Microsoft is finally updating this decade old File Explorer interface with a new color that better fits dark mode on Windows 11 — let’s take a first look

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Microsoft is gradually enhancing the implementation of a dark mode across various sections of Windows 11, and it’s been found this week that these improvements extend to a refreshed color scheme for a well-known aspect of the Windows user interface.

In the most recent previews of Windows 11, the ongoing dark theme for tasks such as copying and deleting files now features a blue progress bar instead of the traditional green one. This new design aligns better with the overall look of Windows 11.

Currently, the novel blue hue for operation progress is exclusive to dark mode. In contrast, light mode retains the green color that debuted with Windows 8 more than ten years ago, unchanged since then. The introduction of the dark mode marks the first significant interface modification by Microsoft in over a decade.

At present, the color does not align with your system’s accent theme. As you might have hoped to adjust it to red or yellow according to your system’s accent color, unfortunately, this feature isn’t available yet. Maybe it will be introduced by Microsoft at a later time.

Currently, the progress bar for file operations updates to a fresh blue hue in dark mode, which is more comfortable for viewing in dim settings. It appears as if Microsoft has recently regained motivation to finalize Windows 11’s dark mode, a feature that has been notably incomplete for over a decade and previously caused some embarrassment.

Initially, Windows introduced a dark mode option in 2016 through a feature update for Windows 10. However, this dark mode wasn’t fully complete at launch, as several parts of the system continued to function in light mode even when the dark mode was activated. This issue persisted over the years, with only minor adjustments made to select areas of the system.

To this day, I find myself grappling with parts of Windows that don’t accommodate the dark mode yet. Among all modern OS platforms, it seems to be the only one that doesn’t offer a fully immersive dark mode experience. For someone like me who’s light-sensitive, especially at night, this can be quite vexing as I often find myself startled by the brightness of Windows 11’s File Explorer.

Even after a decade, the fact that Microsoft is once again focusing on implementing a dark mode across more sections of the Windows 11 interface suggests this trend might expand beyond just the classic areas of File Explorer. It’s high time for additional apps like Control Panel applets and system tools such as the Registry Editor and Group Policy Editor to offer dark mode compatibility, aligning with modern applications. Frankly, there should be no room for exception in this regard.

A hidden dark mode for certain parts of File Explorer in Windows 11 was recently found within a preview build provided by Microsoft. This includes changes to the file copy dialog, delete confirmation popup, and folder access permission dialogs. As of now, there are no indications that the property windows will also receive a dark theme update, but hopefully it’s something they’ll work on in the future.

In simpler terms, the upcoming update for Windows 11, known as version 25H2, is not expected to introduce any significant new features initially. This update shares the same system of servicing and updates with the current version 24H2, meaning they will both be launched and maintained at the same time. The anticipated dark mode interfaces might not debut alongside this update, but are likely to be rolled out in a separate release in the ensuing months.

via Phantomofearth on X

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2025-09-10 15:40