Enable Dark Mode on Windows 11

Windows 11 includes a dark mode to personalize the desktop experience, and here's how to enable it.

Windows 11 dark theme enabled
Windows 11 dark theme enabled
  • Enable Windows 11 Dark Mode: Open Settings > Personalization > Colors and choose the “Dark” option.
  • Another way is to open the “Personalization” settings and choose one of the dark themes to enable the Dark Mode.
  • You can also use the dark high-contrast mode and third-party tool to turn on dark color mode automatically.

On Windows 11, you can enable “Dark Mode” through the “Personalization” settings. When in this color mode, the elements on the desktop, such as the Taskbar, Start menu and other menus, File Explorer, and other supported apps (for example, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome), will also change to a dark color scheme with white fonts. If you choose the default dark theme, it will also include a dark version of the default wallpaper.

However, Dark Mode will only affect the Windows 11 desktop and certain apps. If you want your web browser and other apps like Office, you must manually enable the dark color scheme for those applications.

This guide will teach you the steps to change the color mode of Windows 11 and apps quickly.

Enable Dark Mode on Windows 11

To enable Dark Mode on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

  2. Click on Personalization.

  3. Click the Colors tab.

  4. Select the “Dark” option in the “Choose your mode” setting to enable the Dark Mode on Windows 11.

    Enable Windows 11 dark mode

Once you complete the steps, the color of Windows 11 will change to Dark Mode, tinting the desktop elements with a dark color scheme.

Enable Dark Mode from Themes on Windows 11

To enable Dark Mode with a theme on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Personalization.

  3. Under the “Select a theme to apply” section, choose the “Windows (dark)” theme.

    Windows 11 default dark mode

  4. (Optional) Click the Themes tab.

  5. Under the “Current theme” section, choose the “Windows (dark)” theme or any other with a dark color scheme like “Glow” and “Captured” motion.

    Windows 11 default themes

Once you complete the steps, the color of Windows 11 will change to “Dark Mode,” tinting the desktop elements with a dark color scheme.

Enable Dark Mode from Contrast themes on Windows 11

Alternatively, you can also use the high-contrast themes, a feature designed to improve text readability with low contrast for people with low vision. The high-contrast mode uses dark colors for the background and fonts colors that are easier to read across the desktop, applications, and websites.

To apply dark mode using a high-contrast theme on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Accessibility.

  3. Click the Contrast themes tab.

  4. Select the high-contrast theme (Aquatic, Dusk, and Night sky) to enable the Dark Mode with the “Contrast themes” setting.

    Enable high-contrast dark mode

  5. Click the Apply button.

After you complete the steps, the system will switch to the high-contrast mode on Windows 11.

Enable Dark Mode automatically on Windows 11

Although Windows 11 doesn’t include a feature to schedule to switch from light to Dark Mode, you can use a third-party app to control the color system modes.

1. Install Auto Dark Mode X

To install Auto Dark Mode X on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  3. Type the following command to download and install the Auto Dark Mode X app and press Enter:

    winget install --id Armin2208.WindowsAutoNightMode

    winget install Auto Dark Mode X

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

2. Enable auto Dark Mode on Windows 11

To enable Dark Mode automatically at sunset on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Start.

  2. Search for Auto Dark Mode X and click the top result to open the app.

  3. Click on Time.

  4. Select the “Set custom hours” option.

    Switch light to dark automatically

  5. Specify when Windows 11 should enable the light mode.

  6. Specify the schedule when to switch to Dark Mode automatically.

  7. (Optional) Select the “From sunset to sunrise” option to automatically switch between the two system color modes during sunset and sunrise.

  8. Click on Switch Modes.

    Switch color mode conditions

  9. (Optional) Check the “Don’t switch while playing video games” option.

  10. (Optional) Check the “Battery powered devices” option.

  11. Click on Apps.

    Control apps color mode

  12. Use the Apps option to decide whether compatible apps should follow the system color mod or stay on light or Dark Mode.

  13. Use the System option to decide whether Windows 11 should follow the system color mod or stay on light or Dark Mode.

  14. Use the Microsoft Office option to decide whether Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook should follow the system color mod or stay on the light or Dark Mode.

After you complete the steps, Windows 11 will change the color mode to dark according to your configuration.

Enable Dark Mode for web browser on Windows 11

On Windows 11, apps like your web browser can switch to Dark Mode. Usually, apps that support theming by default will respond to the system color theme automatically. However, you can also change the color theme to dark manually.

Turn on dark more for Microsoft Edge

To enable Dark Mode for Microsoft Edge on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.

  2. Click the Settings and more (three-dotted) button on the top-right corner and select the Settings option.

  3. Click on Appearance.

  4. Under the “Overall appearance” section, select the Dark option.

    Edge enable dark mode

Once you complete the steps, Edge will start using the Dark Mode on Windows 11.

Turn on dark mode for Google Chrome

Google Chrome cannot change color modes because it automatically responds to the system color mode. However, a simple switch can force the browser to always start in Dark Mode. Here’s how:

  1. Open Chrome.

  2. Right-click the app button in the Taskbar.

  3. Select the Pin to taskbar option.

  4. Right-click the app button again.

  5. Right-click the Google Chrome item and select the Properties option.

    Chrome open button properties

  6. Click the Shortcut tab.

  7. In the “Target” field, append the following flag at the end of the path:

    --force-dark-mode

    The Target should look similar to this line: "C:\Users\xboxl\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome SxS\Application\chrome.exe" --force-dark-mode.

    Chrome enable dark mode

  8. Click the Apply button.

  9. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, every time you launch Google Chrome from the Taskbar, it’ll open in Dark Mode.

If you want to revert the changes, use the same instructions, but on step No. 8, make sure to remove the --force-dark-mode flag from the “Target” field.

Turn on dark mode for Mozilla Firefox

To enable Dark Mode on Firefox, use these steps:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox.

  2. Click the main menu (hamburger) button and select the Settings option.

  3. Click on General.

  4. Under the “Website appearance” section, select the Dark option.

    Firefox enable dark mode

  5. Click the Extensions & Themes option.

  6. Click the Enable option for the Dark theme.

    Firefox enable dark theme

After you complete the steps, the browser will switch to Dark Mode.

Enable Dark Mode for Office apps on Windows 11

To enable Dark Mode for Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), use these steps:

  1. Open an Office app.

  2. Click on Options from the bottom-left.

  3. Click on General.

  4. Select the Dark option for the “Office Themes” setting.

    Office apps dark mode

  5. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the suite of Office apps will change the color mode to dark.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].