W10’s Next Release

Windows 10’s Next Release Includes a Light Theme

CHRIS HOFFMAN 

Windows 10 already has a dark theme, but now it’s getting a real light theme. Interface elements like the taskbar, Start menu, and print dialog are turning light, and Microsoft even created a new desktop background for it.

This feature is arriving in Windows 10’s next update, codenamed 19H1 and expected for release around April 2019. It’s available today to Windows Insiders in the Fast ring as part of Insider build 18282. This release of Windows will make your PC faster.

Now, when you enable the light theme, everything will be light. This new light theme even extends to Windows 10’s notifications, and it looks great.

Don’t worry, though—the old behavior with a dark taskbar, dark Start menu, and light application windows is still the default after upgrading. Microsoft won’t suddenly change your desktop theme.

The Settings app now has separate options for “Default Windows mode” and “Default app mode.” With Windows set to dark and app mode set to light, you’ll use the old default theme. With both set to light or dark, you’ll use a pure light or dark theme.

Microsoft has also added a new default wallpaper. You can enable it on the Insider builds by heading to Settings > Personalization > Themes and selecting “Windows Light.”

And, to match everything else, the print dialog for Store apps also has a new light theme. Previously, it was always dark.

Microsoft has also made a few other changes. For Windows 10 Professional users, the “Pause Updates” feature is available right on the Settings > Update and Security > Windows Update page, making it a bit easier to find and pause updates.

Windows can now automatically set your Active Hours to avoid rebooting for updates during the hours when you’re usually using your PC. You no longer have to set them manually if you enable this feature.

The new modern screenshot clipping tool added in the October 2018 Update gets a few improvements, too. It can now take timed screenshots and screenshots of specific windows.

Microsoft has also fixed the file association problem we reported, and you should now be able to set any app as your default once again. This fix should trickle out to stable versions of Windows 10 in the next few weeks.