How to Turn On Dark Mode on Windows 11

Windows 11 ships in light mode. Dark mode turns Settings, File Explorer, the Start menu, the taskbar, and most apps to a dark background in one setting.

Open the Colors page

Press Windows + I and go to Personalization, Colors. Or right-click an empty spot on the desktop, choose Personalize, then Colors.

Choose Dark

Open the Choose your mode dropdown and select Dark. The change applies immediately, with no restart. In Windows 10 the dropdown is labeled Choose your color and has the same Light, Dark, and Custom options.

Split Windows and apps (optional)

Choose Custom instead. Two more dropdowns appear: Choose your default Windows mode controls the taskbar, Start menu, and notifications, and Choose your default app mode controls Settings, File Explorer, and other apps. A common mix is a dark taskbar with light apps.

Adjust the accent color

Further down on the same page, set Accent color to Automatic to pull a color from your wallpaper, or Manual to pick one. In dark mode you can also turn on Show accent color on Start and taskbar and Show accent color on title bars and windows borders. The first of those is only available when the Windows mode is dark.

Apps with their own switch. Some apps ignore the system setting. In Word, Excel, or Outlook, go to File, Account, and set Office Theme to Black or Use system setting. Chrome and Edge follow Windows by default but each has its own choice under Settings, Appearance. Websites decide for themselves, so a dark browser does not make every page dark.

No built-in schedule. Windows cannot switch modes at sunset on its own. Night light under Settings, System, Display has a schedule, but it only warms the screen color and does not change the theme. The free open-source app Auto Dark Mode, available in the Microsoft Store, switches between light and dark on a timer or with local sunrise and sunset.