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

Cliff S · 16 Dec 2017

eilhart said:

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?

I don't know, I think it's something/a tool for the owner of the forum to use when making skins. But don't quote me there.
Oh Black & Grey, the high contrast theme I made a while back? I'm happy you like it, and glad it helped.
There are other dark high contrast themes there to, you might want to try them, also until you find one that exactly fits your needs.

Brink · 15 Nov 2018

Tutorial has been updated for Windows 10 build 18282.

Wiltan · 14 Dec 2018

How can I keep Dark Mode on for the OS but turn it off for file Explorer. I'm running 1809. Thanks.

LEOPEVA64 · 14 Dec 2018

Wiltan said:

How can I keep Dark Mode on for the OS but turn it off for file Explorer. I'm running 1809. Thanks.

It's not possible right now, but it seems that it will be possible in the next Feature update (1903):

New Windows 10 Insider Preview Fast + Skip Build 18298 (19H1) -Dec. 10

Wiltan · 14 Dec 2018

Thanks. Can't get used to the file explorer dark mode.

Starwolf · 14 Nov 2019

Excellent post Shawn, thanks! One small tweak I'd recommend is using Set-ItemProperty instead of New-ItemProperty for the Powershell commands.

Brink · 14 Nov 2019

Starwolf said:

Excellent post Shawn, thanks! One small tweak I'd recommend is using Set-ItemProperty instead of New-ItemProperty for the Powershell commands.

Agreed @Starwolf. Done.

Starwolf · 14 Nov 2019

Brink said:

Agreed @Starwolf. Done.

Wow, you guys are really on top of things in this forum! Glad to finally be on board.

Cornan · 11 Mar 2020

At my workplace IT systems have Personalization disabled in the same way that non-technical employees do, so I need to use the Registry to adjust the interface.

But AppsUseLightTheme and SystemUsesLightTheme have no effect for my regular user.
Light mode is working fine in a secondary "admin" user, but it doesn't have access to the company network. This machine is Version 1903, Windows 10 Enterprise.
Any other Registry keys or policies that I might need to set to get Light Mode running?
Some settings do work (e.g. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors\Window), but not the Light Mode ones.

Brink · 11 Mar 2020

Cornan said:

At my workplace IT systems have Personalization disabled in the same way that non-technical employees do, so I need to use the Registry to adjust the interface.

But AppsUseLightTheme and SystemUsesLightTheme have no effect for my regular user.
Light mode is working fine in a secondary "admin" user, but it doesn't have access to the company network. This machine is Version 1903, Windows 10 Enterprise.
Any other Registry keys or policies that I might need to set to get Light Mode running?
Some settings do work (e.g. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors\Window), but not the Light Mode ones.

Hello Cornan,

If Personalization is disabled by a policy, no method of changing these settings will usually work until your IT department sets the policy back to the default "Not Configured".

Allow or Prevent Changing Color and Appearance in Windows 10

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

These settings not working with Windows 10 Enterprise 1903