How to Enable Dark Mode on Windows 11
Turn on system-wide dark mode, app dark mode, and Night Light on Windows 11 to reduce eye strain and give your desktop a sleek look.
Dark Mode on Windows 11
Windows 11 has a built-in dark mode that changes the Start menu, taskbar, Settings, File Explorer, and most Microsoft apps to a dark color scheme. Many third-party apps follow the system setting automatically too.
Step 1 — Enable System Dark Mode
- Open Settings (
Win + I) - Go to Personalization → Colors
- Under Choose your mode, select Dark
The taskbar, Start menu, Action Center, and system UI switch immediately. No restart needed.
Step 2 — Set App Mode Separately (Optional)
On the same Colors page you will see two dropdowns: Choose your default Windows mode and Choose your default app mode. You can keep the Windows UI dark but leave apps in light mode (or vice versa) — useful if you prefer dark chrome around bright content.
Step 3 — Enable Night Light to Reduce Blue Light
Go to Settings → System → Display → Night light. Toggle it on. Night Light shifts your screen's color temperature toward warmer tones in the evening, which reduces eye strain and helps with sleep.
Click Night light settings to:
- Set a schedule (sunset to sunrise or custom times)
- Adjust the warmth of the color shift with a slider
Step 4 — Make Chrome and Firefox Dark Too
Most browsers follow the Windows system theme automatically. If yours does not:
- Chrome: Settings → Appearance → Themes → and pick a dark theme, or install the Just Black theme from the Chrome Web Store
- Firefox: Settings → General → Language and Appearance → Dark
Step 5 — Use a Dark Desktop Wallpaper
Right-click the desktop → Personalize → Background. Choose a dark or minimal wallpaper to complement the dark UI. Windows 11 ships with several dark Spotlight wallpapers built in.
Bonus — Dark Mode Shortcut
There is no single keyboard shortcut to toggle dark mode, but you can use the free Auto Dark Mode app (available on the Microsoft Store and GitHub) to automatically switch between light and dark based on time of day.
Quick Recap
- Settings → Personalization → Colors → Dark for system UI
- Control Windows mode and app mode independently
- Enable Night Light for evening use
- Browsers pick up the system setting automatically in most cases