How to Enable Dark Mode on Windows 11

4 min read

Dark mode is one of those changes that, once you try it, makes you wonder how you used it any other way. Less eye strain, better look on OLED screens, and more visual consistency across applications. Enabling it on Windows 11 takes less than a minute.

Table of Contents

Enable Dark Mode on Windows 11

The fastest path: right-click the desktop → Personalize → Colors → Choose your mode → select Dark. You can also get there via Settings (Win + I) → Personalization → Colors.

Windows applies dark mode to the system and compatible apps immediately — no restart required. The Start menu, taskbar, File Explorer, Settings, and most native apps change instantly.

Dark Mode for Apps Only (Without Changing the System)

In the same Colors screen, Windows offers three options:

Light: everything white
Dark: everything dark — system and apps
Custom: choose light for the system and dark for apps, or vice versa

The Custom option is useful if you prefer a dark taskbar and Start menu but light application windows, or the other way around.

Change the Accent Color

Further down the same screen, you can change the accent color — the color Windows uses for selected buttons, progress bars, and active elements. There’s a palette of preset colors, or you can enter a custom hex code.

The “Show accent color on Start and taskbar” option changes the background of those areas to your chosen color — a nice touch that looks good with dark tones like navy or forest green.

Automatic Dark Mode Based on Time of Day

Windows 11 doesn’t have a native option to automatically switch between light and dark based on time of day, unlike macOS. But there are ways to get this:

Auto Dark Mode: a free open-source app (available on GitHub and the Microsoft Store) that switches themes automatically at times you configure. Works in the background after initial setup.
Scheduled task: if you’d rather not install anything, you can create two tasks in Windows Task Scheduler that run a PowerShell script to change the registry at specific times.

For most users, Auto Dark Mode is the most practical solution — takes two minutes to set up and works silently in the background.

Apps That Ignore System Dark Mode

Some applications ignore the system setting and have their own theme controls. The most common ones:

Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, and Edge have their own theme settings (or you can install a dark theme extension)
Microsoft Office: File → Account → Office Theme
VS Code: has a built-in theme menu with dozens of dark options

Frequently Asked Questions

Does dark mode save battery on Windows 11?

It depends on the screen type. On OLED or AMOLED displays, dark mode does save battery because black pixels are switched off. On conventional LCD screens (most desktop monitors and many laptops), there’s no power difference — the backlight is always on.

Does dark mode reduce eye strain?

In low-light environments, generally yes. It reduces the harsh contrast between a bright screen and a dark room. In well-lit environments, light mode can be more comfortable because dark text on white background has better contrast for reading.

Can I set just the taskbar to dark without changing apps?

Yes. In Personalization → Colors, choose “Custom” and select Dark for the Windows mode and Light for the app mode (or the other way around).

Where do I find Auto Dark Mode?

In the Microsoft Store searching for “Auto Dark Mode” or on its GitHub repository (github.com/AutoDarkMode/Windows-Auto-Night-Mode). It’s completely free and open source.

Do screenshots show dark mode?

Yes. Screenshots capture exactly what you see on screen, including dark mode. If you share screenshots with people using light mode, it will look different from what they see on their end.