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Automatic dark theme remains broken on latest Google Pixel update

Dark mode is something that users wanted for years, and is now a standard option across Android and the vast majority of apps. One useful option in Android is setting dark theme to activate and deactivate based on the time of day, but that’s broken on the latest Google Pixel update.

The March 2025 update for Google Pixel devices led to many users running into problems with automatic dark theme suddenly not working. The feature, when enabled, turns the device to dark mode between the hours of sunset and sunrise, based on your location, and then sets the device back to a light theme during daylight hours.

Users in early March noted that the feature wasn’t working, though it was found quickly that this occurred only after manually adjusting the theme instead of letting the automatic setting continue.

Google has since rolled out the April 2025 update for Pixel devices, and this update still leaves this problem in place. We’ve noticed that this behavior is suddenly occurring on a Pixel 9 Pro Fold where it wasn’t happening previously, and there are still reports popping up on Google’s forums and Reddit.

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It’s unclear if a fix for this problem is coming anytime soon, but some users have found that manually creating a “Mode” for automating dark theme works in the meantime.

Are you running into this issue on the April update? Let us know in the comments below.

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Avatar for Ben Schoon Ben Schoon

Ben is a Senior Editor for 9to5Google.

Find him on Twitter @NexusBen. Send tips to [email protected] or encrypted to [email protected].