Task manager dark problem

For some reason my task manager is all dark. How do I make it look normal (light) again?
Windows 11 x64 22H2 with Windows Update KB5020044 (29 november 2022, KB5020044 (OS-build 22621.900) Preview) installed.

Default Windows Mode is set to Dark
Default app mode is set to Light

TheQuickFox said:

For some reason my task manager is all dark. How do I make it look normal (light) again?
Windows 11 x64 22H2 with Windows Update KB5020044 (29 november 2022, KB5020044 (OS-build 22621.900) Preview) installed.

Click to expand...

Yes, in 22621.900 (KB5020044) the Task Manager is broken. It will only display properly if you have both the default Windows mode and the default app mode set the same, light or dark, either will do.



If you want to stick with a Custom mode, then your only option is to uninstall KB5020044.

I have the same issue. Also noted that a new theme got installed after the update. The theme is "Windows Spotlight, dynamic images.

same here. The entire left pane is invisible. I installed old taskmanager. Worked great. Light theme, just like before.

Later builds have addressed this issue.

KevTech said:

Later builds have addressed this issue.

Click to expand...

That is of little comfort to the average user who is on the retail release. The vast majority have no wish to become Insiders just to fix a stupid error like this.

If the problem was aready known and addressed, then MS have no excuse for issuing code that they knew full well was broken to the entire Windows 11 using public.

K, lemme get this straight. The latest Task Manager is so screwed up that some feel they need to replace it with a legacy UI!?!?!?
Unacceptable!!!
I think MS needs to fall back and regroup!!!

UPDATE 11/30:
New known issue for KB5020044.

Task Manager might not display in expected colors
Task Manager should function as expected but some parts of the UI might not be readable.

Horrible oversight by MS. Ofentimes I think 11 is still in alpha stage.

I've always had difficulty using TM because the fonts are smaller. Generally, I do not like dark mode, but I can say dark TM seems to help these old eyes of mine spot what I am looking for. Even though the fonts are the same size as in light mode, it seems that my eyes perceive what's on the screen differently.

Actually glad this issue happened. It allowed me to find a better and more customizable task manager (Process Hacker) which has option to replace 11's task manager.

Use resmon. Windows key + S and type resmon.

Bree said:

Yes, in 22621.900 (KB5020044) the Task Manager is broken. It will only display properly if you have both the default Windows mode and the default app mode set the same, light or dark, either will do.

View attachment 46622

If you want to stick with a Custom mode, then your only option is to uninstall KB5020044.

Uninstall Updates in Windows 11 Tutorial

Windows Update keeps Windows 11 updated by automatically downloading and installing the latest updates, drivers, and hotfixes released by Microsoft. While it is not recommended to uninstall any installed updates, you can uninstall an update if it causing issues. This tutorial will show you how...

www.elevenforum.com

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Thanks, @Bree! I wondered what had happened to my dark mode settings.

Wynona said:

Thanks, @Bree! I wondered what had happened to my dark mode settings.

Click to expand...

This was really bad quality control on Microsoft's part, letting out code in a public update that they already knew was broken. This bug had already been seen in the Insider Beta channel. I can only hope they correct this mistake before the Patch Tuesday update.

I've gotten TM on the Taskbar on my 3 computers and dark mode but have found that moving the mouse pointer up or down on the extreme left edge of the TM windows pops up a box showing which section one can click to change. It's a small blue bar like a scroll bar.

Berton, you’ll find much the same info in my TM-taskbar thread in the installation, updates thread here.

But I beatcha by more than an hour. Slowpoke!

Dan

Both my machines are exhibiting this problem. Hope Microsoft fixes in up-coming update (soon).

This is a known issue for Build 22621.900 There is a little Tool to restore the old Windows 10/11 21H1 Task Manager, see here: Restore the Old Task Manager in Windows 11 22H2