Light and dark mode
Metric Vault opens in light mode and switches to dark from the top bar or the Account screen; the choice is kept in the browser you are using.
Last updated 2026-08-06
Summary#
Metric Vault has two themes. Light is the default: a new browser opens the app in light mode. Dark is one click away, from the theme button in the top bar or the Dark Mode row in Account → Preferences. Your choice is remembered in that browser and applies to the whole app, including tool results, charts and the sign-in page.
Purpose#
The app is used for long sessions with dense tables and charts, and people differ on which theme they can read for an hour without fatigue. There is no correct answer, so the setting is one click away wherever you are and it sticks until you change it. It also matters beyond comfort: a result you export or share is captured in whatever theme you are using at the time.
Requirements#
- A browser that keeps site data. If site data is cleared or you use a private window, the app opens in light mode again.
- No plan requirement. Every plan gets both themes.
Permissions#
Anyone signed in can change their own theme. It is a personal display setting with no effect on teammates, no server-side record and no cost. There is no workspace-level or administrator control that fixes a theme for everyone.
Navigation Path#
The quickest route:
Top bar → theme button
The same setting, from the Account screen:
Dashboard → Account & Team → Account → Preferences → Dark Mode
Step-by-Step Guide#
Switch from the top bar#
- Look at the right-hand end of the top bar, just left of your name. The button shows a sun or moon icon with a word beside it.
- The word is the theme you would switch to, not the one you are in. In light mode the button reads Dark; in dark mode it reads Light.
- Click it. The interface changes immediately.
- The choice is saved for this browser. Reload, close the tab or restart the browser and it holds.
The button carries the label Toggle light or dark theme for screen readers and the tooltip Toggle theme.
Switch from the Account screen#
- Open Account and find the Preferences card.
- The first row is Dark Mode, with the helper text Toggle between light and dark theme.
- Click the switch. It does exactly what the top-bar button does, and the two stay in step: change one and the other reflects it.
Examples#
Example: A consultant works in dark mode all day, then prepares a report to send to a client who prefers a printed PDF. Before exporting, they switch to Light in the top bar, re-open the result, and export. The PDF comes out on a light background rather than a dark one.
Screenshots#
What the theme affects#
| Area | Behavior |
|---|---|
| The whole app shell | Sidebar, top bar, cards, tables and charts all follow the theme |
| The sign-in page | Follows the same stored setting in that browser |
| Tool results | Rendered in the current theme |
| Saved work reopened from the Library | Replayed in the theme you are currently using, not the one it was created in |
| Exported PDFs | Capture the result as it appears on screen, so the current theme is what you get |
| Public share links | The page is captured with the theme that was active when you created the link. Recreate the link if you want the other one |
| Reduced-motion preferences | Honoured independently of the theme |
Tips#
- Set the theme before exporting or creating a share link. Both capture what is on screen at that moment.
- If you work across two machines, set the theme on each. The setting does not travel with your account.
- The word on the top-bar button is the destination, not the current state. If it says Light, you are in dark mode.
Common Mistakes#
- Expecting the theme to follow your account. It is per browser. A new laptop starts in light mode.
- Exporting in the wrong theme. A dark-background PDF is rarely what a client wants on paper. Switch first, then export.
- Assuming a share link updates when you switch. It does not. The link keeps the theme it was created with.
- Reading the button label as the current theme. It names the theme you would move to.
Limitations#
- Two themes only. There are no other color schemes and no per-tool accent choices.
- There is no "match my system setting" option; the app opens in light mode until you choose otherwise.
- The setting is per browser and cannot be applied to a team.
Troubleshooting#
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The app opens in light mode every time | Site data is being cleared, or you are in a private window | Allow site data for metricvaultai.com, or use a normal window |
| The Dark Mode row and the top-bar button disagree | The screen was opened before the last change | Reload the page; they read the same setting |
| An exported PDF has a dark background | The export captured the current theme | Switch to light, reopen the result and export again |
| A share link looks wrong to the recipient | The link kept the theme from when it was created | Create a new share link in the theme you want. See Sharing a result by link |
| Part of an older result still looks dark | Some legacy result panels carry the theme they were rendered in | Re-run the tool in the theme you want |
FAQs#
Does the theme follow my operating system? No. Metric Vault opens in light mode and uses your last explicit choice after that.
Is the theme stored on my account? No, it is stored in the browser. That is why a second computer starts in light mode.
Does the theme change what a tool returns? No. It changes presentation only. The numbers and the analysis are identical.
Which theme should I use for client-facing PDFs? Light, in almost every case. It prints better and matches most client documents. See Exporting results.
Can I set dark mode for everyone in my workspace? No. Each person chooses their own.
See also
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