Back in 2016, Microsoft introduced a much-anticipated dark mode toggle as part of a major feature update for Windows 10. It was a game-changer at the time, allowing users to switch between light and dark themes system-wide. However, it quickly became clear that this implementation was far from polished. While some apps embraced the new dark mode, many Windows UI elements lagged behind—and, shockingly, that remains true nearly a decade later.
A Decade of Inconsistencies
When Windows 10 launched in 2015, its interface was already a confusing mix of light and dark elements. The Taskbar, Start Menu, and Action Center were dark, but key areas like File Explorer and context menus stubbornly remained light. Microsoft’s 2016 dark mode update was supposed to address this imbalance, extending the dark theme to those areas.
Unfortunately, the update only scratched the surface. While File Explorer and context menus received dark mode support, many other UI elements were left untouched. Critical areas like copy dialogs, file properties, the Run command window, the Registry Editor, and Control Panel applets remained glaringly bright, even when dark mode was enabled.
Fast-forward to today, and these areas are still stuck in the past, refusing to conform to Windows’ dark mode. Even on Windows 11, users are regularly “flashbanged” by sudden light interfaces when performing everyday tasks like copying files or accessing system properties. These aren’t obscure corners of the OS—these are parts of Windows that users interact with daily.
Dark Mode: Incomplete and Sometimes Broken
What makes the situation even worse is that in some places, dark mode is not just incomplete—it’s outright broken. Take a look at certain dialogs or older system interfaces, and you’ll find mismatched or buggy elements that look amateurish. For an operating system that powers millions of professional environments, this lack of polish is embarrassing.
Microsoft began addressing some of these inconsistencies during the development of Windows 11 in 2020-2021. Internal builds included progress on bringing dark mode to areas like file properties and copy dialogs, but for reasons unknown, this work was abandoned before reaching the public.
Falling Behind the Competition
What makes this all the more frustrating is how far behind Windows feels compared to its competitors. On macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android, dark mode is seamless and consistent. It’s rare to encounter a system interface that doesn’t align with the chosen theme. Meanwhile, Windows 11 users are greeted with mismatched elements on a daily basis. It’s as if Microsoft simply doesn’t prioritize the issue, leaving users to deal with an inconsistent experience.
Adding insult to injury, Microsoft introduced a dedicated light mode to Windows 10 in 2018. While this made the shell look more cohesive for those who prefer light themes, it did nothing to address the glaring gaps in dark mode. The result? An operating system that looks incomplete and, frankly, unprofessional.
Impact on Productivity
The lack of a fully integrated dark mode isn’t just an aesthetic issue—it has real-world implications. For users who work late at night, sudden bright interfaces can be jarring and even painful. It’s a productivity killer when you’re jolted out of your workflow by an unexpected burst of light from an outdated interface.
What’s even more baffling is that third-party apps on Windows, including Telegram, Slack, WhatsApp, and even Microsoft Office, have embraced dark mode fully. Yet the core Windows UI—the operating system itself—continues to lag behind.
A Missed Opportunity for Leadership
Many hoped that recent leadership changes within Microsoft’s Windows team would refocus efforts on polishing the OS and addressing long-standing issues like dark mode. Unfortunately, there’s little indication that these changes have brought about a renewed commitment to UI consistency.
Why It Matters
Microsoft’s failure to complete dark mode after nearly a decade reflects poorly on the company’s attention to detail and prioritization of user experience. For an operating system as widely used as Windows, these inconsistencies send a message: that refinement and polish are secondary to other priorities.
As users, we’re left hoping that Microsoft will eventually take this issue seriously and commit the resources necessary to finish what it started in 2016. Until then, Windows’ dark mode will remain a glaring—and literal—pain point for millions of users.
