How to enable the light theme for Xbox One

By Jez Corden
published

Light theme is here for Xbox One, and it looks pretty slick!

If you're a fan of light themes on Windows 10, we have some good news for you, a light theme is on the way for Xbox One too! Available as part of the fall 2017 Xbox update, the light theme offers a far brighter take on the Xbox UI, adding a white background to menus, guides, and beyond. Here's how to enable the light theme on Xbox One consoles.

  1. Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the Guide.
  2. Navigate to the right to the Action Center.
  3. Select All Settings with the "A" button.

  1. Navigate down to Personalization and press "A."
  2. Select System personalization.

  1. Select System theme with the "A" button.
  2. Select Light.

The light theme should now be enabled on your Xbox One system-wide!

For more tips and guides, hit the link below, and let us know whether you're going to be #TeamDark or #TeamLight in the comments!

Jez Corden
Jez Corden
Co-Managing Editor

Jez Corden a Managing Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by caffeine. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his Xbox Two podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!

20 Comments
  • Have to say, Home bar looks quite nice in light mode. Can't wait to.get that UI update..
  • I've been switching back and forth between the the two themes for the last hour or so...
    As much as I like the light theme, I've grown accustomed to the dark theme and think it is more subtle when my new "Home" blocks load their game banner.
    However, I hate the dark them on Windows 10 so for unity in design between my PC and Xbox, light theme makes sense.
    First world problems and all...
  • Hahaha - first world indeed though I'm the opposite and love dark theme with red accents on win10. Can't wait to get this update, i really like the blur effect on the icons.
  • Ah I just can't get used to the dark on W10 no matter how long I leave it there.
    Yeh, fluent design gives it a cool style, blends nicely with my light strip behind the TV stand 😂
    Will be cool to see the fluent design animations filter in soon.
  • Completely agree about fluent design. Can't wait to see how much more MS can do with it, really like it so far.
  • My main gripes with the dark theme on desktop are that:
    a) backgrounds are often pitch black, whereas I think a dark grey would look much nicer.
    b) some older apps, most notably the file explorer, are still white, something that really stands out like a sore thumb.
    If those two things were changed, I think the dark mode would be much better.
  • MY RETINAS ARE BURNING!
  • Two reasons for that.... Either you are secretly Cyclops and your powers are just coming to the fore....or and the less epic and likely one, you need sleep 😊
  • Yeh, loading Netflix at night and having the bright white splashscreen is bad, I'd imagine the whole UI would be blinding at night.
  • It would be awesome if it could adjust between the two using your time of day. Like a navigation app does.
  • That would be epic...
  • Feedback/Insider hub that s**t my friend, that's a great idea!
  • I'll still being using dark mode due to white being cancer at night. 
  • If Ms implements the above suggested, problem solved - night mode for xbox
  • armf, I kinda hate the new horizontal navigation. It feels strange to first navigate horizontal, then vertical. In the previous menu you could navigate vertical, press A, navigate vertical.... and it feels very cluttered at the top
  • Personally i prefer the dark theme but that could be from a developers perspective white bacgrounds hurt your eyes after long periods of coding, but then again pitch black also does the same so its all personal preference really, i think maybe an opacity setting could help?
  • Its good they give options between dark and light, but i like dark much much more
  • I concur, i really like the light theme, really like it but the dark theme just seems overall a better implementation.
  • For me dark better coz its everywhere: Phone, tablet, pc, xbox...
  • I didn't like the white theme, the dark theme is way better on your eyes