How to turn on Dark Mode on your Windows 10 computer to give everything a sleek look

  • To turn on dark mode in Windows 10, head to your computer’s “Personalization” menu.
  • Turning on dark mode in Windows 10 will change the appearance of many programs and may feel easier on your eyes. 
  • Although Windows 10 has its own dark mode settings, some programs like Microsoft Word have their own dark mode switch.

Android and iOS devices offer a dark mode that dims the on-screen color palette. It’s commonly thought to look much more aesthetically pleasing, feel slightly easier on the eyes, and even extend battery life. 

If you like using dark mode on your mobile device, you might be surprised to learn that Windows 10 has had its own dark mode for several years. Here’s how to turn it on.

How to turn on dark mode on Windows

1. Click the Start button and then click the Settings icon, which is shaped like a gear. 

How to turn on dark mode on Windows 1

Open the Settings in Windows 10 to turn on dark mode.

Dave Johnson/Business Insider

2. Click “Personalization.”

3. In the pane on the left, click “Colors.” There are two dark mode settings you can enable. You can choose either of both of them:

  • Under “Choose your default Windows mode,” click “Dark.” This will turn on dark mode for many basic parts of Windows — in particular, the task bar at the bottom of the desktop and the Start menu. 
  • Under “Choose your default app mode,” click “Dark.” This has a much more widespread effect, and will automatically activate dark mode in many apps that have it.

How to turn on dark mode on Windows 2

Choose either or both of these dark modes, depending upon your personal preferences.

Dave Johnson/Business Insider

How to turn on dark mode in specific Windows apps

If you turn on both dark modes and find that some specific apps still don’t turn dark, those apps might have their own independent dark mode settings. 

To find out, open the settings for the app in question and see if there’s a settings menu you can enable dark mode in.

For example, here is how to turn on dark mode in Microsoft Office:

1. In any Microsoft Office app (such as Word, Excel, or Outlook), click “File” and then click “Options.”

2. In the General tab, go to the section called “Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office.”

3. Click the drop-down menu for “Office Theme” and choose either “Dark Gray” or “Black.” Click “OK” and the dark mode will take effect. 

How to turn on dark mode on Windows 3

Some apps like Microsoft Office have their own dark mode settings.

Dave Johnson/Business Insider

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he’s also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

Read more
Read less