How do I change between Dark and Light Windows Theme

Quick start (everything Light or Dark) ⚡ 

 

 

 Right-click the desktop → Personalize 🖼️ 

   

   

 

 

 Go to Colors 🎨 

 

 

 

 Under Choose your mode select: 

 

 

 Light ☀️ — makes both apps and Windows menus light 

 

 

 Dark 🌙 — makes both apps and Windows menus dark 

 

 

 

 

 

 Different look for Apps vs. Menus (Custom) 🧩 

 Want, say, a light taskbar but dark apps (or the reverse)? Do this: 

 

 

 Right-click desktop → Personalize → Colors 🎨 

 

 

 Set Choose your mode to Custom 🛠️ 

 

 

 Pick each separately: 

 

 

 Choose your default Windows mode = Menus/UI (Start, taskbar, Settings, File Explorer chrome) 🧭 

 

 

 Light ☀️ or Dark 🌙 

 

 

 

 

 Choose your default app mode = Most apps 🗂️ 

 

 

 Light ☀️ or Dark 🌙 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 If you switch back to Light or Dark (not Custom), Windows will make both menus and apps match that choice. 

 

 

 Optional niceties ✨ 

 

 

 Transparency effects : On the same Colors page, toggle Transparency effects to taste 🫧 

 

 

 Accent color : Still in Personalize → Colors , choose Accent color (Auto/Manual) and whether it shows on Start, taskbar, and title bars 🎯 

 

 

 

 Notes 📝 

 

 

 These steps work in Windows 11 and Windows 10 (names look the same). 

 

 

 Some apps have their own theme switch; those can override your default app mode .