Dear Microsoft: Windows 10's dark theme is a mess

Microsoft has pushed nighttime way onto many of its kickoff-party applications and aspects of the user interface. But Windows ten looks poor when compared to the wonderful new nighttime style available on macOS Mojave. I'm here to shed some light on what's going incorrect with Microsoft'southward nighttime mode.

Fifty Shades of Darkness

Windows 10's biggest issue when it comes to its nighttime mode isn't what is dark, information technology's what isn't dark and when dark elements don't match up. Some context menus are white while others are black. Some apps apply transparency behind text while other elements don't. Clicking around Windows 10 shows a number of pattern ideas beingness used. Some of these work in isolation such as using dark grey or pure black just using a mixture of them throughout the operating system look sloppy.

There are also large parts of the operating system that lack dark modes entirely. The Job Manager, Control Console, some context menus, and the File Explorer are all blindingly white. File Explorer has a dark mode on the way but that lone could justify an article breaking down inconsistencies and issues.

Microsoft needs to iron out these inconsistencies and extend night fashion throughout the entire operating system. I realize that this tin't be done overnight, but another operating system managed to bring in a far-reaching and attractive dark mode recently.

Grass is darker on the other side

Windows 10'southward dark style has had issues for years. The reason that its inconsistency is getting so much attending now is considering Apple'south latest update to macOS looks gorgeous. Apple did what Microsoft has failed to do, make a consistent and bonny dark theme that extends throughout the Bone. The dichotomy between the two operating organization'south nighttime modes makes information technology even more than apparent that Microsoft has fallen behind.

While I've tried to give leeway to Microsoft in the past, it'southward reached a point that is unacceptable when information technology comes to dark manner. Yes, they take made pregnant improvements over the concluding few years. The dark mode that shipped with Windows 10 originally was much worse than the latest version. But Apple has shown that you tin make this change swiftly while also roofing a wide range of menus, settings, UI elements, and applications.

— Rafael Rivera (@WithinRafael) Baronial viii, 2022

Microsoft MVP Rafael Rivara has an excellent thread breaking down some issues related to dark theme. I reiterate his sentiments. The reality is that Microsoft hasn't shipped a completed night mode to Windows 10. I'll add further that this is fabricated worse by the fact that Microsoft's largest competitor has shipped a dark mode that is and so beautiful it feels like I'm playing with a tech demo, and I hateful that in the best mode possible.

Overall thoughts

Windows 10's dark mode has been filled with inconsistencies and white elements for years, but the recent rollout of Mojave's dark mode makes Windows ten's faults much more visible. Apple has shown that an operating system tin can implement a system-wide night mode beautifully and effectively on their first try.

Microsoft needs to catch upward when it comes to night mode, because when information technology'due south implemented correctly in Windows 10 it looks neat. While some elements will probable go proper dark modes when they are overhauled into a more than modern blueprint, Microsoft needs to fix their issues with darkness now, and then work on a complete overhaul over time.

History catches upwards

The problem for a consumer HoloLens was always the lack of Windows Phone

What is the time to come for Microsoft (and Windows) mixed reality? The latest study from Business Insider sheds some light, but this all comes back to i major problem for Microsoft: No mobile Windows Os. But what most a time to come headset that is cloud-based? Some thoughts on what could happen for Microsoft mixed reality.