Microsoft Might Add Dark Mode to Old Windows 11 Apps Soon

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Microsoft’s “Dark Mode” feature, which has been somewhat lacking in its implementation on traditional applications, may finally see improvements in upcoming Windows 11 updates. This update aims to bring dark mode to more widely used apps.

Dark Mode With Windows 11 Might Drop In Traditional Apps Soon, Pushing Out a Well-Desired Feature

One of the reasons I prefer macOS over Windows is its seamless integration of “Dark Mode” across devices. Microsoft introduced dark mode for their operating system several years ago, but it was limited to core interfaces like Settings, Start Menu, and Taskbar. Many daily-used apps still lacked full-fledged dark mode support; however, improvements are on the horizon. A post by @phantomofearth on X highlights that File Explorer is receiving this update.

Windows 11’s file operation (copy, access denied, etc.) dialogs are FINALLY getting support for dark mode! Here’s how the dialogs look in dark mode at this point, hidden in build 26100.5061.

Also notice the light buttons in the top right, still a work in progress of course. pic.twitter.com/3D00lWIJcn

— phantomofearth (@phantomofearth) August 15, 2025

In build 26100.5061 of Windows 11, dialog boxes in File Explorer now show darker UI elements when dark mode is enabled; however, more work remains to be done. Notably, Microsoft has been focusing on enhancing the user experience with several “quality of life” improvements, including AI-powered features like an agent within Settings and context-sensitive suggestions. While these efforts are commendable, the OS still lags behind competitors in many areas.

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October 8, 2025

Based on recent images of the latest Windows 11 build, dark mode changes could affect a variety of operations within File Explorer, such as pop-ups when emptying the recycle bin, opening files like compressed folders, and warnings about insufficient disk space.

For now, we hope that Microsoft will expedite the integration of dark mode across all legacy apps on Windows 11. While macOS, ChromeOS, and even Ubuntu have complete implementations in place, the recent changes to File Explorer appear buggy, suggesting a long rollout period likely within the 25H2 window.