Gmail App - Dark Mode on iOS 13.1.3

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Level 1

9 points

Gmail App - Dark Mode on iOS 13.1.3

Hey all! So, we were all stoked when dark mode finally came to the iPhone in iOS 13. It was finally here! Now the wait began for all of the developers to issue updates allowing us to enable (or iOS automatically enable) dark mode in the apps. The changes/bugs to the default Mail app are horrendous. Removing the Select All > Delete option? Really?

Anyway, I decided to finally install the Gmail app on my phone and I have to say, it's leaps and bounds beyond Mail. Now, the problem arises - where is my dark mode? Is it just me or is it not available for everyone (iOS users only) yet? I haven't had an update since I installed it - the version is 6.0.190822. Running iOS 13.1.3. It said Google (ew) was rolling out updates to enable dark mode on iOS devices starting 09/25 and should take 15 days. We're a bit past that now....

All of the articles and videos say to go to Settings > Theme(s) > Dark Mode (or something to that effect), yet I don't have that option in my Gmail app.

TL;DR - Without having to do the Smart Invert, does your Gmail app allow you to enable dark mode??? If so, where's the option? I've uninstalled/reinstalled, turned off dark mode, force-closed the Gmail app, turned dark mode back on and opened the Gmail app to see if iOS would automatically apply the dark mode setting to it but nada. Any input would be appreciated. I'm sorry to say this, but hopefully those of you that use the Gmail app aren't able to use dark mode, either. I hate when it's just me :)

iPhone X

Posted on Oct 17, 2019 9:56 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 21, 2019 2:36 PM in response to SullyATX

It's not you, it's Google. They are 'slowly rolling this feature out' so chances are you're not in the population of people who have the option yet. I have the same version of the app as you but I'm on a GSuite plan, not just their free version and it's still not there. We're just going to have to wait until it's GA'd to all users and not just a small % of the global Gmail population.

Side note, tl;dr goes at the top of your message / ie it's the first thing you should add to the message :)

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Answer 2

ProustGiulio

Level 10

209,952 points

Nov 8, 2019 5:02 AM in response to SullyATX

SullyATX wrote:

....... The changes/bugs to the default Mail app are horrendous. Removing the Select All > Delete option? Really?

When you open one of your mailboxes, top right corner = Edit

then top left corner = Select All

then bottom right corner = Trash.

As far as other problems concerning Gmail app, you should ask Google.

Regards

Giulio

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Answer 3

Oct 24, 2019 4:26 PM in response to SullyATX

Customers first, not devices.

This issue unfortunately is skewed to seem to be about Android and iOS but in truth this issue is about customers. I am a paying GSUITE customer who deserves the feature immediately when it is available. When I go online and see people getting before me who are clearly using free GMAIL accounts, I really wonder if Google knows what they are doing to the confidence of their customers. We have the internet, we know what is going on.

GSUITE Customers are the people actually funding the features and them getting them last. Give your head a shake Google, your GSUITE enterprise and business customers should be served first and foremost regardless of the mobile platform.

I have been waiting exactly 30 days now since the announced rollout and I pay Google over $50 a month for their services.

So what if I am using iOS?

🙃

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Answer 4

SullyATX Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 24, 2019 4:46 PM in response to gabeboisvert

To start, I work in cyber security. I’m sure you have your reasons for giving Google money, but you have no idea how much they’re making off of you/all of us that use their products. They’re the biggest supplier of consumer information to the NSA, FBI, CIA, etc., among other international government agencies. They have data centers full of (as far as we know) AT LEAST 7 years worth of private consumer information; recorded phone calls, text messages, transcribed voice to text files along with their respective audio files, all from Android phones/Gmail accounts/Google Home... We aren’t sure about video but it would’t surprise me. It’s ridiculous. I only use a Google account/Gmail/Chrome when I absolutely have to. All of the things I don’t care about, I use my Gmail address. Web dev or web app vulnerability testing I use Chrome and Firefox. Brave is the best browser to use in terms of being Chrome-esque; same high RAM usage but it’s a privacy-focused browser. Google’s CEO didn’t even deny it when questioned him about “selling our privacy.” Sorry, I have nothing to hide but a right is a right, including privacy. I don’t believe for a second that Tim Cook hasn’t sold any of our information to a government agency, despite him blatantly saying they haven’t and wouldn’t. Sorry. TL;DR, I know. Getting into InfoSec has just made me care about privacy so much more and Google is the worst of the worst. I use Proton Mail primarily. Anyway, sorry for the rant and I’m sorry that you’re a paying GSuite customer and haven’t gotten your dark mode yet, either. I actually don’t even use my iPhone as my primary phone anymore. Finally received my Purism Librem 5 - the first Linux-based smartphone centered on privacy. You have full control over EVERYTHING. It’s great. Sure, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles yet. I think the next version will be a big step up. Ok, again. Sorry for the rant. If you’re curious about Google’s selling of our personal and private data or have questions related to InfoSec/privacy, shoot me a DM. Have a great evening all.

Sully

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Answer 5

Benny_J

Level 1

4 points

Oct 24, 2019 4:48 PM in response to gabeboisvert

You’re barking up the wrong tree. You could be complaining on Google forums.

As for you, the Gsuite user funding the update... you really think Gsuite users are the only ones paying for Google products that involve Gmail? What about the people who pay for Google's cloud storage? Sounding a little entitled to me...

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Answer 6

Oct 24, 2019 4:59 PM in response to Benny_J

Have you read the subject of this post? I have a similar complaint and my version is from the GSUITE side so you are wrong, this is the tree to bark up. Maybe you should stop ******* on the tree and realize we are on the same side here. Wow.

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Answer 7

Benny_J

Level 1

4 points

Oct 24, 2019 5:00 PM in response to gabeboisvert

Lol just be patient like the rest of us.

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Answer 8

TabasKo

Level 1

10 points

Nov 8, 2019 4:49 AM in response to SullyATX

Hi there,

Still no dark mode....

https://support.google.com/mail/thread/17475485?hl=en

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Answer 9

Oct 18, 2019 6:40 AM in response to SullyATX

For iOS, it's a phased, extended rollout but should be soon. It's late, even by Google's own estimate.

Per the article below, for iOS, it will be an "Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on September 24, 2019 ".

https://gsuiteupdates.googleblog.com/2019/09/dark-theme-android-ios.html

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Answer 10

Benny_J

Level 1

4 points

Oct 19, 2019 4:24 PM in response to SullyATX

Yeah def not alone. Dark mode is pushed out and flagged by Google through a server side update, not an app update. Once Google decides to allow more users the option for dark mode, the option will be available. Just be patient.

Not going to lie, though. I’m going to be really happy once it’s available to me.

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Answer 11

SullyATX Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 19, 2019 4:52 PM in response to Benny_J

Same. I know it’s a minor thing, but, for me, I’m OCD af and even though I don’t use a lot of apps (if they hadn’t messed with Mail in iOS 13 I wouldn’t be having to deal with this) this one not having dark mode is just triggering me so bad. I’ll set my expectations low and want it sometime before the end of the year.

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