Dark Mode Troubles in Windows 10—How to Fix Them

Oh, the mysterious realms of Dark Mode! So alluring, yet so perplexing. Have you ever found yourself in the curious predicament where Dark Mode refuses to cooperate on your Windows 10? Fear not, my fellow Windows adventurer! I’m here to guide you through this digital conundrum and shed some light on the matter.

An Enigma Unveiled

Picture this: you eagerly activate Dark Mode on your Windows 10, ready to embrace the effortlessly cool and stylish interface it promises. And then, disappointment strikes! The darkened hues fail to engulf your screen, leaving you bewildered. But fret not, for I shall reveal the secrets to restore harmony in your Windows kingdom.

The Path to Enlightenment

When darkness eludes you, it’s time to embark on a quest for answers. Let’s explore some potential remedies:

1. Update, Update, Update: Ah, those pesky software updates! They may seem never-ending, but trust me, they are crucial. Make sure you have the latest Windows updates installed. They often contain bug fixes and improvements that might just do the trick.
2. Peek into the Settings: Dive into the depths of your Windows 10 Settings. Seek the “Personalization” option, followed by “Colors.” There, you shall discover the Dark Mode toggle. Ensure it’s switched on, like a beacon in the night, illuminating your path to Dark Mode glory.
3. Power of the Restart: Ah, the age-old wisdom of turning things off and on again! It may sound cliché, but it works wonders. Restart your device and witness the mystical powers it holds in resolving countless conundrums, including the elusive Dark Mode malfunction.
4. Seek External Aid: If the previous steps failed to unveil the desired darkness, sometimes an external force can come to your aid. Venture forth into the realm of the Microsoft support community or consult the wise wizards of the tech world. They may wield the knowledge and solutions you seek.

And there you have it, intrepid Windows explorer! Armed with these strategies, the tides shall turn, and Dark Mode shall dance across your screen, bringing an aura of elegance and poise to your Windows 10 experience. So fear not the darkness, for within it lies a realm of beauty waiting to be embraced.

Dark themes are all the rage these days for popular apps. Even Windows 10 hopped on the bandwagon and released Dark mode for its File Explorer.

But since this theme is still quite new, you may run into some issues while using it. Usually, a simple reboot should fix the problem. But if that doesn’t work, you may need to manually fix it.

There are four methods that can help you get Dark mode working again, and I’ll guide you through each step.

Update Your Windows

Just because you have the latest Windows update, it doesn’t mean everything went smoothly when you installed it. Sometimes, Windows doesn’t update properly, causing small glitches that you might not even notice. This could be why your Dark Mode isn’t working or is completely missing.

To check for updates, follow these steps:

1. Open the ‘Start’ menu in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
2. Type ‘Windows Update’ until the icon appears.
3. Click on the Windows Update settings icon.



4. Click the ‘Check for updates’ button. Windows will automatically check for any new updates and scan for any errors from the previous update.

After updating Windows, restart your computer and Dark mode should automatically appear.

Enable Dark Mode Again

Since Dark mode is a newer feature on Windows 10, it can sometimes malfunction or not work properly. In most cases, you can fix this issue by briefly disabling Dark mode and then re-enabling it.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Right-click an empty space on your desktop to open a drop-down menu.
2. Select the ‘Personalize’ option to open a pop-up window.



3. Click the ‘Colors’ menu on the left side of the window.
4. Click on the dropdown menu under ‘Choose your color’.
5. Select ‘Light’.



6. Restart Windows.
7. After restarting, repeat steps 1-4 and select ‘Dark’ as your default app mode.

Now your theme should work properly.

Fix It in the Registry

In some cases, the only way to resolve the issue is to manually tweak the Registry Editor. If neither of the previous methods worked, follow these steps:

1. Hold the Windows key + ‘R’ to open the ‘Run’ window.
2. Type ‘regedit’.
3. Click ‘OK’.

Before proceeding, you should know that manually tweaking the registry can cause unwanted issues with your system. To prevent any data loss or similar problems, you should create a backup of the system registry. To do this:

Click ‘File’ at the top-left of the Registry Editor window.

Select the ‘Export’ option.

Choose a location to save the file.

Click ‘OK’.

If anything goes wrong, you can import this file and restore the original registry settings. Now you can proceed to modify the registry.

In the registry address bar, copy/paste this path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize

Right-click ‘AppsUseLightTheme’ in the right window.

Select ‘Modify’. A new window will appear.

Type ‘0’ below ‘Value Data’.

Click ‘OK’.

Dark mode should be working now. If it still doesn’t work or if you can’t find the ‘AppUseLightTheme’ value, you may need to use the Command Prompt method.

Modify the Command Prompt

The Command Prompt method will create the registry key that enables Dark mode for every user. So, only do this if you’re the only person who uses the computer.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Type ‘cmd’ until the Command Prompt icon appears.



3. Right-click the Command Prompt icon and select ‘Run as Administrator’.



4. In the console, type the following command: REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize /v AppsUseLightTheme /t REG_DWORD /d 0



5. The command should execute automatically and Dark mode should appear.

Once You Go Dark…

The methods outlined above should solve your issue with the Windows 10 Dark mode. Most of the time, it’s just a minor problem and updating the system or tweaking the registry should fix it. However, if the issue persists, you may need to reinstall your operating system or check the video drivers.

Do you know any other methods that may solve the Dark mode issue? If so, share them with the TechJunkie community in the comments below.