Windows 11 Dark Mode: How to Enable, Schedule, & Customize

Download Article

Change the entire look of Windows with dark mode

Co-authored by Hannah Dillon Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: March 21, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

Enabling Dark Mode

|

Dark Mode Timer

|

Why Dark Mode?

|

Video

Is your computer screen a little too bright, but you don't want to turn down the brightness? If so, you should try dark mode. Dark mode is a display option in Windows 11 that makes your system and (some) apps darker, just like dark mode on your phone or on certain websites. Note that not every app will be affected by dark mode, so you may need to enable dark mode separately in different apps or in your web browser.

Quick Steps

Open your Windows settings.
Go to Personalization > Colors.
Click the dropdown next to "Choose your mode."
Choose Dark.

Section 1 of 3:

Enabling Dark Mode

Download Article

1
Open Settings. There are a few ways to do this:
- Press ⊞ Win+i.
- Right-click the Windows icon in the taskbar and select Settings.
- Click on the Windows icon in the taskbar and click Settings.
- Type settings into the taskbar search bar and click Settings in the Start menu that pops up.
It's in the left-hand sidebar, and it has an icon of a paintbrush.

Advertisement
This option has an icon of a painter's palette. It's near the top of the menu, right under "Background."
4
Click the dropdown next to "Choose your mode." The top option in the Colors menu says "Choose your mode." This lets you switch between Light and Dark mode. If you want to enable dark mode, choose Dark in the dropdown. If Dark is already selected, that means you've already got dark mode enabled.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If you choose Custom, you can choose to select light or dark mode for your default Windows mode and your default app mode, if you'd prefer to mix and match.

Section 2 of 3:

Setting Up a Dark Mode Timer

Download Article

1
Download PowerToys from GitHub. PowerToys is a program with a number of Windows utilities. It's been around for years, and it was created by Microsoft.^{[2]
X
Research source} If you want to set up a timer for light and dark mode, you'll need to use PowerToys.
- Download PowerToys from GitHub. Click the latest release on the right-hand side and download the PowerToys version that works for your computer.
  - You can choose between installing PowerToys on a per-user basis or a machine-wide basis.
  - You'll likely need to get the x64 version of the program, unless you know that you have a CPU with ARM64 architecture.
2
Install PowerToys. Once the download finishes, open the EXE file you just downloaded. Follow the instructions in the installation wizard to continue.
- After installing PowerToys, it will immediately open.
It's under the "System Tools" header. If you don't see the Light Switch option, expand "System Tools" first.
Light Switch allows you to set up a schedule for enabling light and dark mode.
It's under the "Schedule" header.
Sunset to Sunrise will enable dark mode after sunset and revert to light mode by sunrise (according to your location and timezone). Fixed hours allows you to choose a specific schedule for when to enable dark mode.^{[3]
X
Research source}

Section 3 of 3:

Reasons to Use Dark Mode

Download Article

Some people find that dark mode reduces eye strain. Light mode can sometimes be too bright, especially in a dark room, and this can be uncomfortable for your eyes after a long period of time.^{[4]
X
Trustworthy Source

American Academy of Opthamologists
Professional medical organization focused on advocating for public health and supporting sight-related research

Go to source}
For some people, dark mode offers better contrast, which allows them to see the words on their screen better. This depends on the individual, of course, as some users find that dark mode makes words too hard to read.
If you're using your computer in a dark room where other people are present, dark mode can make your screen less bothersome for others without the need for you to turn down your screen brightness, making the screen hard to see.
Some people find that using dark mode on their laptops helps reduce battery drain. This depends on what type of screen you have and how bright you normally keep your screen, but overall, using dark mode saves battery life.
Some people just prefer how dark mode looks beyond all of the other benefits it has. If you tend to use dark mode on websites or your phone, you'll probably prefer to use dark mode on your computer, too.^{[5]
X
Research source}