Pinterest Dark Mode: How to Turn It On for the Website and App
Pinterest goes dark on your phone, but the desktop site stays bright white. Here's how to get Pinterest dark mode in Chrome with the Dark Mode extension, and how the app's dark theme works.
By Ivan Charad Updated First published 5 min read
Quick answer
Pinterest dark mode is only built into the iOS and Android apps, which follow your phone's system appearance. Pinterest says dark mode isn't currently available on the desktop site. To make pinterest.com dark in Chrome, install the free Dark Mode extension, open Pinterest and press Alt+Shift+D, then choose the Dynamic or Filter+ engine so pins keep their colors.
Does Pinterest have a dark mode?
Yes, but only in the mobile apps. Pinterest dark mode is available in the Pinterest app on iPhone, iPad and Android, where it follows your device's system appearance. On a computer, Pinterest's Help Center states that dark mode is not currently available on the desktop version of Pinterest. There's no theme option in your profile or settings on pinterest.com, and the site doesn't switch when your computer is in dark mode.
That's a pity, because Pinterest is a site people scroll for a long time: recipes before dinner, outfit ideas, home projects late at night. A white grid of pins around every image is bright on a dark desk.
On a computer, the practical route is a browser-level night mode. The Dark Mode extension redraws pinterest.com with a dark background while keeping pins, boards and photos readable.
How to turn on dark mode in the Pinterest app
The Pinterest app has no separate dark mode switch of its own; it follows your phone's appearance setting. Change that, and Pinterest changes with it:
- iPhone and iPad (iOS 13 or newer): open Settings → Display & Brightness and choose Dark.
- Android 10 or newer: open Settings → Display and turn on the dark theme (the wording varies by phone maker).
- Android 9 or older: swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Battery Saver; Pinterest follows it.
To go back to light, pick Light in the same place. The Dark Mode extension is a desktop browser extension, so it can't change the app. It's for pinterest.com in Chrome and other Chromium browsers on your computer.
How to enable Pinterest dark mode on desktop in Chrome
These steps make pinterest.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 Pinterest
Go to pinterest.com and log in. Your home feed, boards, search results and pin pages are regular 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. The background, menus and text switch to a dark theme.
- 4
Pick an engine that keeps pins colorful
In the extension settings, use the Dynamic engine (the default) or Filter+, which preserves color saturation. Both keep photos of food, outfits and rooms in their natural colors.
- 5
Adjust Brightness, Contrast and Sepia
Use the sliders in the popup. Lower Brightness for evening browsing, and raise Contrast a little if pin titles and comments look faint.
- 6
Choose where and when it applies
Use the site list to darken only the sites you pick, or everything except them; Alt+Shift+A adds or removes pinterest.com. Active hours or sunset activation can switch it on automatically.
Turn on Pinterest dark mode now
Free Chrome extension · works on every website · no account needed.
Other ways to make Pinterest dark on a computer
- Chrome's dark theme. Choosing dark under Settings → Appearance only darkens the browser frame: tabs, toolbar and menus. Since pinterest.com has no dark theme of its own, the page 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 or sliders, and it may change in future Chrome versions. - Your operating system's dark mode. Turning on dark mode in Windows or macOS darkens the system and many apps, but pinterest.com doesn't follow it. If you use the extension's "Use system color scheme" option, though, Pinterest goes dark whenever your OS does.
Pinterest dark mode not working? Quick fixes
- Pins look inverted or washed out. Open the extension settings and switch the generation mode to Dynamic or Filter+. Images should keep their natural colors.
- Scrolling feels slow on a long board. Try a different engine; Static generates a simple, fast theme.
- Pinterest stays white. pinterest.com may be excluded by your site list. Press Alt+Shift+A to toggle the current site and reload the tab, and check that "Only for" isn't applying your settings to a different website.
- The app didn't go dark. Check your phone's system appearance; the Pinterest app follows it rather than offering its own switch.
How to turn off Pinterest dark mode
In Chrome, press Alt+Shift+D or flip the On/Off switch in the popup to turn the extension off everywhere. To restore Pinterest's normal look but keep other sites dark, click the per-site button ("Change mode on current site") while you're on pinterest.com, or press Alt+Shift+A. On your phone, switch your system appearance back to Light (or turn off Battery Saver on older Android versions) and the Pinterest app follows.
Why use dark mode on Pinterest?
Late-night scrolling
Browsing ideas in the evening is more comfortable when a white grid isn't glowing around every pin.
Photos stand out
On a dark background, colorful pins of food, fashion and interiors often pop more than they do on white.
Organizing boards
Sorting, saving and moving pins between boards can take a while; a dark theme keeps the session easy on the eyes.
Creators and marketers
If you manage pins for a business all day, Pinterest can match the rest of your dark workspace.
Best Dark Mode settings for Pinterest
Dynamic or Filter+ engine
The key setting for an image-heavy site: both keep pins in natural colors while the page goes dark.
Moderate Brightness
Lower Brightness for night browsing, but not so far that photos lose detail.
Contrast for titles
Pin titles and comments are small; a little extra Contrast keeps them crisp.
Site list
Choose exactly which sites go dark with "Invert listed only" or "Not invert listed". Alt+Shift+A toggles pinterest.com.
Follow the system
"Use system color scheme" turns the extension on whenever your computer is in dark mode, just like the Pinterest app does on your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Does Pinterest have dark mode on PC?
Not natively. Pinterest's Help Center says dark mode isn't currently available on the desktop version. The free Dark Mode extension makes pinterest.com dark in Chrome and other Chromium browsers.
Why can't I find a dark mode setting in the Pinterest app?
Because the app doesn't have its own switch. It follows your phone's system appearance, so turn on Dark in iOS Settings → Display & Brightness, or the dark theme in Android Settings → Display.
Will dark mode change the colors of my pins?
With the Dynamic or Filter+ engine, photos keep their natural colors while the background goes dark. If something looks off, try the other engine or adjust Brightness and Contrast.
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 shopping sites I find through Pinterest?
Yes, it works on any regular web page. See our guides to eBay dark mode and Amazon dark mode.
What's the keyboard shortcut for Pinterest 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
Pinterest offers dark mode only in its mobile apps, through your phone's system setting. On a computer, the free Dark Mode extension gives you Pinterest dark mode in Chrome in a few clicks; pick the Dynamic or Filter+ engine so your pins keep their colors.