How to Enable Dark Mode and Night Light on Windows 11

Windows 11's Dark Mode reduces eye strain in low light, and Night Light warms screen colors in the evening to help you sleep better. Here's how to turn both on.

In this guide (4 steps):

1.Enable Dark Mode in Windows 11
2.Enable Night Light in Windows 11
3.Enable Dark Mode in Chrome (separate from Windows)
4.Try Microsoft's "High Contrast" mode for low vision

Enable Dark Mode in Windows 11

~33s

Right-click on an empty area of the desktop → "Personalize." Alternatively, click StartSettingsPersonalization. Click "Colors." Under "Choose your mode," click the dropdown and select "Dark." Windows immediately switches to a dark color scheme — the taskbar, Start menu, File Explorer, Settings, and most built-in apps all switch to dark gray/black backgrounds. Third-party apps (like Chrome) may have their own dark mode settings.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: If you want the best of both worlds — dark menus but light app windows — choose "Custom" instead of "Dark" and select "Dark" for Windows mode and "Light" for the default app mode.

Enable Night Light in Windows 11

~33s

Go to SettingsSystemDisplayNight Light. Click the toggle to turn it on immediately, or click "Night Light settings" to configure a schedule. "Set hours" lets you choose specific times (for example, 8 PM to 7 AM). "Sunset to sunrise" automatically adjusts based on your location's actual sunset time. The "Strength" slider controls how warm the colors shift — drag it right for more warmth or left for a subtler effect.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Night Light takes several minutes to fully warm to its target color temperature — it shifts gradually rather than switching abruptly, which is less jarring.

Enable Dark Mode in Chrome (separate from Windows)

~29s

Chrome has its own dark mode setting that controls web page appearance — Windows Dark Mode does not automatically make web pages dark. To enable Chrome dark mode: click the three-dot menu → SettingsAppearance → "Theme" → "Use Classic." In the Chrome flags (more advanced): type chrome://flags in the address bar → search "dark mode" → enable "Auto Dark Mode for Web Contents." This makes most websites appear in dark mode. You can also install the "Dark Reader" Chrome extension for more control.

Try Microsoft's "High Contrast" mode for low vision

~29s

For significantly better visibility for people with vision challenges, Windows High Contrast mode uses a very limited color palette with maximum contrast. Go to SettingsAccessibilityContrast themes. Choose from preset themes like High Contrast Black (white text on pure black background) or High Contrast White. These are more extreme than Dark Mode but can make text significantly easier to read for people with low vision. Press Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen to toggle High Contrast mode on and off quickly.

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Two Windows 11 display settings can make using a computer more comfortable, especially later in the day: Dark Mode and Night Light.

Dark Mode

changes the color scheme of Windows from white/light backgrounds to dark gray and black backgrounds. Many people find dark mode easier on the eyes during extended use, especially in dimly lit rooms. It also looks sleek and modern.

Night Light

(different from Dark Mode) gradually shifts screen colors toward warmer yellow tones in the evening. The idea is that blue light from screens can interfere with the body's sleep signals — Night Light reduces blue light after sunset to help you wind down naturally.

Both settings can be enabled independently in under a minute.

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