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

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

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 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 [/i] 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 [/i] 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 [/i] 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 [/i] 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)
New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name AppsUseLightTheme -Value 1 -Type Dword -Force

OR

(Dark)
New-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 FiIVE [/i] 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)
New-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name SystemUsesLightTheme -Value 1 -Type Dword -Force

OR

(Dark)
New-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


Related Tutorials

• How to Add App Mode to Context Menu to Toggle Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10
• How to Add Windows Mode to Context Menu to Toggle Light or Dark Theme in Windows 10
• How to Allow or Prevent Changing Color and Appearance in Windows 10
• How to Change the Theme of Microsoft Edge in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Transparency Effects in Windows 10
• How to Change Theme Mode for Movies & TV app in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off Color Filters to the Screen in Windows 10
• How to Choose Light or Dark Theme for Game Bar in Windows 10
• How to Change Theme Mode for Photos app in Windows 10
• How to Change to a Light or Dark Theme for Mail and Calendar app in Windows 10
• How to Turn On or Off High Contrast Mode in Windows 10
• How to Change Microsoft Edge Chromium Theme to Light or Dark Mode

:)

 

Apps are in black

Please see:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/24038-chang...

 

Cortana `Ask me anything` is always white

I've noticed it changes between black or white when you change the theme color/default app mode from Light to Dark: All Settings --> Personalization --> Colors --> "Choose your default app mode". Toggling that between Light and Dark changes the Cortana
search box color accordingly. Guessing it's a design update.

 

Thank you Cliff. *Smile

 

good job thanks Cliff *Smile

 

Now if I could get this on File Explorer my eyes could be at peace once more.

 

Unless Microsoft codes File Explorer XAML instead of system32, I don't see it happening.And even then, this registry entry doesn't effect "all" Universal apps(XAML), for example News app.

 

Tutorial updated to add OPTION ONE for Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14316:

Insider Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14316 - Windows 10 Forums

 

Still no way to do this? Also, do you not have a dark theme for this forum? I couldn't find an option.

 

To get a "dark mode" for file explorer you need to use "Color Filter" in ease of access, and that will change all your color settings on the whole system, icons, wallpaper, settings, app color mode(need to switch to light so it will become dark) inclusive. what it does is just invert all color settings. After switching to invert, you will need to re theme your system.

*Arrow Turn On or Off Color Filters to the Screen in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

Original coloring




Inverted coloring




As for forum theme, look at the bottom:

 

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.