To turn on dark mode in Windows 11, open Settings > Personalization > Colors and set Choose your mode to Dark. The taskbar, Start menu, Settings, File Explorer, and most apps switch to dark colors right away. Choose Custom to set Windows and apps separately.
Turn On Dark Mode
- Right-click the desktop and select Personalize.
- Select Colors.
- Set Choose your mode to Dark.
Mix Dark and Light
- Set Choose your mode to Custom.
- Set Choose your default Windows mode for the taskbar and Start menu.
- Set Choose your default app mode for apps like Settings and File Explorer.
With the Windows mode set to Dark, you can also color the taskbar. See how to change the taskbar color in Windows 11.
Apps That Have Their Own Dark Mode
- Microsoft Office: File > Account > Office Theme, then choose Black or Use system setting.
- Web browsers: Edge and Chrome follow the Windows app mode by default, and each has its own appearance setting.
- Websites: many sites switch automatically, but some don’t offer a dark theme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dark mode turn on automatically at night?
Not with Windows settings alone. Microsoft’s free PowerToys app includes Light Switch, which switches between light and dark mode at sunset and sunrise or at times you choose. Night light, in Settings > System > Display, only warms the screen colors on a schedule.
Does dark mode save battery?
On laptops with OLED screens, it can. On most LCD screens the difference is small.
Why are some apps still light?
Older apps don’t follow the Windows setting. Check the app’s own options for a theme setting.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.