For the best balance of stability and aesthetics, combine these:
The most common method to simulate a Dark Mode without third-party software involves editing the High Contrast theme via the Registry. This forces the "Window" background color (used by Notepad, File Explorer, etc.) to turn black. dark theme for windows 81
The Procedure:
Pros:
Cons:
Windows 8.1 offers limited native customization for darkening the interface: For the best balance of stability and aesthetics,
This is the safest method but offers the least aesthetic refinement. Cons: Windows 8