WordPress Dark Mode: Complete Guide to Adding Dark Mode to Your WordPress Site

Dark mode isn't merely a design trend—it's a practical feature with tangible benefits. Reduced eye strain tops the list, particularly for those browsing at night. Then there's the extended battery life for OLED/AMOLED devices.

According to a Nielsen Norman Group study, a whopping 81% of users prefer dark mode in at least some contexts. Not offering a dark theme option is a missed opportunity to cater to user preferences.

Beyond the practical benefits, dark mode can make your brand look more professional and modern. Your WordPress site suddenly stands apart from the sameness of competitors, while visitors silently thank you for sparing their eyeballs.

1. WP Dark Mode

With over 100,000 active installations, WP Dark Mode is a popular choice. The free version delivers everything essential: a floating switch, automatic detection of system preferences, and good default styling.

The premium version ($49-$149) adds fancy bells and whistles like animation effects and multiple toggle styles. It can also process images to match your dark theme.

2. Night Eye

Night Eye uses AI algorithms to convert your theme without extensive manual adjustments. It's clever, but this cleverness comes with a steeper price tag ($29-$99/year).

3. Dark Mode by WP Concern

For the minimalists among us, this free plugin offers straightforward implementation with minimal fuss. It lacks advanced features but performs reliably.

4. Darkmode.js

Not strictly a WordPress plugin but a lightweight JavaScript library that can be integrated with WordPress. It's perfect for developers who want control over implementation details.

For most users, WP Dark Mode offers the optimal balance of features and sensible design decisions. It plays nicely with popular plugins and themes including WooCommerce and Elementor.

Installation: The 2-Minute Setup

1. Log into your WordPress dashboard
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New
3. Search for "WP Dark Mode"
4. Click "Install Now" and then "Activate"
5. A new WP Dark Mode menu will appear in your dashboard

Essential Configuration Steps

1. Toggle Switch Position: Under WP Dark Mode > Settings > Display Settings, decide where your dark mode toggle should live—floating, in the menu, or in a widget area.

2. Default Mode: Choose whether your site defaults to light, dark, or follows the visitor's system preference. The latter is recommended.

3. Exclusions: Identify any pages, posts, or elements that should remain in light mode.

4. Color Customization: The free version lets you make basic adjustments, while premium versions offer comprehensive color controls.

For optimal performance, enable the "Performance Mode" option which uses CSS rather than JavaScript for switching. This creates smoother transitions.

For those who view plugins with suspicion or simply enjoy making things complicated, creating a custom dark mode solution is entirely possible.

Step 1: Create the CSS Variables

Add this to your theme's style.css or a custom CSS area:

:root {
--background: #ffffff;
--text-color: #333333;
--heading-color: #222222;
--link-color: #0066cc;
--border-color: #dddddd;
}

[data-theme="dark"] {
--background: #222222;
--text-color: #f0f0f0;
--heading-color: #ffffff;
--link-color: #80b3ff;
--border-color: #444444;
}

Then update your existing styles to use these variables:

body {
background-color: var(--background);
color: var(--text-color);
}

h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 {
color: var(--heading-color);
}

a {
color: var(--link-color);
}

Step 2: Add the Toggle Switch

Place this HTML where you want the toggle to appear:

<button class="theme-toggle" aria-label="Toggle Dark Mode">
<svg class="sun-icon" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24">...</svg>
<svg class="moon-icon" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24">...</svg>
</button>

Step 3: Add the JavaScript

document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
const themeToggle = document.querySelector('.theme-toggle');
const currentTheme = localStorage.getItem('theme') || 'light';

// Set initial theme
document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', currentTheme);

themeToggle.addEventListener('click', () => {
let theme = 'light';

if (document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'light') {
theme = 'dark';
}

document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', theme);
localStorage.setItem('theme', theme);
});
});

For a more comprehensive implementation, you might want to add system preference detection:

// Check for system dark mode preference
const prefersDarkMode = window.matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark');

// Update based on system preference if no saved setting
if (!localStorage.getItem('theme')) {
if (prefersDarkMode.matches) {
document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', 'dark');
}
}

This approach gives you complete control over the dark mode implementation, but requires some development knowledge.

Challenge 1: Inconsistent Theme Support

Some WordPress themes use hardcoded color values. Solution: Use browser inspection tools to identify these elements, then add specific CSS overrides to target them directly.

Challenge 2: Third-Party Plugin Compatibility

Plugins with custom front-end interfaces might ignore your dark mode settings. Solution: Either write custom dark mode rules specifically for these plugins or use the exclusion feature to keep these elements permanently in light mode.

Challenge 3: Images with Light Backgrounds

Light background images with dark elements become jarring. Solution: For important images, create dark-specific alternatives and use CSS to swap them:

[data-theme="light"] .adaptive-image {
content: url('/path/to/light-image.png');
}

[data-theme="dark"] .adaptive-image {
content: url('/path/to/dark-image.png');
}

Challenge 4: Performance Issues

Poorly implemented dark mode can cause flickering on page load. Solution: Add the dark mode toggle logic with inline CSS in the document head to prevent 'Flash of Original Theme' (FOOT), and use CSS transitions for smoother switching.

Scheduled Dark Mode Activation

Automatically switch to dark mode during evening hours with this snippet:

const currentHour = new Date().getHours();
const isNightTime = currentHour >= 20 || currentHour <= 7; // 8PM to 7AM

if (isNightTime && !localStorage.getItem('theme')) {
document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-theme', 'dark');
}

Multiple Color Schemes

Go beyond binary light/dark with multiple theme options:

[data-theme="dark"] {
--background: #222222;
--text-color: #f0f0f0;
}

[data-theme="sepia"] {
--background: #f8ecd5;
--text-color: #5b4636;
}

[data-theme="blue"] {
--background: #1a242f;
--text-color: #e8f1f2;
}

Then expand your toggle functionality to cycle through themes.

Reading Progress Indicators

Dark mode is popular for reading-heavy sites. Enhance the experience with a scroll progress indicator that respects your dark mode colors:

.progress-bar {
position: fixed;
top: 0;
left: 0;
height: 4px;
background: var(--accent-color);
width: 0%;
transition: width 0.3s ease;
z-index: 1000;
}

Add JavaScript to update the width based on scroll position.

Before declaring victory, conduct these essential tests:

1. Cross-Browser Testing

Test your dark mode across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge at minimum. Pay special attention to Safari, which can sometimes handle CSS variables differently.

2. Device Testing

Check your implementation on both desktop and mobile devices. Mobile operating systems may trigger different behaviors with system-level dark mode preferences.

3. Accessibility Validation

Verify that your dark mode maintains sufficient contrast ratios for WCAG compliance. Use the WebAIM Contrast Checker with your dark mode color palette to ensure you haven't created unreadable text.

4. Performance Impact

Measure page load times in both light and dark modes. If dark mode significantly slows things down, you may need to optimize your approach.

5. User Testing

If possible, ask actual humans who prefer dark mode to test your implementation. Their feedback on comfort and readability will reveal issues you might miss.

Implementing WordPress dark mode isn't merely following a design trend—it's acknowledging that some of your visitors browse at night, and their eyes would appreciate some consideration. Whether you choose a plugin solution or dive into custom code depends on your comfort with technical challenges.

Remember that dark mode implementation isn't something you set and forget. As your site evolves with new content and features, your dark mode implementation should be periodically reviewed and refined.

For most WordPress site owners, starting with WP Dark Mode provides the fastest path to implementation with minimal technical suffering. As you grow more comfortable, you can gradually introduce custom elements to create a dark mode experience that's uniquely yours.

You're now equipped to join the dark side of WordPress—where user experience is enhanced, eyes are happier, and your site stands out from the competition. Your visitors will thank you for the option to browse comfortably, regardless of their lighting conditions.