Choosing how gaiia looks: System, Light and Dark

Last updated: November 11, 2026

Overview

gaiia can follow your device's light or dark setting, or stay on a theme you pick yourself. In this article, we'll be covering the three theme options, how to change them, and what to expect when your device switches between light and dark.

Understanding the three options

Your theme is set in Preferences > Themes, from the Theme selector. To get there, click your Profile Avatar in the top-right corner, select Preferences, then open the Themes tab. There are three choices:

  • System: gaiia matches whatever your computer or phone is set to, and changes along with it.

  • Light: gaiia stays light, whatever your device is set to.

  • Dark: gaiia stays dark, whatever your device is set to. Dark is still in beta.

While System is selected, you'll see the hint Matches your device settings under the selector. Choosing Light or Dark pins gaiia to that theme and the hint goes away.

Following your device's theme

If you already switch your device between light and dark during the day, letting gaiia follow it means you only have to manage the setting in one place.

  1. Go to Preferences > Themes.

  2. In the Theme selector, choose System.

gaiia now matches your device. If your device switches from light to dark while you're working, gaiia switches with it, and you don't need to reload the page.

Choosing a fixed theme

If you'd rather gaiia stayed on one theme regardless of your device:

  1. Go to Preferences > Themes.

  2. In the Theme selector, choose Light or Dark.

gaiia stays on your choice until you change it. You can return to System at any time.

If your user menu shows a Dark mode toggle, it is a shortcut for the same setting. Using it saves an explicit Light or Dark, which means it moves you off System.

Knowing where your setting is saved

Your theme is saved in the browser you're using, not on your gaiia account. This has two practical effects:

  • Your choice doesn't follow you between devices. Setting Dark on your laptop won't change how gaiia looks on your phone.

  • Your choice doesn't follow you between browsers on the same device, and clearing your browser data resets it.

When no choice has been saved, gaiia uses System. If gaiia looks darker than you expected on a device you haven't used before, that's usually why: your device is set to dark, and no theme has been pinned in that browser yet.

Knowing what the theme does not change

  • A few pages, such as Documentation, are always shown in a fixed theme and don't follow your setting.

  • Your theme is yours alone. It doesn't affect what anyone else in your organization sees.