Windows 11 still won’t auto-switch between light and dark mode — but Microsoft’s PowerToys will next month

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The latest update for Microsoft’s PowerToys includes some exciting new additions. However, it’s an upcoming feature set for next month that’s really generating buzz. In the forthcoming PowerToys update, the application will gain the ability to automatically switch your computer between light and dark modes according to a schedule.

Niels Laute, a senior product manager at Microsoft, teased the upcoming feature in a blog post.

Laute shared that they have exciting updates in store for the upcoming month: an upgraded User Interface for the Keyboard Manager, along with a new tool capable of adjusting between light and dark modes according to your daily routine. Keep your eyes peeled for these enhancements!

In approximately a month, we’ll be releasing an update to PowerToys (version 0.95) that includes the capability to toggle between dark and light modes on-demand. If you’re eager to explore what’s currently available, here’s a summary of PowerToys v0.94, which was recently launched by Microsoft.

PowerToys v0.94: Highlights

  • PowerToys Settings added a Settings search with fuzzy matching, suggestions, a results page, and UX polish to make finding options faster.
  • A comprehensive hotkey conflict detection system was introduced in Settings to surface and help resolve conflicting shortcuts. Note that the default hotkey settings (Win+Ctrl+Shift+T, Win+Ctrl+V, Win+Ctrl+T, Win+Shift+T) may overlap with existing Windows system shortcuts. This is expected. You can resolve the conflict by assigning different hotkeys.
  • Mouse Utilities added a “Gliding cursor” accessibility feature to Mouse Pointer Crosshairs for single‑button cursor movement and clicking. Thanks @mikehall-ms!
  • The installer was upgraded to WiX 5 after WiX 3 reached end-of-life; this move improved installer security, reliability, and community support.
  • Tons of bug fixes and improvements for Command Palette, including visual updates and new support for filters on ListPages (handy for extension developers).
  • Hosts Editor now has a “No leading spaces” option so active host entries can start at column 0 even if others are disabled. Thanks @mohammed-saalim!
  • Context menu registration was moved from the installer to runtime to avoid loading disabled modules (runtime registrations).
  • Quick Accent now supports Maltese, and frequently used accents appear first (and are remembered across sessions). Thanks @rovercoder! @davidegiacometti!

How to schedule light mode and dark mode

For quite some time, users have been requesting the option to plan when Light and Dark modes appear in Windows. It seems rather odd that Microsoft hasn’t integrated this feature into Windows 11 yet.

You don’t need to wait until next month to enjoy the light and dark mode on Windows 11, as a tool called “Auto Dark Mode” has been available for years, even before Windows 11 was introduced. In fact, it recently received an update to operate smoothly on Arm-based Windows devices.

The application allows your computer to automatically switch between dark and light modes according to predetermined times, or it can adapt the mode based on sunrise and sunset. For increased precision, you can set it up to adjust the mode change based on your specific longitude and latitude coordinates.

The Auto Dark Mode comes with additional convenient functionalities, one of which allows it to automatically adjust between light and dark modes based on whether the computer is connected to a power source. This feature is particularly beneficial for individuals who aim to conserve as much battery life as possible on their laptop while it’s unplugged, as dark mode can substantially extend battery life when the device features an OLED display.

Although PowerToys offers numerous features, some users might find it too extensive. In such cases, the focused functionality of Auto Dark Mode could be more appealing. For those who don’t require all the features in PowerToys, having the choice to download Auto Dark Mode for its dedicated dark mode feature is a beneficial option.

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2025-09-04 15:40