UPDATED FOR 2026
🚀 Chrome Customization · Browser Themes

Google Chrome Space Themes: Install and Remove Fast

1 min
Install Time
1000+
Space Themes
Free
To Use
Easy
To Remove
Prashant Lalwani
October 09, 2026 · 5 min read
Chrome Themes
Google Chrome browser with space-themed interface showing galaxy nebula background on new tab page

A space theme changes Chrome's new tab page and toolbar colors to a galaxy, nebula or planet look. It takes a minute to install, and the part people miss is how to judge a theme before adding it and how to take it off again.

Where this lands

Space themes work well when the image is high resolution and the toolbar colors match the artwork. They work poorly when the image is low quality, the text on the tabs is hard to read, or the theme comes from an unknown developer. Themes only change Chrome itself, not the Google homepage.

💡 Key insight: A great space theme blends high-resolution artwork with readable toolbar text. Before installing, check that tab titles and buttons remain easy to read against the background colors.

How to install one

Open the Chrome Web Store themes section, search "space", "galaxy" or "nebula", and open a theme. Check the rating, the number of users and the developer name, then click Add to Chrome. The theme applies at once, and an Undo bar appears if you want to back out.

You can also use Chrome's built-in option: open a new tab, click Customize Chrome, then Change theme. The collections change over time, so check Chrome Help for the current steps.

Quick install steps

  1. Open Chrome Web Store and go to the Themes category
  2. Search for "space", "galaxy", or "nebula"
  3. Check ratings, user count, and developer name
  4. Click "Add to Chrome" — the theme applies instantly
  5. Use the "Undo" bar if you want to back out immediately
Chrome Web Store showing space theme options with ratings and install buttons for galaxy and nebula themes

The "it looks off" problem

Themes made for one screen size can look stretched on another, and dark artwork can make tab text hard to read. How to avoid it: pick a high-resolution theme, preview it on a new tab, and undo it right away if the tabs are hard to read.

⚠️ Watch out for: Low-resolution images that look pixelated on large monitors, overly dark themes that hide tab text, and themes from developers with no other published work or very few users.

How to remove it

Open Settings, go to Appearance, and click Reset to default next to Theme. On a work or school computer, an admin may control themes, so the option might be locked.

  1. Click the three-dot menu and open Settings
  2. Go to Appearance in the left sidebar
  3. Find the Theme section
  4. Click "Reset to default" to remove the space theme

Want the Google homepage changed too?

Chrome themes don't change the Google homepage. For that, read how to change Google homepage background. For something stranger, try the Google space trick or the Google sphere trick.

🌌 Beyond Chrome themes: Chrome themes only affect the browser interface itself. If you want the actual Google search page at google.com to have a space theme, you'll need a different approach — usually a browser extension or custom CSS.

Comparing your options

Approach Best For Effort Risk
Chrome Web Store theme Many styles to choose from Low Pick from known developers
Built-in Customize Chrome Simple, safe look Lowest None
Homepage trick pages Playful effects Low Look-alike hosts

More fun after setup

Try cool things to type in Google and all Google easter eggs for more browser entertainment.

✅ Bottom line: Chrome space themes are a quick, free way to personalize your browser. Pick high-resolution themes from established developers, check that tab text stays readable, and remember you can always reset to default in Settings if you change your mind.

Frequently asked questions

Not noticeably. They change colors and a background image. The performance impact is minimal since themes don't run complex scripts — they're essentially static visual changes to Chrome's interface.
Check ratings, user counts and the developer name before adding one. Themes from the official Chrome Web Store go through Google's review process, but it's still worth picking themes from established developers with strong ratings and many users.
If you're signed in to Chrome with sync on, it usually does. Your theme preference is part of Chrome's sync settings, so it should appear on other devices where you're logged in with the same Google account.
Open Settings, go to Appearance, and click "Reset to default" next to Theme. On a work or school computer, an admin may control themes, so the option might be locked.
No. Chrome themes only change Chrome itself — the new tab page and toolbar colors. They don't change the Google homepage at google.com. You need a different method to change the actual Google search page background.

Further reading