Windows 11 Expands Dark Mode to Legacy Dialogs — Here’s How to Enable It

Windows 11 keeps refining its dark mode — and now, even the system’s older, legacy dialogs are joining in. On the latest 25H2 Insider builds, you can finally enjoy darker visuals for the Run dialog, Folder Options, file copy/move windows, and access-denied prompts.

While a few elements, such as Properties and certain confirmation popups, still remain bright, this update brings a much smoother and visually consistent experience throughout the OS.

What’s New in Windows 11’s Dark Dialogs

With the right flags enabled, Windows 11 now applies dark styling to:

• Run (Win + R)
• Folder Options in File Explorer
• File operation progress dialogs (copy, move, delete)
• Elevated confirmation prompts (like “Access Denied” dialogs)

However, some legacy components — including Properties windows and file-extension rename confirmations — still stay light for now. These are expected to be updated in upcoming builds.

Requirements and Compatibility

These dark dialogs are currently exclusive to Windows 11 Insider builds:

• Beta Channel: Build 26120.6972 or newer
• Dev Channel: Build 26220.6972 or newer

You’ll also need to have Dark mode enabled system-wide under Settings > Personalization > Colors.

Method 1 — Enable Dark Dialogs via ViVeTool (Recommended for Insiders)

Microsoft hasn’t exposed these new visuals in public settings yet. To activate them, you’ll need to use ViVeTool, a trusted open-source command-line utility for toggling hidden Windows features.

Step-by-Step Guide

Create a ViVeTool folder
Create C:\vive to keep things simple.

Download ViVeTool
Get the latest release from GitHub and extract the files into C:\vive.

Open Command Prompt as Administrator
Press Start, type “cmd,” right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.

Navigate to the folder cd \vive

Enable hidden dark dialogs
Paste and run the following command: vivetool /enable /id:57857165,57994323,48433719,49453572,58383338,59270880,59203365

Restart your PC
Reboot to apply the changes.

Verify results

Press Win + R → the Run dialog should now appear in dark mode.

Open File Explorer → Options → check dark styling.

Copy or move a file → the progress window should appear dark.

Try deleting a protected file → the elevated confirmation dialog should match your dark theme.

🟡 Note: Some dialogs still use light mode. This is expected as Microsoft gradually updates legacy UI components.

Method 2 — Set System Dark Mode in Windows Settings

These dialogs only appear dark if your system is set to the Dark theme.
To verify:

Open Settings (Win + I)

Go to Personalization > Colors

Under Choose your mode, select Dark

Troubleshooting: Dark Mode Flips Back to Light

If the dialogs revert to light mode in certain 25H2 builds:

1. Reapply Dark mode in Settings
2. Restart Windows
3. Re-run the ViVeTool enable command
4. Confirm you’re on a supported Insider build

Looking Ahead

Windows 11’s move toward a fully unified dark mode continues — and these updated dialogs are another small but satisfying step forward. As Microsoft expands dark theme support in upcoming releases, expect even more consistency across legacy interfaces.