How To Enable Dark Mode on Windows 11

If you find light text on a dark background easier to see - like many of us - you'll want to use your operating system's dark mode. Luckily, it's very easy to enable dark mode in Windows 11, which will affect the look and feel of both your apps and the system taskbar.

Some of the upcoming pre-built PCs may even have this dithering mode enabled by default. But you can't count on it, so follow the guide below to enable Windows 11 dark mode.

Enable Dark Mode on Windows 11

1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.

2. Go to the Personalization > Color. Note that the Themes section manages different things, and it has nothing to do with a dark and white theme in Windows 11.

3. Find the Choose your color option and select Dark from the drop-down list to enable dark mode in Windows 11. If you want to create a custom theme, choose Custom.

4. And instantly, Windows 11 will enable dark mode on your entire PC. The Settings page you're on will also turn dark.

For an even better dark mode experience, change your PC's theme to a darker color. You can do this by going to the Personalization menu on the Settings screen.

At the top of the Personalization screen, from under Select a Theme to Apply select the Windows (Dark) theme.

And Windows 11 will apply the selected dark theme, making everything on the PC darker!

Your Start menu should look something like this with dark mode enabled:

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Use a pre-made Windows 11 theme

Like Windows 10, Windows 11 lets you apply unique themes that change everything about the interface in one swoop—the wallpaper, menu and folder colors, accent colors, icons, and more.

1. Go to Settings > System > Personalization > Themes.

2. Select the theme you want from the “Current Theme” drop-down menu. The Windows (Dark) theme is probably the safest bet, but there are several others that offer dark mode-like color schemes.

3. If you don’t like any of the pre-included options, click Browse Themes to view and download additional themes available in the Microsoft Store.

4. Once you have your new theme selected, click Apply to enable it.

Use custom theme colors

If you don’t like a theme’s default colors, you can change them in the personalization settings. There are several settings available that will help you create your own dark (or light) theme’s colors.

1. Go to Settings > System > Personalization > Colors

2. Select Custom from the Choose Your Mode drop-down box.

3. Select whether you want the windows and menus to use the default Dark or Light themes.

4. Scroll down and set Accent Color to Manual.

5. Select from the colors in the menu, or click View colors use the color picker to find one you like best.

6. You can also use the toggles to apply the accent color to the taskbar or folder/app window borders.

Use a Contrast theme

Windows 11’s personalization settings also include “Contrast themes” that are designed for users with specific vision-based accessibility requirements. As the name implies, Contrast themes use contrasting color combinations that make it easier to read text against the background (either light text and dark backgrounds for menus, or dark text and light backgrounds) and many of them work as dark themes.

You can toggle contrast themes on or off at any time by pressing the left Alt + left Shift + Print Screen keys, but you will probably want to edit the contrast theme in the Windows 11 settings as well.

Go to Settings > System > Personalization > Themes > Contrast themes

Once you’re in the Contrast themes menu, select the color scheme you like best from the drop-down menu. You can also click Edit to customize your contrast theme.

Disable Dark Mode on Windows 11

To disable dark mode and go back to light mode, head into Settings > Personalization > Colors. Then, click the Choose Your Mode drop-down menu and select Light.