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Windows 10⏱ 1 min

How to Enable Dark Mode on Windows 10

Switch the system to dark theme to reduce eye strain and save battery.

Last verified: February 21, 2026

Windows dark mode is controlled system-wide through Settings > Personalisation > Colors, where you select your Default app mode (Light, Dark, or Custom) alongside a separate Windows mode for the taskbar and Start menu, allowing mixed configurations like a dark taskbar with light apps if preferred. Most Microsoft apps and many third-party apps respect the system dark mode setting automatically, though older applications and some web apps won't follow suit and require their own in-app theme setting. The Custom option is useful for scheduling automatic light/dark switching based on Windows' sunrise/sunset data for your location.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Go to Settings > Personalisation > Colors. Under Choose your mode, select Dark.
  2. 2Enable Auto schedule to switch automatically at sunset or at custom times.
  3. 3For apps that do not follow system dark mode, enable dark theme inside each app settings manually.

Still Not Working?

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Verify the Fix

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does dark mode save battery on Windows 10?
On laptops with OLED displays, dark mode provides a small battery saving. On IPS/LCD displays used in most Windows laptops and Macs, the saving is negligible.
Can I schedule dark mode to turn on automatically on Windows 10?
Not natively with a time schedule, but you can set it to Automatic in Settings > Personalisation > Colours, which switches with Windows themed schedules or follow sunrise/sunset using a free app like Auto Dark Mode.
Why don't some apps follow dark mode on Windows 10?
Older apps and some web apps have not implemented support for the system dark mode signal. Check those apps' own Settings > Appearance menu for a built-in dark theme option. Web apps in a browser respond to dark mode if the browser passes the system preference, which most modern browsers do.
Does dark mode affect screenshots on Windows 10?
Yes. Screenshots capture the screen exactly as it appears — if dark mode is active, the screenshot reflects dark mode colours. Switch to light mode before capturing demonstration screenshots if you need a consistent light-mode appearance.

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