How to Enable Dark Mode in Notepad on Windows 10/11

In recent years, dark mode in apps and operating systems has become more popular, largely for its aesthetics and ease of viewing after the sun goes down.

Windows comes with a dark theme that improves the overall aesthetics of the system. However, this option is limited and does not affect certain apps. One such app is Notepad, for which you have to manually enable dark mode.

In this guide, Quantrimang.com will discuss in detail the steps to enable Dark Mode in Notepad and Notepad++. It is easy to make these changes and revert them.

Table of Contents

• How to Enable Dark Mode in Notepad on Windows 10
  • 1. Enable High Contrast feature
  • 2. Download a third-party alternative
• How to Enable Dark Mode in Notepad on Windows 11
  • 1. Using the Settings app
  • 2. Modify Notepad settings
• How to enable Dark Theme in Notepad++

How to Enable Dark Mode in Notepad on Windows 10

If you're unsure about this feature, read Quantrimang.com's guide on what dark mode is and how it works before diving into learning how to enable it.

The easiest way to enable dark mode in Notepad on Windows 10 is to modify the Ease of Access settings in the Settings app. If you don't want to enable that feature, you can download a similar third-party app using the Microsoft Store.

Whichever method you prefer, this article will cover both in detail.

1. Enable High Contrast feature

The High Contrast feature is designed specifically for users with visual impairments, so it may not be suitable for everyone. It hides the background image and some UI controls, such as buttons, are colored in a light color for easier navigation. It changes the entire Windows theme to black while text remains white.

Here's how you can enable this feature:

• Press Win + I to open Windows Settings.
• Select Accessibility in the following window.
• Select the High contrast option from the Vision sub-section in the left pane.
• Turn on the switch to Turn on high contrast .

It will take a few seconds for your system to apply these changes. Once complete, you can launch the Notepad application to test the changes.

2. Download a third-party alternative

As mentioned earlier, High contrast may not be for everyone. If you don't want to enable it, you can download a third-party alternative using the Microsoft Store.

The most popular option is the Black Notepad app , which functions almost exactly like the default Notepad in Windows. It's available for free in the Microsoft Store, so you can download it and start using it right away.

You can also search for other options online with advanced functionality if you use Notepad regularly.

In case you have downloaded a third-party text editor and want to continue using it instead of Notepad, you should set it as your default editor. For this, right-click on any text file and select Open with > Choose another app .

Select the targeted application in the following dialog and check the "Always use this app to open .txt files" box .

How to Enable Dark Mode in Notepad on Windows 11

The new Windows operating system also allows users to enable and customize dark mode on their systems, just like Windows 10. If you are a Windows 11 user, follow one of the methods below to enable dark mode in Notepad.

1. Using the Settings app

In this method, we will switch the entire system to dark mode. However, if your Windows Notepad is not configured to use the system theme, then these changes will not work for you. In that case, you can proceed to the next method below.

Here's how you can make changes in the Settings app:

• Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
• Select Personalization from the left pane.
• Click Colors in the following window.

• Expand the Choose your mode drop-down menu and select Dark from the context menu.

Now, you can launch Notepad and check if dark mode has been successfully enabled. If not, try following the steps in the next method.

2. Modify Notepad settings

In this method, we will change the Notepad theme to dark by accessing the Settings option in the application.

Follow these steps to continue:

• Launch Notepad and click the gear icon in the top right.
• In the following window, click on the App theme option .
• Select Dark from the options and see if the changes were successful.

This will successfully enable dark mode in Notepad. However, in Windows 11 as well, you can install third-party apps from the Microsoft Store or other sources if you are unable to follow the above methods for some reason.

How to enable Dark Theme in Notepad++

Notepad++ is classic Notepad on steroids. This text editor is developed by Microsoft and offers some advanced features not found in classic Notepad.

You can work with about 80 different programming languages ​​in this text editor, as well as launch multiple files at once.

If you are using Notepad++, here is how you can enable dark theme in the app:

Launch Notepad++ and go to Settings > Style Configurator .

In the following window, expand the Select theme drop-down menu and select Deep Black.

You can further customize the app by changing the overall style of the app, fonts, and colors. When you're done, click Save & Close .

Your Notepad++ app should now show dark mode. Don't forget to set it as your default text editor by following the steps above!