Microsoft has started testing dark mode support in the classic file operation dialogs of Windows 11—the windows that appear when you copy, move, delete files, or when access is denied. The feature is currently tucked away in the latest Insider builds and can be enabled through ViveTool, though it’s still unfinished, with some buttons and elements remaining in light mode.
This experiment suggests that Redmond is finally moving to complete a task it began nearly ten years ago: bringing a consistent dark theme to every corner of Windows.
A step (finally) towards a coherent dark mode
One of the long-standing frustrations with Windows 11 has been the inconsistent dark mode. You could switch the system to dark, only to be blinded by a bright white dialog whenever you emptied the recycle bin or tried to resolve a file conflict.
Now, Microsoft is extending the dark theme to these classic Explorer dialogs—covering confirmations for file deletions, name conflicts, “file in use” messages, warnings about insufficient space, and even the old copy progress window with its familiar “calculating remaining time…” line.
This is part of the company’s ongoing effort to modernize legacy components (Win32 dialogs, the classic shell, and more) and bring them in line with WinUI and Windows 11’s design language. By doing so, it eliminates one of the most disruptive “white flashes” in the user experience.
The change has been a community request for years, and if all goes according to plan, it should roll out more widely with the upcoming Windows 11 24H2/25H2 cumulative updates.
Dark Mode Reaches Classic File Dialogs in Windows 11
Windows Latest has already tested the change in Windows 11 Build 26120 (Beta Channel) and confirmed that the classic file operation dialogs now adopt the same dark colors as other modernized areas of the system. Meanwhile, leaker @phantomofearth shared screenshots from Build 26100.5061 (Preview Release), where the feature is hidden but partially functional — some controls still remain unthemed, showing this is clearly an early stage of development.
Where It’s Showing Up
- Beta (26120): Confirmed working, tested in a virtual machine.
- Preview Release (26100.5061): Present but hidden, with incomplete theming.
- Dev (26200.5751): Can be forced via ViveTool using IDs
57857165,57994323, and in some cases48433719.
Note: Microsoft hasn’t officially announced this yet. It’s only being tested within Insider builds, and details could change before broader rollout.
How to Try It (Advanced Users Only)
If you’re on a compatible Dev/Beta/Release build, you can unlock the feature using ViveTool (run Command Prompt as admin):
vivetool /enable /id:57857165,57994323,48433719
Restart your PC, then try basic copy/delete operations to see the new dialogs in action.
Warning: Since it’s hidden, use this at your own risk. Some dialogs may still appear unfinished.
Why It Matters
It may look like a small tweak, but bringing dark mode to copy/delete windows is a quality-of-life upgrade that users have been requesting for years. It eliminates the jarring “white flash” when working in a dark environment and moves Windows 11 closer to full visual consistency.
While there are still rough edges (like light buttons and partial rollout), the progress shows Microsoft hasn’t abandoned attention to detail in Windows — even at a time when much of the focus seems to be on AI and cloud services. Sometimes it’s the smallest fixes that have the biggest impact on everyday usability.
