How To Turn OFF or Turn ON Dark Mode in Windows 11

Want to reduce eye strain and make Windows 11 look good? Follow these steps to enable dark mode in Windows 11 (and disable it when not needed).

By default, Windows 11 has Light mode enabled. While it looks good, it blasts your eyes with bright light and unnecessarily strains your eyes. This is especially true at nighttime or in dark environments. That’s where the Dark mode comes into play. The best thing is that it not only reduces eye strain but, unlike in Windows 10, Microsoft has improved the Dark mode in Windows 11, making it look much more consistent throughout the entire user interface and pleasing to the eye.

Thankfully, when needed, you can easily turn on the dark mode in Windows 11 using the Settings app. Of course, if you want to, you can just as easily switch to the light mode by turning off dark mode. In this quick and easy guide, I will show you the steps to enable dark mode in Windows 11 and disable it, too. Let’s get started.

Editor’s note: On Windows 11, Dark Mode is also sometimes called Dark Theme and is often used interchangeably.

Quick navigation links:

1. Steps to turn on dark mode in Windows 11
2. Steps to turn off dark mode in Windows 11

How to Turn ON Dark Mode in Windows 11

You can enable Windows 11 dark mode in the Themes section of the Settings app. Here’s how to do it.

1. Press the “Windows key + I” shortcut to open Settings.
2. Go to the “Personalization” tab on the sidebar.
3. Click the “Colors” option on the right panel.
4. Select “Dark” from the “Choose your mode” dropdown menu.
5. With that, dark mode is enabled system-wide (apps, Start menu, taskbar, Action Center, and File Explorer) instantly.
6. Close the Settings app.

Note: You can also select “Custom” from the “Choose your mode” dropdown menu. It allows you to choose a specific mode for Windows and apps. For example, if you want Windows to use Light mode and apps to use Dark mode, select “Light” from the “Choose your default Windows mode” dropdown and “Dark” from the “Choose your default app mode” dropdown.

How to Turn OFF Dark Mode in Windows 11

You can turn off Windows 11 dark mode from the Settings app. Here’s how:

1. Right-click the Start button on the taskbar.
2. Select the “Settings” option to open the Settings app.
3. Click the “Personalization” tab on the sidebar.
4. Select the “Colors” option on the right main panel.
5. Select “Light” from the dropdown next to “Choose your mode”.
6. With that, the dark mode is disabled, and you are automatically switched to the Light mode.
7. Close the Settings app.

That is it. It is that simple to turn off the dark mode in Windows 11.

More Ways to Turn ON and OFF Dark Mode in Windows 11

While the Settings app makes it easy to switch between dark and light modes, if you are switching often, you can make your life easier with the following methods.

• Desktop shortcut to switch between light and dark modes
• Batch script to switch between light and dark modes
• Schedule light and dark mode using the Auto Switch app
• Schedule light and dark mode using Light Switch (Microsoft PowerToys)

If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.