Tired of Manually Switching Themes? Here’s How to Automate Light and Dark Mode in Windows 11

Want Your Windows 11 Theme to Change with the Time of Day? A Step-by-Step Guide

Windows 11 is set to introduce a feature that many users have been asking for: the ability to automatically switch between light and dark themes based on a schedule. While this operating system offers both a light and dark mode, changing between them has always been a manual process. You have to navigate through Settings > Personalisation > Colours each time you want to make a switch. Soon, a new tool in Microsoft’s PowerToys will change that.

Microsoft has confirmed that it is developing a new utility for PowerToys that will allow you to schedule theme changes. This means your computer can automatically switch to dark mode in the evening and back to light mode in the morning without you having to do a thing. However, this feature is not expected to be released until at least October 2025.

While automated theme switching is not a new concept—other operating systems like macOS have had it for years—its arrival in Windows 11 is a welcome development. On a Mac, the system can use your location to determine sunrise and sunset times, adjusting the theme accordingly. It is likely that the new PowerToys feature will offer similar options, allowing you to either set custom times for the switch or let the system do it for you based on your geographic location.

From PowerToys to Native Feature?

The inclusion of this feature in PowerToys is significant. PowerToys is a collection of tools for power users that allows them to customize their Windows experience. Historically, some of the most popular PowerToys features have eventually been integrated directly into Windows.

A recent example is the text extractor tool, also known as OCR (Optical Character Recognition). This feature, which lets you copy text from images, first appeared in PowerToys. Microsoft is now working on adding it as a native feature in Windows 11, accessible with the Win + Shift + S shortcut. This history suggests that the automatic theme switcher could also make its way into the main Windows settings in a future update. For now, only time will tell.

Third-Party Alternatives

If you don’t want to wait for the PowerToys update, there are already third-party applications that can do the job. One of the most popular and reliable options is Auto Dark Mode, which is available for free in the Microsoft Store. This app was even named one of the best Microsoft Store apps in 2022. It offers a simple and effective way to automate your theme changes.

Using Task Scheduler to Automate Theme Switching

If you prefer not to install additional software, you can use a built-in Windows tool called Task Scheduler to set up automatic theme changes. This method is a bit more hands-on, but it allows you to achieve the same result. Before you begin, it’s a good idea to create a system restore point as a precaution.

Here’s how you can set it up:

Step 1: Open Task Scheduler

Click the Start button, type “Task Scheduler,” and open the application.

Step 2: Create a New Task

In the right-hand sidebar, click on Create Task.

Step 3: Name Your Task

Give the task a name that you’ll easily recognize, such as “Switch to Light Theme.”

Step 4: Set the Trigger

1. Go to the Triggers tab and click New.
2. Under “Settings,” select Daily.
3. Choose the time you want the light theme to activate, for example, 7:00 AM.

Step 5: Define the Actions

1. Go to the Actions tab and click New.
2. In the “Program/script” box, type reg.
3. In the “Add arguments (optional)” box, paste the following command:

   add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize" /v SystemUsesLightTheme /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

4. Click OK.
5. Click New again to add a second action.
6. In the “Add arguments (optional)” box, paste this command:

   add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize" /v AppsUseLightTheme /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

7. Click OK.

These two commands tell Windows to enable the light theme for both the system and applications. The /d 1 at the end of each command represents “on.”

Setting Up the Dark Theme

Now, you’ll need to create a second task to switch to the dark theme in the evening. Follow the same steps as above, but with a few changes:

1. Create another new task and name it something like “Switch to Dark Theme.”
2. Set the trigger for the time you want the dark theme to activate, such as 7:00 PM.
3. Define the actions with the following commands. The /d 0 at the end of these commands represents “off,” which in this case, enables the dark theme.
   • For the first action, use:

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

   • For the second action, use:

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

Once both tasks are set up, your Windows 11 theme will switch automatically every day at the times you’ve chosen. While the upcoming PowerToys feature will undoubtedly be a more user-friendly solution, this Task Scheduler method is a powerful way to get the functionality you want right now.