Enable Windows Dark Mode via registry (no activation needed)

windows-dark-mode.md

Open regedit.exe, go to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize and set both AppsUseLightTheme & SystemUsesLightTheme DWORDs to 0.

Alternatively, download and save the windows-dark-mode.reg file below as a .reg file and run it.

Source: https://old.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/o1l55u/how_do_i_enable_dark_mode_on_windows_11/h21f69b/

windows-dark-mode.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize]
"AppsUseLightTheme"=dword:00000000
"SystemUsesLightTheme"=dword:00000000

Equivalents reg commands

reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize" /v AppsUseLightTheme /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize" /v SystemUsesLightTheme /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Thanks a lot !

Thanks so fcking much

It works after a restart on Windows 11. Thanks!

changing these registry entries used to be enough on windows 10. but on windows 11 explorer (and startbar with it) do not get the change.
you can force it by restarting explorer, but there should be a less brutal solution, since switching through the windows settings does not require restarting explorer.

It works after a restart on Windows 11. Thanks!

you can just restart explorer

Confirming still working.

I don't understand why you would modify the registry. If Windows dark mode is in Settings > Personalization > Themes, what's the difference?

I don't understand why you would modify the registry. If Windows dark mode is in Settings > Personalization > Themes, what's the difference?

Windows 11 Home unlicensed limits the ability to personalize appearance, including dark mode. This is a workaround. There are some people (including myself) who can't/won't fork up the money.

@threepointonefouronefive I understand. If this happens on Windows 11 Home, so why not upgrade to Windows 11 Pro? Many generic keys to upgrade to the Pro version can be found online. The key that worked for me was VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T.

I used that key more than 5 years ago and to this day I still use Windows 11 Pro; updates from Windows Update have arrived normally.

Here you'll find more keys https://gist.github.com/ThiagoBarradas/e21d09bdc896892299af0b21e43f1069?permalink_comment_id=6447237