You can change File Explorer to dark mode by adjusting your Windows system's default app mode setting.
Enabling Dark Mode for File Explorer
File Explorer, like many other built-in Windows applications, follows your system's chosen default app mode. By switching this setting from Light to Dark, you apply the dark theme not just to File Explorer, but also to a range of other applications on your PC.
Step-by-Step Guide
Enabling dark mode for File Explorer is a straightforward process done through the Windows Settings app.
Here’s how to do it:
- Open Settings. You can do this by clicking the Start button and selecting the gear icon, or by pressing
Windows Key + I. - Navigate to Personalization.
- In the left-hand menu (or in the main window in newer Windows versions), click on Colors.
- Scroll down the page to find the section titled Choose your default app mode.
- Under this option, select Dark.
As noted in the reference, the path is Settings > Personalization > Colors, where you scroll to the bottom and change the default app mode from Light to Dark. Once you select "Dark", File Explorer and compatible apps will immediately switch to the dark theme.
What Else Does This Affect?
Changing the "default app mode" to Dark impacts numerous applications beyond just File Explorer. This includes:
- The Settings app itself
- Built-in Windows apps like Calendar, Mail, Calculator, and Store
- Many other Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps
This system-wide setting provides a consistent dark theme experience across a significant portion of your Windows environment.
