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Dark Mode for Quicken Windows [Autohotkey Script]

J.A. Clark

I have developed an Autohotkey script that renders Quicken Windows in a 'dark mode'. It can also do the same for other apps that do not have a native dark mode.

There are other threads on the Quicken.com forums discussing this script but not a thread dedicated fully to this script so I decided to start one.

WHAT IT DOES
This script gives you true per-window dark mode for applications that have no native dark theme (Regedit, MMC, WinRAR, WordPad, CCleaner, Quicken, and many more). It works by inverting the colors of only the target window's rectangle using the Windows Magnification API via DLL calls — NOT the whole screen like the built-in Magnifier does. Windows can be inverted manually with a hotkey, or automatically (recommended over switching manually) the moment they appear by adding them to a group list inside the script.

REQUIREMENTS

Windows 10 or 11
AutoHotkey v2.0 (installed to C:\Program Files — required for UI Access)

STEP 1 — INSTALL AUTOHOTKEY v2

If you have not installed Autohotkey, go to https://www.autohotkey.com/ and click Download.
Run the installer and accept the default install location (C:\Program Files\AutoHotkey). Do NOT change this — UI Access only works from Program Files.
Finish the install with default options.

STEP 2 — ENABLE UI ACCESS
The script needs UI Access to draw its overlay above other windows.

Open the Start menu and launch 'AutoHotkey Dash'.
Click 'Launch Settings'.
Enable the 'UI Access' option.
(If you already have AutoHotkey installed somewhere other than Program Files, see this workaround: https://www.reddit.com/r/AutoHotkey/comments/16ux144/ui_access_without_reinstalling_in_program_files_v2/)

STEP 3 — REQUEST THE GOOGLE DRIVE LINK TO DOWNLOAD SCRIPT

FYI, I am asking that individuals request the download link so that I can provide the latest version of the script in real-time and not have to be concerned about this OP being outdated. Simply add a post to this thread requesting the link and I will reply with the latest Google Drive shared link.

When downloading the script, remember to move the script from where you downloaded script to somewhere on your system a bit more permanent, i.e., under your Documents in a folder, 'Autohotkey Scripts' or something similar.

STEP 4 — RUN IT
Double-click downloaded script. The script automatically relaunches itself with UI Access, so you may see it restart once — that is normal. A green 'H' icon will appear in your system tray.

STEP 5 — RUN DARK MODE SCRIPT AT WINDOWS STARTUP

Press Win+R, type: shell:startup and press Enter. This opens your Startup folder.
Right-click the downloaded Autohotkey script (in the folder where you saved it) and choose 'Copy'.
In the Startup folder, right-click an empty area and choose 'Paste shortcut'.
The script will now launch automatically every time you sign in to Windows.

USAGE

Manual Mode: Win+Shift+i — toggle dark mode (color inversion) on the currently active window.
Automatic Mode: Open the script in a text editor and add programs to the auto_invert_gp group near the top of the script code:
GroupAdd "auto_invert_gp", "ahk_exe notepad.exe"
Any window matching the group is inverted automatically when it opens.
Exclusions — add process names to the AutoInvIgnProcName array (directly following the auto_invert_gp) for apps that should never be auto-inverted (typically apps that are already dark).
Remember to right click on the Autohotkey icon in system tray and select 'Reload Script' when modifying the script.

NOTES

A debug log (DarkMode_debug.log) is written to the script's folder. Set _DbgLog := false in the script to disable it (it may already be set to 'false').
Credit to the original v1 concept: https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=563023#p563023
I have several hundred hours invested in developing this script. [Removed - No Soliciting]

Constructive feedback, bug reports and app group suggestions are welcome in this thread.

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Comments

randytg01

Can I please get a download link for the Autohotkey Script

randytg01

[Removed - Duplicate Post]

J.A. Clark

Copy that. Here is the link to the latest build:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LNOjd25CNaxBwR4_3xn_EG2bhiBmr7i1/view?usp=sharing

randytg01

Thank you

J.A. Clark

Been struggling with Quicken and their 'Superuser' hall monitors so the PayPal donate email address was removed. I've been informed that I can use a website so if you find the Quicken Dark Mode Autohotkey script useful, please consider visiting Netspeedz.com :-)

jacobs

@J.A. Clark As an FYI, "SuperUsers" here (like me) are simply fellow Quicken users who hang out here and try to help other users. We don't work for or follow instructions from Quicken. And we don't redact users' posts.

The Quicken employees who are moderators here enforce their rules about not discussing competing/alternate software on this site. (Their site; their rules. 🤣) Although I'm strictly a Mac user, I've followed this topic with interest, and I was happy to see that the moderators have not removed this thread, as even something like that might be interpreted as violating the terms of use for the site. Since you're trying to help Quicken users with a problem that the product developers and management have said they're unable to help with, it seems fair to me to let it exist here. But asking for payment is definitely a violation of forum rules, which is why they likely removed that link in your post:

If I can offer a friendly suggestion to you, it would be to put the request for a shareware donation on the site where you are hosting your file. That way people who use your work will see it, but it won't trip flags on this site.

retird

Anybody tried this? How about some comments and screenshots?

J.A. Clark

I can look at making a 'dummy account' and taking a screenshot of that so a user can see the dark themed colors.

In the mean-time, you could temporarily enable the Windows Magnifier and get a basic idea on what the Dark Mode Autohotkey script looks like. Keep in mind, by default, the Windows Magnifier inverts everything - not just what you want. It won't be exact as I've used some hooks into the Windows Magnifier DLL's to rotate some colors a bit to make them easier to read. But you should get a good sense of what the Dark Mode Autohotkey script does by temporarily enabling the Windows Magnifier and running your copy of Quicken.

A quick overview of how to manually use the Magnifier:

Start Magnifier: Press Windows Key + +
Zoom In/Out: Press Control Key + Alt Key + Mouse Scroll Up/Down
Close Magnifier: Press Windows Key + Esc
Open Settings: Press Windows Key + Ctrl + M [1, 2, 3]

markus1957

I'm curious. How is this different than using the built-in shortcut keys to invert the color scheme using Windows accessibility settings?

I've tried the Windows accessibility option, and it looks to me like how Quicken might implement a dark mode feature. Second tier but usable.

J.A. Clark

The Dark Mode Autohotkey script is different because, unlike the default Windows Magnifier, it is not enabled 100% of the time. Dark mode is only enabled on those apps you define in the script that need dark mode and leaves everything else untouched. There is also a list of apps that can be defined to never be inverted/dark themed.

mshiggins

@J.A. Clark I apologize if this comes across as reprimanding you. That is not my intent.

Back when they instituted the moderators here, one of the intents was to keep the posts friendly so all Quicken users feel welcome to share their experiences - good or bad - with using Quicken. As super users, we are expected to follow the terms of service for this forum - that includes not insulting or otherwise making anyone posting here feel unwelcome. There are, however, a wide variety of personalities and posting styles among the mods and superusers.

I am willing to give some leeway to superusers because many of us have at least some traits in common with Sheldon Cooper. And I have been reading their posts for a lot of years. But if you feel any mod or superuser or other poster is posting responses that make you feel your posts are unwelcome here, I encourage you to either call them out directly or use the private messaging available to discuss the issue with a moderator.

J.A. Clark

Appreciate the time you took to respond. I have reported those 'superusers' that I feel have an attitude of 'harassment'.

On my end, I see no way to communicate with them (or any other forum user) via private messaging) It's always me responding to a super user sending me a PM.

In any case, like I said, appreciate your time in responding.

mshiggins

@J.A. Clark this link should take you to the compose page for your PM inbox:

https://community.quicken.com/messages/add

jacobs

On my end, I see no way to communicate with them (or any other forum user) via private messaging

On the upper right of a forum page, do you have an envelope icon (to the left of your profile avatar)?

(There are some things on this site which are permission-based, with "privileges" derived from your longevity or activity here. I don't know if the envelope icon may be something you "earn" over time.)

Since you said you've received messages from other users, I'm thinking that means you do have the envelope icon? If so, to private message anyone, click the envelope, then click the Compose/New Message icon that pops down.

J.A. Clark

Tried that. Don't have permissions….. :-) Overall Quicken experience - lacking….. :-(

jacobs

On the previous platform this site was hosted on, there were a lot of problems with spammers and scammers. Having certain features based on some metric of longevity here (I'm not sure if it's number of posts, comments, length of time, or something else) is an effort to prevent spammers/scammers from creating new IDs in order to do their work on the site. I'm not sure there's science behind the exact metrics needed to gain features here; I think it's just methodology the site administrators implemented to thwart scammers from repeatedly creating bogus new IDs and posting their crap.

mshiggins

Ah, I see regular users of the forum do not have access to initiate PMs. You can use the flag icon and report content though.