How to switch between light and dark mode automatically on Windows 11

The Auto Dark Mode app allows you to use Windows 11 to automatically switch between light and dark modes.
This free and open-source tool allows you to schedule theme changes based on custom times or your local sunrise and sunset.
Additionally, it offers options to change the desktop wallpaper, accent color, and even the cursor color on schedule to match the color mode.

Although Windows 11 comes with an option to switch between the light and dark modes, it’s a manual process that requires several steps. Auto Dark Mode is an open-source application that allows you to configure a schedule to switch between the light and dark modes automatically.

In addition, you can configure the tool also to change the desktop wallpaper, accent color, and even the cursor color on schedule to match the color mode.

Furthermore, the application also includes conditions to prevent the switch while you are gaming, a certain process is running, or when the device is running on battery. You can even specify whether apps, including Microsoft Office, should follow the color or stay in their current theme.

In this guide, I’ll teach you the steps to use a third-party tool to add the ability to configure a schedule to switch between the light and dark modes automatically. (You can also use Auto Dark Mode on Windows 10.)

Change from light to dark mode automatically on Windows 11

Before you can switch between color modes automatically, you need to install the application, which is available through the Microsoft Store or GitHub. However, you can also install it with the Windows Package Manager tool built into the operating system.

Install Auto Dark Mode

To install Auto Dark Mode, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to download and install the Auto Dark Mode app and press Enter:
```
winget install --id Armin2208.WindowsAutoNightMode
```

Once you complete the steps, you can launch the application and configure the schedule to switch between the light and dark modes automatically.

Schedule automatic switch from light to dark mode on Windows 11

To switch between the light and dark color modes automatically on a schedule, use these steps:

Open Start on Windows 11.
Search for Auto Dark Mode and click the top result to open the app.
Click on Time.
Turn on the “Enable automatic theme switching” toggle switch.
(Option 1) Select the Set custom hours option.
Confirm the time when Windows 11 should switch to the light mode under the “Custom start time” section.
Confirm the time when you should switch to dark mode under the “Custom start time” section.
(Option 2) Select the “From sunset to sunrise” (location service or geographical coordinates) option to automatically switch between the two system color modes during sunset and sunrise.
(Option 3) Select the “Follow Windows night light” option to allow the app to switch color modes depending on the schedule of the Night Light feature.
(Optional) Click on Switch Modes.
Select the conditions when switching between color modes:
- Don’t switch while playing video games
- Don’t switch while certain processes are running
- Don’t switch themes unless the system is idle
- Notify before automatically switching themes
(Optional) Check the “Switch to dark mode when device is unplugged” option under the “Battery powered devices” section.
(Optional) Click on Apps.
Use the Apps option to decide whether compatible apps should follow the system color mode or stay in light or dark mode.
Use the System option to decide whether Windows 11 should follow the system color mode or stay in light or dark mode.
Use the Microsoft Office option to decide whether Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook should follow the system color mode or stay on the light or dark mode.
Click on Personalization.
Click the Pick a wallpaper setting.
Turn on the “Enable wallpaper switch” toggle switch.
Select the “Light Theme” or “Dark Theme” and configure the wallpaper you want to use for each color mode.
Click the Pick an accent color setting.
Turn on the “Enable Accent color switch” toggle switch.
Configure the accent color for each color mode.

After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will switch between light and dark mode and change the desktop background image and color accent, depending on your configuration.

In addition, the Auto Dark Mode app allows you to change the mouse cursor colors and run specific scripts on schedule.

Update June 22, 2025: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.