A Closer Look at the New Windows 10 Light Theme

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light - theme - wallpaper - click to enlarge

The headline feature of Windows 10 May 2019 Update is probably the Windows Sandbox, but another useful addition is the new light theme for your Windows desktop.

Prior to May 2019 Update, Windows 10 had two color modes - light and dark. The light mode allows apps and programs to use white color, while the dark mode enabled the use of darker colors and accents.

The light mode in Windows 10 October 2018 Update and older was never an alternative to a dark theme, as the Taskbar, Start menu, Action Center and everything but except apps remained dark.

With the May 2019 Update, or Windows 10 version 1903, Microsoft redesigned the light theme so that apps, elements, and other core UI elements are all shaded light, so users can experience a greater distinction between the light and dark themes.


Windows 10 version 1903 Color Settings

The new theme modes can be found by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Color. From there, you can choose Light, Dark, and Custom mode. The custom mode lets you mix and match components of both themes such as combining light apps with dark core UI elements or dark apps with light core UI elements.

Finally, there’s also a new Windows light wallpaper under Settings > Personalization > Themes, which offers a redesigned Windows wallpaper that blends really well with new lighter colors of the light theme.


Light Theme Wallpaper

Once you turn on the light theme, you'll notice that even the context menu are shaded with lighter colors. On the Start menu, the context menu is light shaded and also have Fluent Design. The volume flyout, WiFi flyout, and time & date have the light theme as well.

Microsoft has also updated the icons of apps such as Microsoft Store, Settings pinned to the taskbar when you switch to light theme. This is to ensure that taskbar-pinned apps are visible in a light background.

Below we will walk you through the various color mode so you can see how they look.

How to enable the new light theme



To enable the light theme and turn apps, elements into the light shade, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings

2. Navigate to Personalization > Colors.

3. Select the light option under 'Choose your color'.

How to enable the dark theme



To enable dark mode across apps and elements, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings

2. Navigate to Personalization > Colors.

3. Select the dark option under 'Choose your color'.

How to enable custom mode



1. Open Settings

2. Navigate to Personalization > Colors.

3. Select the custom mode option under 'Choose your color'.

You can use Dark option for the Windows Mode and light option for the app mode to use Windows 10 in the old light theme. You can also Windows 10 in a light color and app in dark mode by inverting both options.



Not everyone is going to like the new light theme, so Microsoft isn't forcing this option on its users and lets them instead customize it to how they prefer.

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