prefers-color-scheme

The prefers-color-scheme CSS media feature is used to detect if the user has requested the system use a light or dark color theme.

Syntax

no-preference

Indicates that the user has made no preference known to the system. This keyword value evaluates to false in the boolean context.

light

Indicates that user has notified the system that they prefer an interface that has a light theme.

dark

Indicates that user has notified the system that they prefer an interface that has a dark theme.

Examples

The elements below have an initial color theme. They can be further themed according to the user's color scheme preference.

HTML

<div class="day">Day (initial)</div>
<div class="day light-scheme">Day (changes in light scheme)</div>
<div class="day dark-scheme">Day (changes in dark scheme)</div> <br>

<div class="night">Night (initial)</div>
<div class="night light-scheme">Night (changes in light scheme)</div>
<div class="night dark-scheme">Night (changes in dark scheme)</div>

CSS

.day   { background: #eee; color: black; }
.night { background: #333; color: white; }

@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
  .day.dark-scheme   { background:  #333; color: white; }
  .night.dark-scheme { background: black; color:  #ddd; }
}

@media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
  .day.light-scheme   { background: white; color:  #555; }
  .night.light-scheme { background:  #eee; color: black; }
}

.day, .night {
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 1em;
  width: 7em;
  height: 2em;
  vertical-align: middle;
}

Result

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also

• Video tutorial: Coding a Dark Mode for your Website
• Redesigning your product and website for dark mode
• Changing color schemes in Windows, macOS and Android.