Windows 10 May 2019 Update Brings New Light Theme To Counter Trendy Dark Mode
Microsoft began pushing out its May 2019 Update for Windows 10 earlier this week, though it is a slow roll out to ensure that everything goes smoothly (we all remember the train wreck that the was October 2018 Update). If you have managed to install it, you will notice there is a new Light theme available, among other visual changes.
When you boot into Windows 10 after applying the latest update, you will see a lighter background image. It seems that Microsoft is aiming for an overall brighter and cleaner Windows experience, compared to the darker themes of previous builds.
As for the new Light theme, the option can be found by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Color. From there, you can choose Light or Dark from the pull-down menu (or click the Light radio button if using a Custom theme). What's neat is that the Light theme has a broad reach, as Microsoft previously explained.
"Ever since we introduced the ability to choose between light and dark in Windows 10, we’ve heard feedback asking for a truer separation between the two options. When you select Light under Settings > Personalization > Colors, the expectation is that the system color would be lighter too. And it didn’t do that before—the taskbar and many other things stayed dark," Microsoft said.
"Now, if you choose Light under Settings > Personalization > Colors, all system UI will now be light. This includes the taskbar, Start menu, Action Center, touch keyboard, and more," Microsoft added.
Not everyone is going to be a fan of the Light theme, and Microsoft is not forcing the full effect on users. For those who have been wanting this mode, though, it is a true Light theme that freshens things up with a lighter color palette that complements the new background wallpaper. It's also a little more consistent than the Dark theme since not all of the legacy UIs have been updated to support the Dark mode.
To grab the May 2019 Update for Windows 10, head into Windows Update and click the Check for updates button. Microsoft is throttling the roll out, so you may or may not see it right now. If you don't but still want to grab it, head over to Microsoft's Download Windows 10 page and click Update now.
