In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the steps to enable dark mode for your Notepad on Windows 10 and Windows 11, ensuring that your note-taking experience is as enjoyable and user-friendly as possible.
Here is a quick step-by-step guide to enable dark mode in the Notes app on Windows 10 and Windows 11:
- Open the Notes app on your Windows device.
- Click on the three dots (More actions) in the top right corner of the Notes app window.
- Select ‘Settings’ from the dropdown menu.
- In the Settings window, toggle the switch next to ‘Use dark mode’ to the ‘On’ position.
Continue reading the full blog, as this is just an overview of the steps. Further in the blog, we have provided a detailed step-by-step guide to enable dark mode in the Notepad on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
How to enable dark mode in Notepad on windows 10 ?
Enabling dark mode in Notepad on Windows 10 can improve your typing experience, especially in low-light environments.
Although Notepad itself doesn’t have a built-in dark mode option, there are several methods you can use to achieve a dark theme. Here are the detailed steps for each method:
Method 1: Using Windows 10 Dark Mode Settings
Open Settings:
- Firstly, click on the Start menu and select the Settings gear icon.
Go to Personalization:
- Secondly, in the Settings window, click on Personalization.
Select Colors:
- Then, in the left sidebar, click on Colors.
Choose Your Color:
- After that, scroll down to the Choose your color dropdown menu.
- Next, select Dark. This will change the overall theme of Windows, including supported apps.
Open Notepad:
- Finally, launch Notepad. While Notepad itself won’t change to a dark background, the text and other elements will be less bright against the dark theme.
Method 2: Using Notepad++ (Alternative Text Editor)
Alternatively, if you want a true dark mode experience, consider using Notepad++, a popular alternative to Notepad that supports dark themes.
Download Notepad++:
- To begin, go to the Notepad++ website and download the latest version.
Install Notepad++:
- Next, run the installer and follow the prompts to install Notepad++.
Open Notepad++:
- Then, launch Notepad++ after installation.
Change Theme to Dark:
- After that, click on Settings in the menu bar.
- Subsequently, select Style Configurator.
- In the Style Configurator window, find the Select theme dropdown.
- Next, choose a dark theme (e.g., Obsidian, Monokai, or Dark Mode).
- Finally, click Save & Close.
Also Check: How to fix Notepad Keeps crashing when closing tab ?
Method 3: Using a Custom Background Color in Notepad
While Notepad does not support dark mode, you can change the text and background colors using a workaround.
Open Notepad:
- Firstly, launch Notepad.
Change Font Color:
- Secondly, click on Format in the menu bar.
- Then, select Font.
- Next, choose a font color that contrasts well with a dark background (e.g., light gray or white).
Change Background Color:
- Unfortunately, Notepad does not allow you to change the background color directly. However, as an alternative, you can use a workaround by copying and pasting text into a different application that supports custom backgrounds, like Word or WordPad.
Method 4: Using Windows High Contrast Settings
Open Settings:
- To begin, click on the Start menu and select the Settings gear icon.
Go to Ease of Access:
- Next, in the Settings window, click on Ease of Access.
Select High Contrast:
- Then, in the left sidebar, click on High contrast.
Choose a High Contrast Theme:
- After that, select one of the high contrast themes from the dropdown menu.
- Subsequently, click Apply.
Open Notepad:
- Lastly, launch Notepad. The high contrast theme will apply to Notepad, giving it a dark appearance.
How to enable dark mode in Notepad on windows 11 ?
While Notepad in Windows 11 does not have a built-in dark mode, you can still achieve a dark-themed experience through various methods. Here are the detailed steps for each method:
Method 1: Using Windows 11 Dark Mode Settings
Open Settings:
- First, click on the Start button (Windows icon) on the taskbar or press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
Go to Personalization:
- Next, in the Settings window, select Personalization from the left sidebar.
Select Colors:
- Then, click on Colors in the Personalization menu.
Choose Your Mode:
- After that, under the Choose your mode section, select Dark. This will apply a dark theme to supported apps and the Windows interface.
Open Notepad:
- Finally, launch Notepad. While the Notepad interface itself remains light, the overall Windows theme will be darker, reducing glare from the screen.
Also Check: How to set up Notepad++ dark mode on Windows 10/11 ?
Method 2: Using Notepad++ (Alternative Text Editor)
For a more comprehensive dark mode experience, consider using Notepad++, which is a feature-rich alternative to Notepad.
Download Notepad++:
- To begin, visit the Notepad++ website and download the latest version.
Install Notepad++:
- Next, run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation.
Open Notepad++:
- Once installed, launch Notepad++ after installation.
Change Theme to Dark:
- Subsequently, click on Settings in the menu bar.
- Then, select Style Configurator.
- In the Style Configurator window, first find the Select theme dropdown.
- Next, choose a dark theme (e.g., Obsidian, Monokai, or Dark Mode).
- Lastly, click Save & Close to apply the changes.
Method 3: Using Windows High Contrast Settings
Open Settings:
- To start, click on the Start button and select the Settings gear icon, or press Windows + I.
Go to Accessibility:
- Next, in the Settings window, click on Accessibility from the left sidebar.
Select High Contrast:
- Then, click on High contrast in the Accessibility menu.
Choose a High Contrast Theme:
- After that, select one of the high contrast themes from the dropdown menu.
- Subsequently, click Apply. This will change the appearance of all applications, including Notepad.
Open Notepad:
- Finally, launch Notepad. The high contrast theme will apply, giving it a dark appearance.
Method 4: Using a Custom Background Color in Notepad
While Notepad does not support dark mode directly, you can adjust the text color for a more comfortable writing experience.
Open Notepad:
- First, launch Notepad.
Change Font Color:
- Next, click on Format in the menu bar.
- Then, select Font.
- Finally, choose a font color that contrasts well with a dark background (e.g., light gray or white).
Background Workaround:
- Although Notepad does not allow you to change the background color directly. However, you can copy your text into a different application that supports custom backgrounds, like Word or WordPad, where you can set a dark background.
Also Check: How to fix a PC disconnects from WiFi during large download ?
Conclusion
In conclusion, enabling dark mode for Notepad in Windows 10 and 11 can greatly improve your note-taking experience, especially in low-light environments.
Although Notepad itself does not have a built-in dark mode, we have explored several methods to achieve a darker theme.
Specifically, these include using Windows system-wide dark mode settings, choosing alternative text editors such as Notepad++, using Windows high contrast settings, or using custom text color solutions.
Ultimately, remember that each method has its advantages, so choose the one that best suits your preferences and needs.
Source: [ makeuseof, reddit, microsoft, prajwaldesai, anoopcnair ]
Frequently Asked Question’s (FAQ’s)
To enable dark mode for notes in Windows 10, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and select Darkunder “Choose your color.” For a better experience, use alternative apps like Notepad++ or Microsoft OneNote, which have dedicated dark mode settings.
Open Microsoft Notes and go to Settings:
Windows: Click the three dots in the top right corner.
macOS: Click “Notes” in the top menu, then select “Preferences.”
Find the appearance options and choose Dark Mode or a dark theme.
Windows Notepad lacks a built-in dark mode. You can enable the Windows 10 or 11 dark theme for a darker interface or use alternative editors like Notepad++ that offer dark mode. High contrast settings in Windows can also create a darker environment for Notepad.
