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Open Microsoft Paint, select the gear icon in the upper-right corner, and set App theme to Dark. If that option is missing, update Paint through the Microsoft Store and reopen the app.
Paint’s theme is separate from Windows 11’s overall dark mode. The instructions below apply to the modern Microsoft Paint app—not Paint 3D.
Enable dark mode directly in Paint
- Press Windows + S, search for Paint, and open Microsoft Paint.
- Select the Settings gear in the upper-right corner.
- Find App theme or the equivalent appearance setting.
- Choose Dark.
Return to the canvas. Paint’s toolbar, menus, settings screen, and surrounding app frame should now use the dark appearance. Labels can vary slightly by Paint version, language, or interface redesign.
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- Dark: Always use Paint’s dark interface.
- Light: Always use the light interface.
- System setting: Follow Windows’ current color mode.
Choose System setting if you regularly switch Windows between light and dark mode. Choose Dark if you want Paint to stay dark even when other Windows settings remain light.
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Make Paint follow Windows dark mode
- Open Settings. Windows + I is the quickest shortcut.
- Go to Personalization > Colors.
- Under Choose your mode, select Dark.
Windows also offers Custom, which lets you use separate light or dark choices for Windows and apps. With Paint set to System setting, its appearance should follow the Windows theme. If Paint was already open, close and reopen it.
Windows dark mode affects supported Windows components and apps; it does not force every older or third-party application to become dark. See Microsoft’s Windows color-mode instructions.
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What Windows 11 22H2 has to do with Paint dark mode
Windows 11 22H2 alone does not guarantee that Paint will show an app-theme selector. Dark mode was added through an update to the modern Paint app. Microsoft announced the feature for Windows Insiders on June 1, 2023, initially identifying Paint version 11.2304.17.0 for the Canary and Dev channels and later 11.2304.26.0 for Beta.
Those are historical rollout versions, not universal current requirements. Paint continues to receive independent updates, and Microsoft says feature availability and rollout timing can vary. See the current Microsoft Paint page and Paint release notes.
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Update Paint if “App theme” is missing
- Open the Microsoft Store.
- Select Library.
- Choose Get updates, or check for a pending Paint update.
- After updating, close every Paint window and launch Paint again.
Paint is the standard Windows image editor. Do not follow old instructions for Paint 3D: Microsoft lists Paint 3D as no longer available for download from the Microsoft Store, although existing installations may continue to work.
Troubleshoot a missing or ineffective dark-mode option
| Problem | Likely explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No App theme option | The Paint package is older, or the interface is different. | Update Paint in Microsoft Store, restart Windows, and check the gear-menu settings again. |
| Paint ignores Windows dark mode | Paint may be set independently to Light, or it was open during the change. | Set Paint to System setting, then close and reopen it. |
| The gear icon is missing | You may be using an older or different Paint interface. | Confirm the app is standard Microsoft Paint and install Store updates. |
| The Microsoft Store shows no update | Paint may already be current, the Store may not have refreshed, or the device may be managed. | Restart the Store and Windows. If permitted, repair Paint from its advanced app options. |
| Some elements remain light | An older or incomplete update may not apply the theme consistently. | Restart Paint and Windows, then check for another Store or Windows update. |
Repair or reset Paint
If updating and restarting do not help, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, search for Paint, select its additional options, and open Advanced options. Use Repair first. If that does not work, Reset the app may be available. Resetting can remove app data or preferences, so use it only after trying repair.
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Uninstalling and reinstalling Paint should be a last resort and may be unavailable on some Windows installations. Avoid registry edits, unofficial AppX packages, or joining Windows Insider merely to obtain the theme.
Dark mode does not make the canvas black
Paint dark mode changes the application interface—the toolbar, menus, settings, and window surroundings. It does not automatically recolor the image canvas or change the pixels in your artwork. A white background in an image remains white unless you edit the image itself.
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This also means that changing the interface theme does not convert an existing picture into a dark version. If you want a black or dark background, use Paint’s drawing and fill tools to edit the image.
Should you join Windows Insider?
No. Paint dark mode was first introduced through an Insider rollout, but that was the feature’s historical testing and distribution path. For ordinary Windows 11 users, update the stable Paint app through Microsoft Store first. Insider builds are preview software and are unnecessary for a basic appearance setting.
Useful version checks
To check Paint’s version, open Paint, select the gear icon, and scroll through the settings page for version or About information. If it is not shown there, try Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Paint and open its app details. The exact location depends on the Paint and Windows build.
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If the option remains unavailable after updating, the device may have restricted Microsoft Store access, delayed app distribution, or a Paint package that does not yet expose the setting. Microsoft’s supported route is Paint’s own settings page, Windows’ Personalization > Colors page, and official app updates.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Microsoft announcement of Paint dark mode
- Microsoft Support: personalize colors in Windows
- Microsoft documentation on deprecated features, including Paint 3D
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