This article explains how to turn on Windows 10 Dark Theme on computers with Windows 10 and the May 2019 Update package or later. It includes information about the Night Light feature.

What to Know

  • Choose Start > Gear icon > Personalization > Colors.Select Dark in the Choose your color section.

How to Turn on Windows 10 Dark Theme

Eye strain due to prolonged computer and smartphone use seems almost as inevitable as it is uncomfortable. Reduce eye strain by taking advantage of Windows 10’s dark theme—an easy way to customize your system’s color scheme and display darker tones that are easier on the eyes.

The Windows 10 dark theme (referred to as dark mode within the OS), is a simple color customization option to turn your backgrounds black and darken the overall look of your display.

  • Select Start then select the gear icon to open Windows Settings.
  • Select Personalization > Colors.
  • Scroll down to the Choose your color section, then select Dark.
  • Different versions of Windows 10 use slightly different language in the Colors box, including Select your default app mode.

Night Light

Although a dark theme helps with eyestrain in low-light conditions, Windows also includes a tool called Night Light that gradually shifts the color spectrum of the display toward warmer colors. By reducing the relative level of blue light in favor of red light, a light-theme display also reduces eyestrain. Night Light, once set, automatically turns on and off—slowly fading in and out—at sunset and sunrise.

Select Start then select the gear icon to open Windows Settings.

Select Personalization > Colors.

Scroll down to the Choose your color section, then select Dark.

Different versions of Windows 10 use slightly different language in the Colors box, including Select your default app mode.

Not all aspects of Windows 10 will flip to dark mode. File Explorer, for example, still uses the default color scheme, and non-Microsoft apps usually need their own dark themes enabled. Expect the Windows 10 dark theme to be automatically applied to settings menus, and apps like Microsoft Store, Mail, or Calculator.

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