Dark Mode for Quicken for Windows (6 Merged Votes)

Dave508

The Magifier inverse color workaround for Windows is clumsy and inadequate.

Why doesn't Quicken development give us an update on the dark mode request? Instead, we keep getting product enhancements that have limited (or no) use, such as the recent "online backup". Keeping my financial data out of the "cloud" is the main reason I still use the product. Why would I want to send a copy of my financial data to some hackable cloud storage? My point is that "Dark mode" for Windows would be appreciated by most if not all Quicken for Windows users, yet we cannot even get a comment from Quicken on it let alone any action.

I started using Quicken back in the 1980s. I say that only to say that it is discouraging that those managing Quicken's product support and enhancement have refused to comment on the "dark mode" capability. There's a "Colors" option under Preferences, but none of the options even approach a dark mode. Seems like the "Colors" code could be easily modified to accommodate dark mode.

How about an update, Quicken Mods or any official Quicken person…? Will Dark Mode ever happen?

Thomas Hyzy

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20313199#Comment_20313199

This is brilliant! I got the link to this thread from the subreddit, I'd never seen it before. It works, and it's easy to toggle on and off. Thank you!

Rocket J Squirrel

@Thomas Hyzy there is an even better method which doesn't need the Magnifier hack.

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20313287#Comment_20313287

Dave508

@Rocket J Squirrel Thanks for (re)posting that workaround - it is better than having to start the magnifier first.

Looking at the inverted colors is a good workaround, but I'd like to hear from Quicken if they ever plan to address this from within Quicken for Windows or they consider it addressed by virtue of Color Filters/Magnifier workarounds. The reason for that is twofold - for one, making an enhancement that addresses Dark Mode is a clear indication that Quicken for Windows is here for at least the next few years. Ignoring requests like Dark Mode makes me think the product is nearing EOL. Secondly, (and it's admittedly a small inconvenience), switching from Quicken to any other app that supports Dark Mode requires pressing Win+Ctrl+c to avoid being blinded in that application or webpage. It's nothing to do that, but it's another accommodation that must be made because the product doesn't natively handle Dark Mode.

Thanks again @Isomeme and @Rocket J Squirrel for the Colors Filters workaround.

J.A. Clark

If one is comfortable with installing AutoHotkey, I found the below AutoHotkey script to do well with not only Quicken Desktop but also other applications that do not have a native dark theme. Ensure to read the comments in the script on how to properly setup AutoHotkey.

Download the script from URL:

https://gist.github.com/charlie89/5670d46c90abf3351ed012b2afd926ca

Hope this helps those who have been patiently waiting for Quicken to add a dark theme to Quicken Desktop :-)

brnsdv

We've asked for this for over 6 years. You said in August 2023 it was added to the Development Team. Here we are 18 months later and nothing. [Removed - Disruptive/Speculation] every other app I use supports Windows System Default in Dark Mode.

See your QWIN-16984

Quicken Anja

Hello @brnsdv,

Your idea has been merged into this already active Idea thread regarding the same request.

Thank you!

wyv3rn

I see that Dark Mode for Windows is supposed to be coming at some point. It's taking a long long time, people have been asking for it for years. Clearly not a priority for the Quicken team. But for me, I can no longer tolerate staring at a bright white screen, especially while working at night. I am now actively looking for an alternative to Quicken that can provide me with dark mode. I can't wait any longer.

madeira

Hello friends. We have been asking for a black screen for Quicken for a long time, but it seems to me that this is very, very difficult because until now we have not had the privilege of working with a comfortable dark background...
Quicken could, however, have a greater choice of colors in the themes, the colors that are currently available have been like this for many years and Quicken could be a little more generous by increasing the number of color options... and the same goes for Graph and Chart Colors...
Help us Quicken and give us a chance to see these beautiful screens with many more colors...

Jim Coupal

Here is an "up vote" for a dark theme, or at least a less-white theme. Even softening to a yellow or gray would be an improvement!

Arthur Schwarez

Here is another "up vote" for a dark theme.

This thread seems to have been started in 2018. That's 7 years ago. Apparently, Quicken has shown little interest in satisfying its customer base.

Chris_QPW

https://community.quicken.com/discussion/comment/20487603#Comment_20487603

Personally, I think this is an indication of how hard the problem is. They even stated that the intended to do this, but clearly something stopped them. And as a person that maintains old software, I know what that something is. Quicken is made up of many different GUI APIs that have been introduced over the years, which means each part has to be handled differently. But on top of that most of them have no way to change the overall appearance. Which means that they would have to hand tweak tons of code to get the dark mode effect.

Note that Quicken Mac which has a much more recent and consistent code base (because of a total rewrite starting in 2007) already has dark mode, and it was request after the request for it in Quicken Windows. It was just plan easier to do in that code/API.

What I find more surprising is that that this website doesn't have the ability since the ability to change the appearance of it has been there almost as long as websites have existed. That goes for Quicken Web and Mobile too.