It's finally happening! After more than six years since its last update, Microsoft is making significant strides towards completing the dark mode feature for Windows 11. Since its introduction in 2016, dark mode has been a feature many users have anticipated, yet it has remained embarrassingly incomplete. Users often encountered brightly colored UI interfaces even when dark mode was enabled. Fortunately, this seems to be changing as the latest Windows 11 preview builds showcase an early glimpse of newly themed dark interfaces in the File Explorer.
First spotted by user Phantomofearth on X, the latest builds have introduced a hidden dark mode for several crucial UI elements, including the file copy window, file deletion prompts, and file permissions popups. As illustrated in the accompanying screenshot, when dark mode is activated, these UI surfaces are now properly themed. The window and buttons feature a cohesive dark grey color scheme, aligning with the overall aesthetic of the File Explorer. While this may seem like a minor update, any progress is worth celebrating after such a long wait.
Many users are left wondering why Microsoft chose to leave dark mode in such an incomplete state on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. The prolonged timeline for updates remains a mystery, and it's hoped that this early look at dark mode improvements is just the beginning. There are still numerous legacy UI surfaces that require dark mode enhancements, including the Run dialog, Registry Editor, and Group Policy. By 2025, there is no excuse for these elements not to receive a dark mode treatment, especially when competitors have already implemented complete system-wide dark modes.
Other operating systems, such as macOS, Chrome OS, and iPadOS, have successfully rolled out comprehensive dark mode features that apply to all built-in apps and UI surfaces. Microsoft has lagged behind, failing to deliver a fully functional system-wide dark mode for nearly a decade. The fact that dark mode has remained incomplete on Windows platforms raises eyebrows among users who have been asking for improvements for years.
While Microsoft has yet to officially announce these new dark mode interfaces in File Explorer, this silence may indicate that more enhancements are on the horizon. It’s possible that these updates will coincide with the 25H2 release later this year, serving as an incentive for users to upgrade. Personally, I would consider upgrading solely for these dark mode features.
For over five years, I have been advocating for Microsoft to complete its dark mode on Windows. Complaints about its inadequacies began during the Windows 10 era back in 2018. When Windows 11 was launched, I was disappointed to see that not even a major OS revision prompted Microsoft to address the issue. Shortly after the debut of Windows 11, I highlighted how dark mode was still broken, and just last year, I described it as embarrassingly incomplete.
Perhaps my recent articles finally caught someone's attention, as Microsoft is now actively working on these enhancements. The prospect of a fully integrated dark mode on Windows 11 is exciting. Assuming the company is committed to delivering this feature across the entire system by 2025, we have much to look forward to.
What are your thoughts on Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to improve dark mode in Windows 11? Is this long overdue, or do you think the company should focus on other priorities? Share your opinions in the comments section below!
