How to Turn on Dark Mode in Windows 11

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to turn on dark mode in Windows 11 and change the look of your apps and system taskbar for a more comfortable viewing experience. The Windows 11 dark mode can be activated in two ways: Personalization Settings and Copilot. We’ll explore both of these methods in this guide.

The dark mode is a built-in feature in the Windows 11 operating system. The primary purpose of the dark mode is to reduce eye strain and conserve battery life on your Windows 11 PC. When you activate the dark mode, it changes the overall look and feel of the apps and the system taskbar.

It is important to understand that when you turn on dark mode on Windows 11, not all apps adapt to this change. If the applications do not support dark mode, there is no native method to get them to display in dark mode. In the coming months, Microsoft will gradually add dark mode support to built-in apps.

Turn on Dark Mode in Windows 11 via Settings

Follow these steps to turn on the dark mode in Windows 11 from the personalization settings:

Step 1: Launch the Settings app either from the Start menu or with the Win+ I keyboard shortcut. Now select Personalization > Colors.

Step 2: In the Personalization > Colors window, click on the Choose your mode drop-down and select Dark.

Step 3: Windows 11 will now switch from a light theme to a dark theme. All the apps that support dark mode on Windows 11 will also be applied with a dark theme.

Enable Dark Mode on Windows 11 using Copilot

You can ask Copilot AI on your Windows 11 PC to activate dark mode for you. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open the Copilot app from the Start menu or use the Copilot icon if it is present on your Windows taskbar. In the Copilot session, type “Turn on the dark mode on this PC” and press the enter key.

Step 2: The Copilot AI will ask if you want to activate the dark mode. Click Yes.

Step 3: Copilot AI has now turned on the dark mode on your Windows 11 PC.

Use Copilot to Turn off dark mode

In addition to using the personalization settings, you can use Copilot to turn off the Windows 11 dark mode as well. Launch the Copilot and type “turn off dark mode.” When asked for confirmation, click Yes. The dark mode is deactivated, and the light theme is activated.

Turn On Dark Mode Automatically in Windows 11

On Windows 11, there is no built-in option to enable dark mode automatically. In your system’s display settings, you can enable Schedule Night Light, which allows you to turn it on and off at specific times.

If you want to schedule dark mode to activate automatically, you’ll have to rely on third-party apps or apps from the Microsoft Store. The problem with third-party apps is that they may contain viruses that can harm your computer. Hence, you can either rely on trusted apps from the MS Store or wait for Microsoft to add the feature to schedule dark mode hours in Windows 11.

Tip: Another way to schedule dark mode hours is by creating a scheduled task in Windows 11. This method is too complex and home users may find it difficult to configure it.