn't follow your computer's dark mode. The free Dark Mode extension makes it dark in Chrome and other Chromium browsers.
How do I make PayPal dark mode on my phone?
Update the PayPal app and look for an appearance option in its settings. If there isn't one, turn on your phone's system dark mode; apps that support it follow that setting. The Dark Mode extension doesn't work on phones.
Does the extension see my PayPal data?
The extension restyles colors locally in your browser. Its Chrome Web Store disclosure states that the developer does not collect or use your data. You can also exclude paypal.com from the site list at any time.
Is the Dark Mode extension free?
Yes. The free plan includes all the core features used in this guide. An optional Pro plan is available; see pricing.
Can I use it on other shopping sites too?
Yes, it works on any regular web page. See our guides to Amazon dark mode and AliExpress dark mode.
What's the keyboard shortcut for PayPal night mode?
Alt+Shift+D toggles the extension and Alt+Shift+A adds or removes the current site (on Mac, ⌥+⇧+D and ⌥+⇧+A). Change them at chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
The bottom line
PayPal doesn't offer a dark theme on its website, but the free Dark Mode extension gives you PayPal dark mode in Chrome in a few clicks, with sliders for brightness and contrast and full control over which sites go dark. On your phone, check the PayPal app's settings or use system dark mode.