- Microsoft is testing a Dark mode toggle in Quick Settings to switch themes faster without opening the Settings app.
- The toggle appears in a new Energy Saver subpage alongside power mode, eco brightness, and screen contrast controls.
- The improvements were discovered in Windows 11 preview build 26300.7965, suggesting the feature is still early in development.
Windows 11 may soon make switching between light and dark themes significantly faster. Instead of navigating through the Settings app, Microsoft is testing a dark mode toggle directly inside Quick Settings, along with new controls that let users remove unwanted quick actions from the panel.
The changes appeared in a recent preview build and show that the company is continuing to refine the Quick Settings experience with faster access to common controls and more customization.
Windows 11 testing dark mode toggle in Quick Settings
Currently, switching between dark and light themes requires opening Settings > Personalization > Colors and manually choosing the color mode. While the process is straightforward, it still involves several steps.
In a recent preview build, however, Microsoft is experimenting with a new dark mode switch in the Quick Settings flyout, similar to how mobile platforms like Android and iOS let users switch themes instantly.
The feature appears inside a new Energy Saver subpage within Quick Settings. When opening this section, you can access several power-related controls designed to improve battery life. The “Dark” mode toggle is grouped in this page because darker interfaces can help reduce power consumption.
The new Energy Saver page currently includes Dark mode, Power mode, Eco brightness, and Screen contrast.
While the change improves accessibility, the toggle still requires two clicks or taps. Users must first open the Energy Saver subpage before accessing the dark mode switch.
Microsoft is also testing Quick Settings customization
Another improvement being tested focuses on Quick Settings customization. According to findings shared by @PhantomOfEarth, users will soon be able to right-click or press and hold on a Quick Settings tile to unpin it instantly.
This means you will be able to remove actions you do not need directly from the flyout, without entering a separate edit mode. The change should make it easier to keep Quick Settings focused only on the controls you actually use.
It’s important to note that the ability to customize the Quick Settings buttons was available on Windows 10, but the functionality was later scratched. Now, it is back.
Windows 11 still lacks scheduled dark mode
The addition of a Quick Settings toggle is a welcome improvement, especially for users who frequently switch between light and dark themes.
However, the feature also highlights a longstanding limitation in Windows 11. Despite years of requests from users, the operating system still does not include a built-in option to automatically switch between light and dark modes based on a schedule, such as sunrise and sunset or a specific time of day.
If you want to use this behavior today, you must rely on third-party tools or utilities such as Auto Dark Mode or PowerToys.
This is notable because competing platforms like macOS have offered automatic theme switching for years, allowing the interface to change seamlessly throughout the day without manual intervention.
Considering how common dark mode has become across modern operating systems, adding native scheduling support would arguably provide more value than simply introducing another toggle.
Other details
The new Quick Settings improvements were discovered on Windows 11 build 26300.7965, suggesting the feature is still in early testing.
Microsoft has experimented with Quick Settings customization in the past, and some of those features never made it to production. As a result, it remains unclear when these changes will roll out to stable versions of Windows 11.
Should Windows 11 automatically switch themes like macOS does?
Voting closes: March 15, 2026 1:00 pm
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert and founder of Pureinfotech in 2010. With over 22 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS.
Certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+.
Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central.
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