Exclusions mean “keep native,” not “theme only these sites”
The ForcedSkin whitelist is a list of websites that should not be recoloured. Everything else can still receive Light, Dark, or Auto. This is the opposite of an allow-only theming list, and the wording matters when you search for “exclude sites.”
Use it when a web app already has a complete theme, when colouring fights a canvas UI, or when you simply prefer the vendor skin. The engine never claimed to restyle chrome:// or the Chrome Web Store; those URLs are already unreachable.
Whitelist versus Off versus a missing adapter
Off in the popup disables ForcedSkin on all pages. A whitelist entry disables it on one hostname. If the site is almost right except a few panels, prefer a community adapter before excluding the whole origin.
Exclusions do not upload the page. They are local preferences, with optional account sync of related extension state after you sign in on forcedskin.com. See privacy.
- Whitelist = this hostname stays native
- Off = theming paused everywhere
- Adapter = extra colour rules, still theming
When exclusion is the correct fix
Closed Shadow DOM, bitmap-only interfaces, and some design tools will never map cleanly. Excluding them is success, not failure. Likewise, if invert-style artefacts appear, you are probably not on ForcedSkin’s CSS path — confirm how it works.
You can still browse themes for other sites. Dark-mode strategy across mixed native/themed apps is in website dark mode.
What exclusions cannot do
A whitelist cannot theme Chrome’s toolbar, nor can it force colours into a closed shadow tree. It also does not hide ads or change content. It only skips CSS recolouring on listed domains.
Product context: what is ForcedSkin. Popup switching: change website theme.
Common questions
If I whitelist a site, does ForcedSkin theme only that site?
No. Whitelisted sites are excluded from theming. Other sites still use your palette.
Is Off the same as an empty whitelist?
Off pauses theming globally regardless of the list. An empty whitelist with Dark on means every ordinary site may be recoloured.
Why can’t I exclude chrome:// by adding it to the list?
Those pages are already protected. Extensions cannot theme them, listed or not.
Do exclusions change layout?
No. Skipping the engine leaves the site’s original CSS, layout, content, and navigation as authored.