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

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.

 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)

 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.

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

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