How to switch to Dark Mode in Windows 11

If you spend a lot of time at your PC or laptop at work, Windows 11’s Dark Mode is recommended for a number of reasons. Windows 11 offers a good solution to ensure readability even in dark work environments with its Windows 11 Dark Theme. Additionally, the dark mode ensures a lower energy consumption of the display. Read the following sections to find out how to turn Windows 11 Dark Mode on and off.

The easiest way to manage the dark mode is through the settings. To do this, proceed as follows:

1. Open the Windows 11 settings via the Start menu or with the key combination [Windows] + [i].
2. Click on the “Personalization” item in the left-hand side menu.
3. Call up the “Colors” entry.
4. In the “Select mode” line, select the “Dark” option to activate Windows 11 Dark Mode or “Light” to deactivate the mode.

As mentioned, the use of the Dark Theme has its advantages. This mode is easier on your eyes in dark rooms, gentler than the standard mode, which makes the screen very bright. At the same time, the use of the dark mode results in a lower energy consumption for the displays, which increases the lifespan of the devices. Some users also opt for Windows 11 Dark Mode for aesthetic reasons.

In the following instructions we’ll show you which different possibilities you have to activate or deactivate the Windows 11 Dark Theme.

Another possibility for managing the dark mode is via registry. By adjusting the corresponding entries in the Windows 11 registry, you can turn the mode on and off for apps or the entire system. The steps are as follows:

Step 1: In the first step, open Regedit the in-house editor for managing the system database. To do this, use the key combination [Windows] + [R] to open the “Run” dialog and enter “regedit”. After a subsequent click on “OK”, the editor starts.

Step 2: In Regedit, navigate the following path:

Step 4: If you want to deactivate the Dark Theme again, assign the value “1” for the registry entry shown.