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Image: Microsoft
This week, there’s a lot of attention being shined on Windows 10, Windows 11, and the differences between them. But one thing you should be using on both operating systems is PowerToys, Microsoft’s free goodie bag of expanded features for advanced users. The latest version of the app includes something the OS really should do on its own already: automatic light/dark mode switching.
The new Light Switch (nice name) module is the headline feature of PowerToys 0.95, available as a direct download right now, no beta required—and it’s a pretty great implementation of this idea. Not only can you set a schedule for dark/light modes based on a specific time (or sunset to sunrise), you can even offset it or tie it to a specific location for sunset time. And just like Windows itself, you can choose if lighting modes apply to the full interface, specific apps, or both.
Michael Crider/Foundry
Here’s my favorite part as a shortcut junkie: You can apply a “theme toggle shortcut” to manually switch between light and dark modes at any time. Nice! By default, this is Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + D.
To use the new Light Switch feature—and a bunch of other smaller improvements to the other functions in PowerToys—launch the app and check for an update, or download it from the Microsoft Store or GitHub if you don’t have it already.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.
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