Learn how to enable dark mode in SumatraPDF to view PDFs with a dark background and reduce eye strain during reading.
Compared to other PDF readers like Adobe Acrobat, SumatraPDF is lightweight and opens files incredibly fast. By default, SumatraPDF uses a light theme with a bright white background. This can cause eye strain during long reading sessions or feel harsh on the eyes at night or in low-light conditions, such as a dark room. Thankfully, you can enable the dark theme and render PDFs in dark mode using the Inverted Colors feature. This makes reading more comfortable and reduces eye strain.
In this quick and easy guide, let me show you how to enable dark mode in SumatraPDF in simple steps. Let’s get started.
Steps to Enable Dark Mode in SumatraPDF Reader
- Open the Start menu by clicking the “Windows” key.
- Search for “SumatraPDF” and click “Open“.
- Click the “Menu” (three horizontal lines) icon in the top-left corner.
- Select “Settings” > “Theme” > “Dark“.
- Next, press the letter “
I” to invert PDF colors. - With that, you’ve enabled dark mode in SumatraPDF.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
First, open the SumatraPDF application. To do that, open the Start menu, search for “SumatraPDF” and click “Open“. Alternatively, you can also open any PDF file.
Note: If the PDF file didn’t open in SumatraPDF, right-click on the file, select “Open with” > “SumatraPDF”.
Once the application opens, click the “Menu” icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner, then select “Settings” > “Theme” > “Dark“. This will enable the dark theme in SumatraPDF.
Even with dark mode enabled, all your PDF files are still displayed in their original colors. That means, if a PDF document has a white background, it will appear as such. To make sure that the PDFs are also displayed in dark mode, press the letter “I” on your keyboard.
As soon as you press the key, SumatraPDF displays the PDF file in dark mode.
Note: If the colors don’t invert after pressing the shortcut key, make sure SumatraPDF is the active window. You can do this by clicking anywhere inside its window.
That is all. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.
