How to Install and Configure Dark Mode in Windows 10
I’ll never get out of you, dark mode. The more I can get every app I use to remind me of my teenage gothic years, the better. And today we’re going to show you how to enable dark mode at one of the most important points: in Windows 10 itself.
It sounds ominous, but the process is actually pretty smooth. First, you need to at least install the Windows 10 Anniversary Update (released August 2016) to be able to access the darker theme of your operating system. This shouldn’t be a problem for anyone who has connected their desktop or laptop to the Internet at any time over the past many years, but I wanted to throw this out there if you want a darker look of some kind of forgotten system. this is using a much older OS version. (Upgrade your operating system already.)
When you’re ready to go to the dark side, open Windows 10 Settings and click Personalize . From there click on Colors in the left sidebar. Find the “Choose your color” drop-down menu on the right side of the window and switch from light to dark.
Easy, right? Not so fast. Instead, I recommend that you click on Custom , which will open up even more options for the look of your applications and operating system:
In other words, you can now run a hybrid of two modes: dark view for the main elements of your operating system (such as the taskbar and Start menu) and light view for all your applications (web browser, explorer, etc.)
If you want to customize the look of an individual app, you won’t be able to do so through any of the Windows 10 settings. Instead, check the app’s settings to see if there is a way to switch it between light or dark theme – which you may also need enforce if your application prioritizes system default. This changes the appearance of the application depending on what you have set in Windows 10 settings. This is useful for consistency, but you need to disable it, for whatever reason, you want to use a light web browser on a dark OS.
For example, this is what this setting looks like in Edge Chromium:
For fun, you can also explore third-party apps that automatically switch your system between light and dark mode based on the time of day – similar to what you’ll find in recent versions of macOS. I haven’t used them myself because I never plan to go out again, but there is an option if you are so inclined. You can also do it yourself if you don’t mind spending some time on Windows 10 Task Scheduler .