Darken
Darken WordPress plugin allows users to easily configure and switch between dark and light modes in their WordPress dashboard. With Darken, you can customize the appearance of your WordPress admin area, creating a more…
Consider an alternative
Darken shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 3 years ago, and scores 21/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 2 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.3 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Darken stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| dark | >100 |
| dark mode | >100 |
| Dark mode plugin | >100 |
| Night Mode | >100 |
| wordpress dark mode | >100 |
About Darken
From the official readme · v1.0.1Description
Darken WordPress plugin allows users to easily configure and switch between dark and light modes in their WordPress dashboard. With Darken, you can customize the appearance of your WordPress admin area, creating a more visually pleasing and comfortable environment to work in.
Not only does Darken enhance your WordPress dashboard, but it also empowers your website’s front-end visitors by providing them with the option to switch between light and dark modes. This ensures a seamless user experience, catering to individual preferences and enhancing readability in low lighting conditions.
Features
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Customizable Dark Mode: Darken offers a range of customization options, allowing you to personalize the dark mode appearance to suit your preferences. Adjust colors, contrast, and typography to create a visually appealing dashboard.
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Light and Dark Mode switcher: Darken comes with an instant switcher toggle option in the admin bar. You can easily switch to light and dark modes within seconds when it’s necessary.
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Front-End Dark Mode: Extend the dark mode experience to your website’s front-end. Visitors can easily switch between light and dark modes, enhancing their browsing experience and making your site more accessible.
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Automatic Time-Based Mode Switching: Enable the automatic mode switching feature to align with the time of day. Darken can detect the visitor’s local time and automatically switch between light and dark modes accordingly.
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User-Specific Mode Preference: Darken remembers the mode preference for each user, ensuring that the chosen mode persists across sessions. Users can enjoy a consistent experience every time they log in.
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Simple and Intuitive Interface: Darken comes with an intuitive settings interface, allowing you to quickly configure and customize dark mode settings. No coding skills are required!
Source Code
Support
Support Forum
Pre-Sale Questions
✋Want More –
If you like our Darken plugin then why not check some other plugins that developed by us:
🚀 WP Adminify: – The best WordPress Dashboard Customization plugin available in the market. With this plugin you will get 18+ modules like Dark Mode, Menu Editor, Folders, Dashboard Widget Manager, Login Customizer, Admin Columns, Activity Logs and many more.
🚀 Master Blocks: – “Master Blocks” is a powerful WordPress plugin designed to enhance the functionality of the Gutenberg block editor. With this plugin, users can unlock a wide range of new blocks, offering greater flexibility and creativity when designing and customising their website’s content.
🚀 Master Addons: – One of the best Elementor Addon plugin that packed with 70+ elements and extensions. You will get all essential elements to design any type Website.
🚴🏻♂️ Image Comparison for Elementor: – This plugin dedicatedly made for image comparison element. You will get a multiple variation for image comparison. Showcase your before after work easily with the help of this plugin.
🍡 Master Accordion: – If you are a default WordPress user and need a proper accordion plugin then Master Accordion is for you. You can add as much accordion as you need in multiple way.
🏕 WordPress prettyPhoto: – This plugin helps you to enable lightbox for your any media file, flash, YouTube, iframes and ajax. Just enable PreetyPhoto in your desired media file and you are done.
Installation
- Upload the
darkenfolder to the/wp-content/plugins/directory or install the plugin through the WordPress plugins screen directly. - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ screen in WordPress.
- Go to the “Darken” settings page located under the “Settings” menu in your WordPress dashboard.
- Configure the dark mode appearance settings according to your preferences.
- Save your changes, and you’re ready to go!
Liked Darken Plugins?
Rate us on WordPress Forum 🙂
Frequently asked questions
Can I revert to the default light mode?
Yes, Darken allows you to switch between dark and light modes seamlessly. You can easily revert to the default light mode by disabling the dark mode in the plugin settings.
Can I customize the colors and typography in dark mode?
Absolutely! Darken provides a wide range of customization options, allowing you to adjust colors, contrast, and typography to match your style and preferences.
Does Darken work with all WordPress themes?
Darken is designed to work with most WordPress themes. However, in some cases, the appearance in dark mode may require additional adjustments to ensure optimal compatibility.
Changelog
Initial release of the Darken plugin. Enjoy a customized dark mode experience for your WordPress dashboard and front-end!
1.0.1 (13-10-2023)
- Initial release.
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
Best Darken alternatives
All dark plugins →
FAQ
Darken: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 1, 2026
Is Darken free?
Yes. Darken is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Darken safe to use in 2026?
Darken shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 3 years ago, and scores 21/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Darken?
Darken is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 1,524 times since it launched in October 2023. It was downloaded 93 times in the last 30 days.
Does Darken work with WordPress 7.1?
Darken is officially tested up to WordPress 6.3.12, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Darken need?
Darken requires PHP 5.6 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Darken last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.1, was released on October 13, 2023 (3 years ago).
Who makes Darken?
Darken is developed and maintained by Pixar Labs.
What are the best alternatives to Darken?
The most popular alternatives to Darken are Dark Mode (20K+ installs), Dark Mode Toggle (2K+ installs) and DarkMySite (1K+ installs).
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