Enabling Dark Features
Confluence disables and hides certain special features. Learn how to turn them on.
So-called "dark features" are simply system configuration options that are hidden from the normal Confluence Administration menus. Dark features are hidden (though accessible) because changing them may result in major disruptions to the Confluence environment. However, there may be scenarios where one or more of these options should be disabled or enabled. Typically, this is only done by request from Atlassian, maker of Confluence, during troubleshooting, compatibility testing, or for re-enabling a legacy option.
Dark features are also called "labs features" or "hidden options."
Determine if you have Site Administrator privileges.
In order to access and change Dark Features, you must be a Site Administrator
Visit the Special Dark Features URL
Enter the following URL postfix into your browser window: <your confluence base URL>/admin/darkfeatures.action
For example (on a locally running instance), the full URL is: http://localhost:8090/admin/darkfeatures.action
Disable or Enable a Dark Feature
There are two lists of dark features: System Property Dark Features and Site Dark Features. In order to change the former, you must restart the server with or without one of the features using a special command (beyond the purview of this How-To entry).
To change a Site Dark Feature, you must either click the "remove" button (to disable) or manually enter in dark feature property name.
