What Is Force Light Mode?
Force Light Mode gives your team more control over how emails display in supported apps when a recipient’s device is using Dark Mode.
When the feature is turned on, Knak adds an instruction to the email that tells supported apps to keep the message area in Light Mode instead of automatically changing its colors.
This can help to:
Prevent unexpected color changes
Reduce contrast and readability issues caused by automatic Dark Mode transformations
Make email rendering more predictable
Note: Force Light Mode does not create a custom Dark Mode design. It tells supported apps to display the email’s Light Mode design.
Supported Apps
Force Light Mode prevents supported email apps from automatically changing an email’s colors when a recipient’s device is using Dark Mode.
It applies to:
Gmail for iOS when viewing a Google account
Gmail for Android when viewing a Google account
Apple Mail and iOS Mail when custom Dark Mode styles have not been added using Knak’s Dark Mode Editing controls
When Force Light Mode is on, the email app’s interface can remain dark while the message area displays the intended Light Mode design.
Apple Mail and iOS Mail already display the Light Mode design in most cases when an email does not include custom Dark Mode styles. However, they may automatically darken some emails, particularly layouts with a white or transparent body background and mostly text-based content. Force Light Mode prevents this automatic adjustment and keeps those emails light.
Google is rolling out this behavior gradually across Gmail app installations worldwide. As a result, some recipients may not see the updated behavior immediately, even when using a recent version of the app.
Gmail devices available through Email Testing may also require additional time to reflect the update.
Force Light Mode does not affect Dark Mode Editing
Force Light Mode and Dark Mode Editing can be used together, but they affect email clients differently:
In supported Gmail apps, Force Light Mode keeps the email’s Light Mode design in Dark Mode. Gmail does not support the custom styles created with Dark Mode Editing.
In Apple Mail and iOS Mail, custom Dark Mode styles take precedence over Force Light Mode. If no custom Dark Mode styles have been added, Force Light Mode keeps the email’s Light Mode design.
Force Light Mode | Custom Dark Mode styles | Supported Gmail apps in Dark Mode | Apple & iOS Mail in Dark Mode |
On | Added | Displays the Light Mode design | Displays the custom Dark Mode styles |
On | Not added | Displays the Light Mode design | Displays the Light Mode design |
Off | Added | Applies Gmail’s automatic Dark Mode changes | Displays the custom Dark Mode styles |
Off | Not added | Applies Gmail’s automatic Dark Mode changes | May apply Apple’s automatic Dark Mode changes |
If you want to create a separate Dark Mode experience for Apple and iOS Mail, see Dark Mode Editing.
Turn On Force Light Mode for Your Workspace
An administrator must turn on Force Light Mode in Admin settings before anyone can use it in emails.
Note: There are two separate controls in this setting. The toggle turns the feature on for your workspace. The checkbox makes it the default for all emails. You need the toggle on to use Force Light Mode at all, even if you don't use the checkbox.
Control | What it does |
Force Light Mode toggle | Makes Force Light Mode available in your workspace. When it is off, no email can use Force Light Mode. |
Default checkbox | Turns Force Light Mode on for all emails by default. You can still turn it off for a single email in that email's Settings. |
Click Admin in the left navigation.
Click Settings.
Find the email editor settings.
Find Force Light Mode.
Turn on the toggle. This lets you use Force Light Mode in your emails.
Optional: Select the checkbox to turn on Force Light Mode for all emails by default.
Default On
Select the checkbox when you want every email to use Force Light Mode.
You can still turn it off for one email in that email's Settings.
Default Off
Leave the checkbox cleared when you want emails to allow Gmail's normal Dark Mode behavior by default.
You can still turn Force Light Mode on for one email, as long as the toggle to enable force light mode control is on.
Turn Force Light Mode On or Off for an Email
Change the setting when one email needs different behavior from your workspace default.
Open your email in the builder.
Open Settings.
Find Force Light Mode.
Turn the setting on or off.
Preview your email.
Test your email in Gmail before sending.
Note: Don't see Force Light Mode in your email settings? Ask your administrator to turn on the Force Light Mode toggle in Admin settings.
When to Use Force Light Mode
Consider turning on Force Light Mode when Gmail’s automatic color changes affect your design.
This can help when your email contains:
Brand colors that need to stay consistent.
Logos that become difficult to see after colors change.
Buttons that lose contrast.
Text and background combinations that become difficult to read.
Designs created specifically for a light background.
Gmail on iOS can invert email colors in dark mode. Gmail on Android can darken bright colors and lighten text. These changes can affect your original design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Force Light Mode work with Apple and iOS Mail?
Yes. When Force Light Mode is enabled, Apple Mail and iOS Mail display the email’s Light Mode design if you have not added custom Dark Mode styles.
If you have added custom Dark Mode styles, those styles take precedence over Force Light Mode and display when the device is using Dark Mode.
Does Force Light Mode affect my Dark Mode Editing styles for Apple and iOS Mail?
No. If you have applied Dark Mode styles using Dark Mode Editing, these will take precedence over the Force Light Mode setting and continue to display in Apple and iOS Mail in Dark Mode, even when Force Light Mode is turned on.
This allows you to use Dark Mode Editing to display in Apple Mail while using Force Light Mode to display your light mode styles in supported Gmail apps in Dark Mode.
Does Dark Mode Editing work with Gmail?
Gmail on iOS and Android does not support Knak's custom Dark Mode Editing styles.
Gmail can apply its own dark-mode color changes instead.
Use Force Light Mode if you want to keep your light-mode design in Gmail.
Does Force Light Mode work with Outlook?
No. Force Light Mode does not apply to Outlook.
This feature uses functionality provided by Gmail. Outlook does not currently support this functionality.
Can I preview Force Light Mode with Email Testing?
Not yet. The provider used by Knak's Email Testing feature does not currently support previews for Force Light Mode.
Gmail devices available in Email Testing may require additional time before they support this update.
For now, test your email directly in Gmail before sending it to your recipients.
I'm testing in my personal Gmail account. Why don't I see Force Light Mode working?
Make sure your Gmail app is up to date. Older versions of the Gmail app may not show Force Light Mode changes.
Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
Search for Gmail.
Tap Update if an update is available.
Open your test email again.
Need more help? Contact support via live chat using the chat bubble in the bottom right corner or email support@knak.com.