Windows 10 Dark Mode: File Explorer Status Bar Remains White
Windows 10 offers a dark mode to provide a more comfortable viewing experience, especially in low-light environments. However, some users have reported an issue where the File Explorer status bar remains white even when dark mode is enabled. This can make the text close to invisible, making it difficult to use.
How to Enable Dark Mode in Windows 10
To enable dark mode in Windows 10, follow these steps:
- Click on the Start button and select the Settings icon.
- In the Settings window, select Personalization.
- Select Colors from the left-hand menu.
- Under "Choose your color", select Dark.
Once you have enabled dark mode, the File Explorer background should change to a dark color. However, some users have reported that the status bar remains white, making it difficult to read the text.
Why Does the File Explorer Status Bar Remain White in Dark Mode?
The reason why the File Explorer status bar remains white in dark mode is not entirely clear. It is possible that it is a bug in the operating system, or it may be a design choice to keep the status bar separate from the rest of the File Explorer interface.
Workarounds for the White Status Bar Issue
There are a few workarounds that you can try to fix the white status bar issue in File Explorer:
- Change the text color: You can change the text color of the status bar to make it more visible. To do this, right-click on the status bar and select "Customize this folder". In the "Customize" window, select the "Font" tab and change the text color to a light color.
- Use a third-party File Explorer replacement: There are several third-party File Explorer replacements available that offer better support for dark mode. Some popular options include ExplorerPatch and xplorer2.
- Use a registry hack: There is a registry hack that you can use to force the status bar to use the same color as the rest of File Explorer. However, editing the registry can be risky, so use this method with caution. To use this method, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type "regedit" and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
- Navigate to the following key:
- Right-click on the "FileExts" key and select New > Key.
- Name the new key "." (including the period).
- Right-click on the "." key and select New > Key.
- Name the new key "OpenWithList".
- Right-click on the "OpenWithList" key and select New > Key.
- Name the new key "MRUList".
- Right-click on the "MRUList" key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name the new value "b0".
- Double-click on the "b0" value and set the value data to "00 00 00 00".
- Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
The white status bar issue in File Explorer can be frustrating, especially if you prefer to use dark mode. However, there are a few workarounds that you can try to fix the issue. Changing the text color, using a third-party File Explorer replacement, or using a registry hack can all help to make the status bar more visible in dark mode.
References
- How to Fix the White Status Bar in File Explorer in Dark Mode on Windows 10
- How to Fix the White Status Bar in File Explorer on Windows 10
- How to Change File Explorer Text Color in Windows 10
// Example code block in C#
using System;
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
Console.WriteLine("Hello, world!");
}
}