At long last, the development seems to be moving forward. After a six-year hiatus, Microsoft appears to be working diligently to complete the dark mode feature on Windows 11. Since its initial introduction in 2016 on Windows, the dark mode has been notably inadequate, with many common user interfaces remaining bright even when set to dark mode.
It appears that the transformation is underway, as the most recent Windows 11 preview versions reveal preliminary Dark Mode interfaces within the File Explorer. Initially detected by Phantomofearth on platform X, these latest builds incorporate a stealthy dark mode for the file transfer confirmation window, file deletion confirmation dialog, and file permissions notification window.
In the image provided, it’s clear that when the dark mode option is activated, the user interface elements are adjusted accordingly. Specifically, the window and its buttons adopt a dark grey scheme that harmonizes well with the overall design of the File Explorer.
Although the progress is minimal, any advancement is significant when no movement has been made for more than five years. I find it hard to understand why Microsoft deemed it acceptable to leave dark mode in an unfinished state in Windows 10 and Windows 11. It’s baffling that they’ve taken so long to rectify this issue.
It’s likely we’ll see more from Microsoft regarding dark mode on Windows 11 than just this initial preview. There are numerous legacy user interface elements, such as the Run dialog, Registry Editor, Group Policy, and many others, that require a dark mode makeover. By 2025, when dark mode is enabled, it would be disappointing if these parts of the OS weren’t also themed in dark tones.
Other platforms have offered comprehensive dark modes for quite some time now. When it was introduced on macOS several years ago, it was a full-fledged system theme that extended to all inbuilt apps and UI interfaces. The same applies to Chrome OS and iPadOS. However, Windows has yet to introduce a complete system-wide dark mode for nearly a decade.
Microsoft has not yet publicly unveiled the new dark mode interfaces in File Explorer, suggesting that there may be ongoing development and it might still be premature for the company to discuss it openly. It’s possible that these dark mode interfaces could be rolled out with the 25H2 update scheduled later this year, potentially motivating users to upgrade to the latest version, a prospect I find enticing myself.
For more than five years now, I’ve been advocating for Microsoft to complete the development of the dark mode feature on their Windows platform. The issue was initially raised during the Windows 10 era in 2018, and despite the arrival of Windows 11, this major OS update failed to prompt Microsoft into addressing it. Shortly following the launch of Windows 11, I expressed my disappointment over the persisting broken dark mode on Windows 11. A year ago, I even referred to the feature as “embarrassingly incomplete.
It seems like the latest article has sparked some interest, as the company appears to have resumed work on it – I’m thrilled about the prospect that the dark mode could soon become a reality for Windows 11. If they continue to prioritize implementing this feature across the entire system, as they should in 2025, we can look forward to enjoying a more visually appealing and user-friendly interface.
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2025-08-16 03:12