Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10  

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    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10

    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10

    How to Change Default App Mode and Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme Color in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Customization
    14 Jul 2021
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change Default App Mode and Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme Color in Windows 10


    In Windows 10, you can change your apps instantly from light mode to dark mode – great for low-light conditions like working at night. When you make the switch, UWP (Universal Windows Platform) apps including Mail, Calendar and the Windows Store app go to a black background, which can even save your battery power with certain screen technologies.

    Starting with Windows 10 build 17666, dark theme support has been added to File Explorer, the File Explorer context menu, as well as the Common File Dialog (aka the Open and Save dialogs).

    Some UWP apps (ex: Microsoft Edge) allow you to change their theme independently of your set default app mode.

    Starting with Windows 10 build 18282, you can now choose to apply a light or dark theme for your default Windows mode (system UI) and default app mode (apps) separately or both. The system UI includes the taskbar, Start menu, Action Center, touch keyboard, and more. As part of this work Microsoft is also adding a new default wallpaper. Selecting the new Windows Light theme will also change your PC to be light themed.

    See also: Windows 10 Tip: Dark theme in File Explorer | Windows Experience Blog

    This tutorial will show you how to choose between a light or dark theme color for the default Windows mode and default app mode separately or both for your account in Windows 10.

    Taskbar toolbar menus currently do not support the dark theme mode, and will only use light mode.




    Contents

    • Option One: Choose Light or Dark Theme Color for Default Windows Mode and App Mode in Settings
    • Option Two: Choose Light or Dark Theme Color for Default App Mode using a REG file
    • Option Three: Choose Light or Dark Theme Color for Default Windows Mode using a REG file
    • Option Four: Choose Light or Dark Theme Color for Default App Mode in PowerShell
    • Option Five: Choose Light or Dark Theme Color for Default Windows Mode in PowerShell



    EXAMPLE: Default App Mode and Windows Mode using Light or Dark theme color
    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10-settings.png Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10-windows_light_theme.jpg






    OPTION ONE

    Choose Light or Dark Theme Color for Default Windows Mode and App Mode in Settings


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Personalization icon.

    2 Do step 3 (light), step 4 (dark), or step 5 (custom) below for the default app and/or Windows mode you want.


     3. Choose Light Theme Color for Both Default Windows Mode and Default App Mode

    This option is only available starting with Windows 10 build 18282.


    A) Click/tap on Colors on the left side, select Light in the Choose your color drop down list, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

    Selecting Light instead of Dark or Custom will gray out and disable the Start, taskbar, and action center setting to show accent color on.


    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10-light_default_app_windows_mode.jpg


     4. Choose Dark Theme Color for Both Default Windows Mode and Default App Mode

    This option is only available starting with Windows 10 build 18282.


    A) Click/tap on Colors on the left side, select Dark in the Choose your color drop down list, and go to step 6 below. (see screenshot below)

    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10-dark_default_app_windows_mode.jpg


     5. Choose Custom Light or Dark Theme Color for Default Windows Mode and Default App Mode

    A) Click/tap on Colors on the left side, and select Custom in the Choose your color drop down list. (see screenshot below)

    This setting is only available starting with Windows 10 build 18282.


    B) Select (dot) Light or Dark under Choose your default Windows mode for what theme color you want.

    This setting is only available starting with Windows 10 build 18282.

    Selecting Light instead of Dark will gray out and disable the Start, taskbar, and action center setting to show accent color on.


    C) Select (dot) Light or Dark under Choose your default app mode for what theme color you want.

    D) Go to step 6 below.

    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10-custom_default_app_windows_mode.jpg

    6 You can now close Settings if you like.






    OPTION TWO

    Choose Light or Dark Theme Color for Default App Mode using a REG file


    The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize

    AppsUseLightTheme DWORD

    0 = Dark theme
    1 = Light theme


    1 Do step 2 (light) or step 3 (dark) below for the default app mode you want.


     2. Choose Light Theme Color for Default App Mode

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Use_Light_theme_color_for_default_app_mode_for_current_user.reg

    Download


     3. Choose Dark Theme Color for Default App Mode

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Use_Dark_theme_color_for_default_app_mode_for_current_user.reg

    Download

    4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    7 After your app mode has changed, you can delete the .reg file if you like.






    OPTION THREE

    Choose Light or Dark Theme Color for Default Windows Mode using a REG file


    This option is only available starting with Windows 10 build 18282.

    The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize

    SystemUsesLightTheme DWORD

    0 = Dark theme
    1 = Light theme


    1 Do step 2 (light) or step 3 (dark) below for the default app mode you want.


     2. Choose Light Theme Color for Default Windows Mode

    This setting will gray out and disable the Start, taskbar, and action center setting to show accent color on.


    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Use_Light_theme_color_for_default_Windows_mode_for_current_user.reg

    Download


     3. Choose Dark Theme Color for Default Windows Mode

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Use_Dark_theme_color_for_default_Windows_mode_for_current_user.reg

    Download

    4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    7 After your app mode has changed, you can delete the .reg file if you like.






    OPTION FOUR

    Choose Light or Dark Theme Color for Default App Mode in PowerShell


    1 Open PowerShell.

    2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use into PowerShell, and press Enter.

    (Light)
    Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name AppsUseLightTheme -Value 1 -Type Dword -Force

    OR

    (Dark)
    Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name AppsUseLightTheme -Value 0 -Type Dword -Force

    3 You can now close PowerShell if wanted.






    OPTION FIVE

    Choose Light or Dark Theme Color for Default Windows Mode in PowerShell


    1 Open PowerShell.

    2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use into PowerShell, and press Enter.

    (Light)
    Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name SystemUsesLightTheme -Value 1 -Type Dword -Force

    OR

    (Dark)
    Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name SystemUsesLightTheme -Value 0 -Type Dword -Force

    3 You can now close PowerShell if wanted.


    That's it,
    Shawn Brink






  1. Posts : 27,162
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #1

    Currently this only seems to affect the Settings, Store, and Calculator apps in the example screenshots below.

    If you spot any others, then please feel free to post a reply with a screenshot.

    Found one! Voice recorder.
    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10-image-004.png

    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10-image-003.png
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Thank you Cliff. :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 7
    Windows 10 IOT Enterprise LTSC 2021 EN x64 modified by myself
       #3

    good job thanks Cliff :)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit
       #4

    Now if I could get this on File Explorer my eyes could be at peace once more.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 27,162
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #5

    Mildoze said:
    Now if I could get this on File Explorer my eyes could be at peace once more.
    Unless Microsoft codes File Explorer XAML instead of system32, I don't see it happening.And even then, this registry entry doesn't effect "all" Universal apps(XAML), for example News app.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Tutorial updated to add OPTION ONE for Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14316:

    Insider Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14316 - Windows 10 Forums

    When you switch to dark mode, apps such as Settings, Store, Alarms & Clock, Calculator and other UWP apps that listen and respond to theme changes in the OS will change into dark mode. Some UWP apps that control their own theme settings (separate from Windows) won’t change by toggling this setting.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 12
    Windows 10 Home SL
       #7

    Mildoze said:
    Now if I could get this on File Explorer my eyes could be at peace once more.
    Still no way to do this? Also, do you not have a dark theme for this forum? I couldn't find an option.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 27,162
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #8

    eilhart said:
    Still no way to do this? Also, do you not have a dark theme for this forum? I couldn't find an option.
    To get a "dark mode" for file explorer you need to use "Color Filter" in ease of access, and that will change all your color settings on the whole system, icons, wallpaper, settings, app color mode(need to switch to light so it will become dark) inclusive. what it does is just invert all color settings. After switching to invert, you will need to re theme your system.

    Turn On or Off Color Filters to the Screen in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

    Original coloring
    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10-image.jpg

    Inverted coloring
    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10-image.jpg

    As for forum theme, look at the bottom:

    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10-image-009.png

    Change Default App & Windows Mode to Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10-image.png
    Last edited by Brink; 16 Dec 2017 at 09:30. Reason: added tutorial link for more info
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 12
    Windows 10 Home SL
       #9

    Thanks. The color filter seems to apply to everything including shortcut icons. I found a theme called Blac & Grey in themes thread on this forum. I think it's made by you. It also changed the file explorer for me. Now I need some nice wallpapers because Windows Spotlight doesn't work like it used to for me anymore. I used to get mine from there. It doesn't ask me if I like them anymore after the update.

    I also applied the Dark forum theme. It's really nice. What is TF Responsive Don't Use?
      My Computer


 

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