Other PDF Issues

Fix PDF Images Appearing Black and White in Android Dark Mode

Adam Davis Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to view PDF documents with dark mode enabled on Android without the images appearing inverted or black and white.

How to Keep PDF Images in Color When Using Dark Mode on Android

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader
Device & OS: Android 11 on Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Scenario: Reading an image-heavy PDF document on an Android tablet in low-light conditions using dark mode.
Observed behavior: Enabling dark mode inverts all document colors, changing full-color images into black and white or negatively inverted colors.

Before you start

Before proceeding, check the Google Play Store to ensure your PDF reader app is updated to the latest version, as developers often refine dark mode rendering behaviors.

Solution 1Recommended

Toggle Off Dark Mode to Restore Image Colors

Since Acrobat Reader currently forces color inversion on the entire document, temporarily disabling dark mode is the only native way to view images in their original color.

Adobe Acrobat Reader's Dark Mode applies a universal color inversion filter to the document. This is designed to make black text on a white background readable in low light by turning it into white text on a black background.

Because there is currently no separate setting to exclude images from this filter, photos will also have their colors inverted or stripped. Until Adobe implements a smart dark mode, manually toggling the view mode is required.

Open your PDF document

Launch Adobe Acrobat Reader on your Android device and open the document you wish to read.

Access View Settings

Tap the screen to reveal the top menu bar, then tap the 'View Settings' icon (usually represented by a teardrop or page display icon).

Disable Dark Mode

Find the 'Dark Mode' or 'Night Mode' toggle and switch it to the off position. Your document will return to a white background, and images will display in full color.

Toggle Off Dark Mode to Restore Image Colors

Submit Feedback to Adobe: You can request an update by visiting the Adobe Acrobat UserVoice page to let the product team know you want an option to preserve image colors in Dark Mode.

Read PDFs Comfortably with WPS Office

WPS Office provides optimized mobile reading experiences. Use Eye Protection mode or smart mobile view to comfortably read documents in low-light environments without ruining image colors.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office app from the Google Play Store.
2. Open your PDF File: Launch WPS Office, tap on the 'PDF' tab, and select your document.
3. Enable Eye Protection: Tap the 'Tools' menu at the bottom, switch to the 'View' tab, and tap 'Eye Protection Mode' to read comfortably in low light while keeping images in full color.

Smart reading modes that preserve original image colorsFully compatible with all standard Adobe PDF formatsFree and lightweight alternative to heavy PDF readersIncludes Mobile View for easy reading on small Android screens

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do pictures in my PDF look like negatives in Dark Mode?

Many PDF apps use a basic system-level color inversion for their dark mode. This flips white pixels to black and black pixels to white, which successfully darkens the page but simultaneously inverts the color values of any embedded images.

Is there a setting in Adobe Acrobat on Android to keep image colors normal?

No, Adobe Acrobat Reader on Android does not currently offer a setting to exclude images from its dark mode color inversion. You must disable dark mode entirely to see the true colors.

Does forcing Dark Mode in Android Developer Options fix this issue?

No. In fact, forcing dark mode through Android's Developer Options often forces standard apps to aggressively invert their colors, which can cause further UI and image display issues in PDF readers.

How can I read comfortably at night without losing image colors?

Instead of using strict color inversion dark modes inside the app, try using your Android device's built-in 'Eye Comfort Shield' or 'Night Light' feature. This reduces blue light and overall brightness without changing the document's actual color palette.

PDF Troubleshooting