Apr 21, 2016 If the ordinary look of Windows 10's user interface already has you bored, you can change the theme and refresh it. Since the release of the Anniversary Update, Microsoft made the option to switch to the Dark mode available to all users. The Dark theme will apply to all elements of Windows 10.
In Windows 10 the visual appearance of the operating system has changed a fair bit with all those gray backgrounds, white title bars, etc. With the light color scheme, Window 10 looks minimal when it comes to modern apps and the settings panel. This is all good and well, but if you think the color scheme is too light for your eyes or if you just want to see the dark side of Windows, then you can actually enable the Dark Mode in Windows 10.
Here is how you can easily enable Dark Mode.
Note: since we are going to be fumbling around with the Windows Registry, make sure you have a good backup of it.
Enable Dark Mode in Windows 10
Before going any further, one thing to keep in mind is that Dark Mode in Windows 10 is not yet complete. So you might find inconsistencies. Only follow the procedure if you know what you are doing.
Enabling Dark Mode in Windows 10 is easy; all you have to do is create a couple of registry keys. To do that, press “Win + R,” type regedit
and press the Enter button.
The above action will open the Windows Registry. Here, navigate to the following key.
We need to create a new sub key for the Themes key. To do that, right-click on “Themes” and select the option “New” and then “Key.”
Name the new key as “Personalize,” and press the Enter button to confirm the name.
Once the key has been created, select the key, right-click on the right pane and select the “New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value” option. This action will create a new DWORD value.
Name the new value as “AppsUseLightTheme,” and press the Enter button. By default, the value data is set to “0,” so there is no need to change any value data.
Once you are done creating the new value, we need to create another one. Navigate to the following key in the Windows Registry.
If you cannot find the “Personalize” key, then just create one as shown in the above steps. Once you are at the Key, right-click on the right pane, select the “New” option, and then “DWORD (32-bit) Value.”
This action creates an empty value. Rename the value to “AppsUseLightTheme.” Just like before, the default value data is set to “0,” so there is no need to change any value data.
Once you are done creating the keys, just restart or sign out and sign in again to see the changes. As you can see, the Dark Mode is not a completed feature (the title bar is messed up). But once completed, you might find native options to enable or disable it (hopefully).
For now there are inconsistencies in the Dark Mode like the minimize, maximize and close buttons not appearing. If you want to revert back, either change the value data for both values to “1,” or just delete the registry values that you have created earlier.
Do comment below sharing your thoughts and experiences about using the above method to enable Dark Mode in Windows 10.
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Mac users may be excited by the addition of a dark mode to MacOS Mojave but did you know this is something Windows 10 ($100 at Amazon) could already do?
When the Windows 10 Anniversary Update arrived a few years back it brought the ability to put your device into Dark Mode, which offers black windows instead of white ones. Whether you're a developer, or simply need to use your computer in a shared space at night, Dark Mode can help. There may be one (big) caveat, but here's how to do it.
First, you'll need to access the settings of your PC. There are two ways you can do it, and the first is by pressing the Windows key + I. If you forget the shortcut you can instead click on the Windows icon on the taskbar and then click the Settings cog icon.
Next, click on the Personalization icon (fifth on the list), and then Colors. At the bottom of the Colors menu you'll find 'Choose your default app mode' with the option for Light (default) or Dark.
Dark Mode features a black background, dark-gray scrollbars and white text, and works with most default Windows 10 apps.
Be aware that Dark Mode won't work with File Explorer, which still uses a white background. While Dark Mode is coming to the Explorer at some point -- it's available in the current Preview build -- Microsoft has yet to confirm when it will be included in the official release.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment. See everything announced at WWDC 2018 here.
See also
iOS 12: Siri shortcuts, group FaceTime and 'Memoji' -- Animoji of you.
![Mode Mode](https://www.bleepstatic.com/images/news/Microsoft/Windows-10/f/file-explorer/dark-theme/file-explorer.png)
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