Back in December 2025, Google released the Android 16 QP2 update for developers. As part of the release, Google also allowed developers to enable Expanded Dark Mode for apps that do not support it natively. Now, the new option is finally rolling out for users via the Android 17 Beta 3 update.
Android 17 Beta 3 Brings Expanded Dark Mode
With the new Android 17 Beta 3 release, Google is letting users force enable dark mode for apps that do not suport the same. This applies to both first-party and third-party apps. Dubbed, Expanded Dark Mode, the new option will let users choose which apps use dark mode when.
This means that no matter what the system-wide toggle is set at (Light or Dark), users will be able to now decide which apps are viewed in which mode. For instance, users can set the overall system theme to dark and yet choose to view Amazon in light mode. This applies to system-wide light and app-specific dark modes as well.
Expanded Dark Mode mostly targets users with Accessibility needs like Photosensitivity and visual impairment. Forcing apps to dark mode is better for visibility and reduces contrast. For this feature to work effectively, Android developers will need to integrate declare isLightTheme="false" command in their APIs.
That said, to enable Expanded Dark Mode, Pixel phones running Android 17 Beta 3 can head over to Settings > Display & touch > Dark theme > Expanded. It is important to note that enabling this feature can also cause some apps to break which do not have relevant APIs integrated. So, for Expanded Dark Mode to work seamlessly, a large part of the experience depends on the app developer.
