How to set dark mode?

[PILIHU2022]

I use Arch LInux, and I want to set a global dark mode. Then the applications can all follow my system appearance. How can I do it?

[Aqa-Ib]

Write in hyprland.conf the following.

exec = gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-theme "YOUR_DARK_GTK3_THEME"   # for GTK3 apps
exec = gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme "prefer-dark"   # for GTK4 apps

env = QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME,qt6ct   # for Qt apps

Then reboot hyprland, open qt6ct and choose a dark theme for Qt apps.

[rtgiskard]

gsettings seems to write the settings to file, is it necessary to set every time on hyprland launch?

[Aqa-Ib]

No, it isn't necessary. I use it for hot realoding the theme in session.

[feituh]

That is probably because your portals are not working properly.

Install these packages:

• xdg-desktop-portal-gtk
• xdg-desktop-portal-hyprland

Then create the file ~/.config/xdg-desktop-portal/hyprland-portals.conf with the following contents:

[preferred]
default=hyprland;gtk

Fianlly, reboot the computer and try.

I did the same thing and added 2 gsetting lines above, but nautilus still uses the light theme

[Aqa-Ib]

Nautilus uses GTK4. Try executing the command gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme "prefer-dark" in your terminal emulator. If it does not work, probably your gtk portal is not working.

[Klusio19]

That is probably because your portals are not working properly.

Install these packages:

• xdg-desktop-portal-gtk
• xdg-desktop-portal-hyprland

Then create the file ~/.config/xdg-desktop-portal/hyprland-portals.conf with the following contents:

[preferred]
default=hyprland;gtk

Fianlly, reboot the computer and try.

For GTK3 apps, gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface gtk-theme "YOUR_DARK_GTK3_THEME" works fine.
But
it still does NOT work for GTK4 apps. However similar content of the file works for GTK4 apps for me as follows:

[preferred]
default=gtk;wlr

[ildar]

Awesome! thanks a lot!

[Aqa-Ib]

You are welcome :)

[rtgiskard]

I'm really puzzled on the case:

conf for hyprland:

env = HYPRCURSOR_THEME, Bibata-Modern-Classic
env = HYPRCURSOR_SIZE, 22
env = XCURSOR_THEME, Bibata-Modern-Classic
env = XCURSOR_SIZE, 22
env = GTK_THEME, Adwaita-dark

exec-once = waybar
exec-once = fcitx5 -d
exec-once = systemctl restart --user foot-server.socket

bind = $mod, N, exec, xdg-open ~            # nautilus
bind = $mod, R, exec, $(pidof -q wofi) && pkill wofi || wofi

Now I can start nautilus in several way:

1. hypr exec -> waybar -> wofi -> nautilus: -> light
2. hypr keybind -> wofi -> nautilus: -> light
3. hypr keybind -> xdg-open ~: -> dark
4. hypr keybind -> wofi -> foot [hypr env set] -> nautilus: -> dark
5. hypr keybind -> wofi -> foot-client [hypr env not set] -> nautilus: -> light
6. hypr keybind -> wofi -> foot-client [hypr env not set] -> export GTK_THEME=Adwaita-dark -> nautilus: -> dark

looks like programs started by hyprland do have the environment set, but waybar, wofi not seems to export the env to the applications it runs? (but foot launched from wofi do have the env set?)

[rtgiskard]

Why do you need the env GTK_THEME then? I mean, you are setting it globally with gsettings. Are you using the env for a per-application theming?

Dark theme once set by gsettings not seems to work effective, then I have to set GTK_THEME

[Aqa-Ib]

You can call gsettings as many times as you want. You can use it to change from dark to light themes instantly. I recommend you doing that instead of using the environment variable.

[rtgiskard]

You can call gsettings as many times as you want. You can use it to change from dark to light themes instantly. I recommend you doing that instead of using the environment variable.

But without the extra GTK_THEME, some app like nautilus may run with the light theme, no matter how many times I call gsettings manually, which should only touch the gtk config files 😂

[rtgiskard]

And just add the two lines "exec = gsettings .." from above and restart hyprland, if GTK_THEME not set, nautilus will allways run with light theme

[rtgiskard]

Well, looks like it's related to xdg-desktop-portal-gtk, the gsettings solution works well with gtk portal with no need to set any environment variable.

I once removed xdg-desktop-portal-gtk and only have xdg-desktop-portal-hyprland in the system

[5p4r74cu5]

Thanks @Aqa-Ib for the suggestion to use gsettings for GTK theme changing; I got it automated for day and night switching and am loving it. But wondering how to achieve the same for my qt apps, anyone know how to change qt themes via command line? I've been using a qt6ct fork to change breeze themes manually, but it doesnt support cli arguments...

[Aqa-Ib]

You have to use sed to change the theme in the qt6ct config file. Later I will send you the command that I use for this.

[Aqa-Ib]

Qt

• Command for color change:
  sed -i "s/color_scheme_path=.*/color_scheme_path=\"$qtColors\"/" ~/.config/qt6ct/qt6ct.conf
• Command for icon change:
  sed -i "s/icon_theme=.*/icon_theme=$iconTheme/" ~/.config/qt6ct/qt6ct.conf

Substitute $qtColors and $iconTheme with your chosen one. The change is instant, meaning that when a Qt app is open, it will change colors without needing to restart it.

Have fun !

[5p4r74cu5]

Thanks! Hells yeah, finally my Hyprland theming feels as smooth as a desktop environment! For anyone who is a newbie like me, you have to replace $qtColors with the full path with escaped slashes, so for me just using the Breeze colors I did the following:

sed -i "s/color_scheme_path=.*/color_scheme_path=\"\/usr\/share\/color-schemes\/BreezeLight.colors\"/" ~/.config/qt6ct/qt6ct.conf

And this for dark:

sed -i "s/color_scheme_path=.*/color_scheme_path=\"\/usr\/share\/color-schemes\/BreezeDark.colors\"/" ~/.config/qt6ct/qt6ct.conf

[PILIHU2022]

Thanks you all! Have nice day!
I am sorry to reply you too late

[nzlov]

Install yin-yang by aur.

hyprland.conf

exec-one=yin-yang

env = QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME,qt6ct

yin-yang

Plugins enbable Custom

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme "prefer-light" && sed -i "s/darker/airy/" ~/.config/qt6ct/qt6ct.conf

and

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface color-scheme "prefer-dark" && sed -i "s/airy/darker/" ~/.config/qt6ct/qt6ct.conf

[PILIHU2022]

This problem has been solved. Anyway, Thank you for your answer!
:)