Personalization Choose Dark or Light Mode for Colors in Windows 11


  • Staff
Colors_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to choose light or dark colors for the default Windows mode and app mode for your account in Windows 11.

In Windows 11, you can change the theme colors that appear in Windows mode and app mode to light or dark.

The Dark mode has a darker set of colors and is designed to work well in a low-lit environment.

The Light mode setting has a lighter color scheme across the Start menu, taskbar, Quick Settings, and notification center. It works well during daylight hours. If you choose the Light mode, you’ll be able to show an accent color for window title bars and borders. You won’t have the option to personalize the color of the Start menu and taskbar (that option is only available for Dark and Custom modes).

The Custom mode gives you more options somewhere in between light and dark. You can choose an accent color or have Windows select one (the accent color will provide a contrast with or match your wallpaper and Windows color). You can also show an accent color for window title bars (the horizontal bar at the top of a window) and borders. Play around with the colors and modes to see which ones work best for you.

References:


It is required to activate Windows 11 before you can choose your mode to personalize your PC.


Selecting Light instead of Dark for Choose your default Windows mode will gray out and disable the Show accent color on Start and taskbar setting.


Contents

  • Option One: Choose Light or Dark Colors for Default Windows Mode and App Mode in Settings
  • Option Two: Choose Light or Dark Colors for Default App Mode using REG file
  • Option Three: Choose Light or Dark Colors for Default Windows Mode using REG file
  • Option Four: Choose Light or Dark Colors for Default App Mode in PowerShell
  • Option Five: Choose Light or Dark Colors for Default Windows Mode in PowerShell


EXAMPLE: Default "Windows mode" and "App mode" with Light and Dark colors

Windows11_Light_or_Dark_mode-1.png
Windows11_Light_or_Dark_mode-2.png

Windows11_Light_or_Dark_mode-3.png
Windows11_Light_or_Dark_mode-4.png





Option One

Choose Light or Dark Colors for Default Windows Mode and App Mode in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I). (see screenshot below)

2 Click/tap on Personalization on the left side, and click/tap on Colors on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Windows11_Light_or_Dark-1.jpg

3 Perform one of the following action to select Custom, Light (default), or Dark mode: (see screenshots below)
  • Select Light in the Choose your mode drop menu to apply as default Windows mode and App mode.
  • Select Dark in the Choose your mode drop menu to apply as default Windows mode and App mode.
  • Select Custom in the Choose your mode drop menu, and select Light or Dark in the Choose your default Windows mode and Choose your default app mode drop menus.
4 You can now close Settings if you like.

Windows11_Light_or_Dark-2.png

Windows11_Light_or_Dark-3.png

Windows11_Light_or_Dark-4.png






Option Two

Choose Light or Dark Colors for Default App Mode using 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 Colors for Default App Mode

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 4 below.

Use_Light_colors_for_default_app_mode_for_current_user.reg

Download


 3. Choose Dark Colors 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_colors_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

Choose Light or Dark Colors for Default Windows Mode using 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

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 Colors for Default Windows Mode

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 4 below.

Use_Light_colors_for_default_Windows_mode_for_current_user.reg

Download


 3. Choose Dark Colors 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_colors_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

Choose Light or Dark Colors for Default App Mode in PowerShell


1 Open Windows Terminal, and select Windows PowerShell.

2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use into PowerShell, and press Enter.

(Light - default)
Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name AppsUseLightTheme -Value 1 -Type Dword -Force

OR

(Dark)
Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name AppsUseLightTheme -Value 0 -Type Dword -Force

3 You can now close Windows Terminal if you like.





Option Five

Choose Light or Dark Colors for Default Windows Mode in PowerShell


1 Open Windows Terminal, and select Windows PowerShell.

2 Copy and paste the command below you want to use into PowerShell, and press Enter.

(Light - default)
Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name SystemUsesLightTheme -Value 1 -Type Dword -Force

OR

(Dark)
Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize -Name SystemUsesLightTheme -Value 0 -Type Dword -Force

3 You can now close Windows Terminal if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

  • Colors.png
    Colors.png
    11.4 KB · Views: 150
  • Use_Dark_colors_for_default_app_mode_for_current_user.reg
    648 bytes · Views: 365
  • Use_Dark_colors_for_default_Windows_mode_for_current_user.reg
    654 bytes · Views: 357
  • Use_Light_colors_for_default_app_mode_for_current_user.reg
    648 bytes · Views: 357
  • Use_Light_colors_for_default_Windows_mode_for_current_user.reg
    654 bytes · Views: 332
Last edited:
I sure wish the dark mode's black was less black like it was in Windows 10. :( Windows 10's dark mode was more attractive and easier on the eyes.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft 15" Surface Laptop 4
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon
    Hard Drives
    512GB WD SSD
    Internet Speed
    384 Mbps per attached network device
    Browser
    MS Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8950
    CPU
    12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-12900K, 3200 Mhz, 16 Core(s), 24 Logical Processor(s)
    Memory
    32 GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32" Samsung
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3 (BT)
    Keyboard
    Arteck (BT)
    Internet Speed
    800
    Browser
    MS Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
My search engine doesn't turn white, I don't know why
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-9700F, 4500 MHz
    Motherboard
    ASRock B365M-HDV
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GTX 1070 (8 GB)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC887 @ Intel Kaby Point PCH - High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 32 cale
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    Dysk nr 1 - Patriot Burst (B5950791083400100449) [894 GB] D: E:
    Dysk nr 2 - SAMSUNG MZVLB256HBHQ-000L2 (0025_3889_91CB_C6D1.) [238 GB] C: F: G:
    Keyboard
    roccat

Latest Support Threads

Back
Top Bottom