After updating my Windows to the current new version of Windows 11, I noticed there is a bug with the Task Manager Light/Dark mode options. Choosing the mode for computer wide to light or dark mode doesn’t affect how it looks, but when you change it to Custom and have either Windows mode to Dark or Light and have default app mode to the opposite to what Windows mode is, task manager starts looking very odd and very hard to read.
Task Manager themed dark on dark in Windows 11 version 22H2 is a known issue (thanks @jenmsft)
Posted by jpluimers on 2022/12/13
A known Windows Insider bug has entered the Windows 11 release: Task Manager will show wrong colours (on my stock Dell Windows 11 installs, see below, it will be dark on dark) under certain custom Windows colour settings (“Choose your mode” set to “Custom”).
Edit 20221214: it got fixed
OS Build 22621.963 [Wayback/A] KB5021255 fixed this on Patch Tuesday (which arrived on my machines later than my original publication), see [Wayback/Archive] December 13, 2022—KB5021255 (OS Build 22621.963) – Microsoft Support
Highlights
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Because of minimal operations during the holidays and the upcoming Western new year, there won’t be a non-security preview release for the month of December 2022. There will be a monthly security release (known as a “B” release) for December 2022. Normal monthly servicing for both B and non-security preview releases will resume in January 2023.
Via [Wayback/Archive] Salman on Twitter: “@jpluimers Just found out today that its been fixed now with the latest build www.xda-developers.com/latest-windows-11-update-fixes-broken-task-manager-colors“:
[Wayback/Archive] Latest Windows 11 update fixes broken Task Manager colors and adds OneDrive storage alerts
today, Microsoft is releasing the last cumulative updates of the year for Windows 11, because the optional C and D updates are suspended for the holiday season
…
the update rolling out today is labeled as KB5021255, and it brings the build number up to 22621.963
Original problem description
Task Manager
- Worked OK in the [Wayback/Archive] November 8, 2022—KB5019980 (OS Build 22621.819) – Microsoft Support
- Displays dark on dark in the 2022-11-29 [Wayback/Archive] November 29, 2022—KB5020044 (OS Build 22621.900) Preview – Microsoft Support
This is a known issue and has a workaround in [Wayback/Archive] Windows 11, version 22H2 known issues and notifications | Microsoft Learn:
Summary Originating update Status Last updated Task Manager might not display in expected colors
Task Manager should function as expected but some parts of the UI might not be readable.OS Build 22621.900
KB5020044
2022-11-29Mitigated 2022-11-30
12:44 PT
Details with workaround:
Task Manager might not display in expected colors
Status Originating update History Mitigated OS Build 22621.900
KB5020044
2022-11-29Last updated: 2022-11-30, 12:44 PT
Opened: 2022-11-30, 12:29 PTAfter installing KB5020044, Task Manager might display certain elements in the user interface (UI) in unexpected colors. On affected devices, Task Manager should function as expected but some parts of the UI might not be readable. You might be affected by this issue if you have “Choose your mode” set to “Custom”, in the Personalization -> colors section of Settings. If you are using Dark or Light for the “Choose your mode” setting, you should not be affected by this issue.Workaround: To mitigate this issue, you can set the “Choose your mode” setting to either Dark or Light until this issue is resolved. To do this, right click or long press on the desktop, select “Personalize“, select “Colors“, and then select either “Dark” or “Light” for “Choose your mode“.Next steps: We are working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release.Affected platforms:
- Client: Windows 11, version 22H2
- Server: None
Leaked from Windows Insiders to release
Too bad this cannot be archived, so I have quoted parts of Task Manager Light/Dark Mode Bug – Microsoft Community:
Q
A
Microsoft has acknowledged it. The bug has slipped from Beta to Production.
Windows 11, version 22H2 known issues and notifications | Microsoft Learn
After installing KB5020044, Task Manager might display certain elements in the user interface (UI) in unexpected colors. On affected devices, Task Manager should function as expected but some parts of the UI might not be readable. You might be affected by this issue if you have “Choose your mode” set to “Custom”, in the Personalization -> colors section of Settings. If you are using Dark or Light for the “Choose your mode” setting, you should not be affected by this issue.
Workaround: To mitigate this issue, you can set the “Choose your mode” setting to either Dark or Light until this issue is resolved. To do this, right click or long press on the desktop, select “Personalize“, select “Colors“, and then select either “Dark” or “Light” for “Choose your mode“.
It refers to [Wayback/Archive] Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22621.1020 and 22623.1020 | Windows Insider Blog
Known issues
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[Task Manager]
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- There’s an issue we’re investigating where Task Manager isn’t displaying light and dark content correctly, leading to unreadable text. This happens when you have your mode in Settings > Personalization > Colors set to Custom – as a workaround for the time being, please switch it to Light or Dark.
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My systems
The bug appeared on some of my stock Dell Windows 11 installs. When it happened, it happened both in Dutch and English installs, but only on the most recent Windows update, so I tweeted about this in this [Wayback/Archive] Thread by @jpluimers on Thread Reader App
Hi @JenMsft, do you know why on Windows 11, Task Manager became dark icons/caption on dark background (stock @Dell configuration)?
It’s ehm, not really #a11y proof this way.
Happens on Dutch and English installs.
CC @MicrosoftHelps @MicrosoftHelpt
1/
It looks bad on Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22621.900]
It looks fine on Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22621.819]
2/2
Thanks @jenmsft for letting me know it is a known issue: [Wayback/Archive] Jen Gentleman 🌺 on Twitter: “@jpluimers It’s a known issue: “
–jeroen
- [Wayback/Archive] Jeroen Wiert Pluimers @wiert@mastodon.social on Twitter: “Hi @JenMsft, do you know why on Windows 11, Task Manager became dark icons/caption on dark background (stock @Dell configuration)? It’s ehm, not really #a11y proof this way. Happens on Dutch and English installs. CC @MicrosoftHelps @MicrosoftHelpt 1/
ALTALTALTALT - [Wayback/Archive] Jeroen Wiert Pluimers @wiert@mastodon.social on Twitter: “It looks bad on Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22621.900] It looks fine on Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22621.819] 2/2”
- [Wayback/Archive] Jen Gentleman 🌺 on Twitter: “@jpluimers It’s a known issue: “
The Wiert Corner - irregular stream of stuff 
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