How to change dark theme in Windows 10

MacOS got dark mode a few years ago in Mojave, allowing Mac users to apply a dark theme across apps. Android 10 got a systemwide dark mode setting last year, making it drop-dead easy to go dark in the latest version of Google's mobile OS. And iPhones and iPads got a dark theme in last year's iOS 13 and iPadOS.

You can dim the lights in Windows 10 as well, if you want to conserve a bit of battery life or lessen the strain on your eyes, or if you just like how a darker color palette looks on Microsoft's OS. (Though it turns out shifting the colors on your screen may not be so critical to good sleep hygiene, after all.)

You can make dark mode the default look of the Windows 10 operating system, as well as for many Windows apps. Some older Windows apps such as Task Manager, however, won't adopt the change to dark. 

If you want to apply dark mode across Windows 10 and its apps, here's how. 

Turn on dark mode on Windows 10

Here's how to apply a dark theme to Windows 10.

1. From the Start menu, open Settings.

2. Tap Personalization, and then over in the left navigation pane, tap Colors.

3. Under the label Choose your default Windows mode, turn on the Dark button.

You may need to choose Custom from the Choose your color menu to see the dark mode choice.

Turn on dark mode for Windows 10 apps

If you want to apply a darker color palette across Windows 10 apps, here's how.

1. From the Start menu again, open Settings.

2. Tap Personalization, and then over on the left tap Colors.

3. Under the label Choose your default app mode, turn on the Dark button.

Again, you may need to choose Custom from the Choose your color menu to see the dark mode choice.

And, if you want to apply the dark theme broadly -- across Windows 10 and its apps -- you can select Dark from the Choose your color menu.

Read more: The best antivirus protection of 2020 for Windows 10  

Turn on dark mode in individual Windows 10 apps

If an app doesn't adopt the dark theme after you've turned it on in Windows 10 settings, you may need to adjust that app's individual preference for how it applies the Windows default theme.

1. Head to where the app keeps its appearance settings. 

In the Mail app, for example, tap the Settings gear in the bottom left corner and then tap Personalization over on the right. In the new Edge browser, tap the the three-dot menu to the right of the menu bar, tap Settings, and then tap Appearance.

2. Now, check that the app's appearance preference is set to adopt the Windows 10 default theme. 

For example, In Mail's Personalization settings, tap Use my Windows mode. In Edge's Appearance settings, from the Theme menu, choose System default.

For more, here are six Windows 10 security settings to tweak to protect your device and 13 Windows 10 settings to change to customize Microsoft's OS.

Originally published last year.

• To turn on dark mode in Windows 10, head to your computer's "Personalization" menu.
• Turning on dark mode in Windows 10 will change the appearance of many programs and may feel easier on your eyes. 
• Although Windows 10 has its own dark mode settings, some programs like Microsoft Word have their own dark mode switch.

Android and iOS devices offer a dark mode that dims the on-screen color palette. It's commonly thought to look much more aesthetically pleasing, feel slightly easier on the eyes, and even extend battery life. 

If you like using dark mode on your mobile device, you might be surprised to learn that Windows 10 has had its own dark mode for several years. Here's how to turn it on.

How to turn on dark mode on Windows

1. Click the Start button and then click the Settings icon, which is shaped like a gear. 

2. Click "Personalization."

3. In the pane on the left, click "Colors." There are two dark mode settings you can enable. You can choose either of both of them:

• Under "Choose your default Windows mode," click "Dark." This will turn on dark mode for many basic parts of Windows — in particular, the task bar at the bottom of the desktop and the Start menu. 
• Under "Choose your default app mode," click "Dark." This has a much more widespread effect, and will automatically activate dark mode in many apps that have it.

How to turn on dark mode in specific Windows apps

If you turn on both dark modes and find that some specific apps still don't turn dark, those apps might have their own independent dark mode settings. 

To find out, open the settings for the app in question and see if there's a settings menu you can enable dark mode in.

For example, here is how to turn on dark mode in Microsoft Office:

1. In any Microsoft Office app (such as Word, Excel, or Outlook), click "File" and then click "Options."

2. In the General tab, go to the section called "Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office."

3. Click the drop-down menu for "Office Theme" and choose either "Dark Gray" or "Black." Click "OK" and the dark mode will take effect. 

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• How to find screenshots on a Windows 10 computer and change where they're saved to by default

• How to copy your screen on a Windows computer in 2 ways, to take a full or partial screenshot

Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

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