Computer screens can be glaringly bright, especially in the dark. Try reducing eye strain by using a dark Windows visual style and web browser theme. You can even give every web page you view a white-text-on-black-background look.
High-Contrast Themes
You can choose from two types of dark themes for Windows 7: a high-contrast theme—which won't look as pretty but doesn't require any additional software, or a third-party dark theme, for which you need to perform a little hack on Windows to install it.
Both Windows 7 and Windows 8 have several built-in High Contrast themes you can use to get a dark desktop and applications. Right-click your desktop, select Personalize, and select one of the High Contrast themes. Feel free to try each and see which you prefer.
Dark Themes for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1
The high-contrast themes aren't ideal. They're designed for accessibility, not eye candy. They also don't use Aero, so they're not properly hardware accelerated and don't look as nice.
However, Microsoft doesn't support third-party Windows 7 dark themes. Download the UltraUXThemePatcher installer, run it, and reboot your computer to patch your system.
The tool modifies the uxtheme.dll file in Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 to load any theme you like—by default, it checks themes you attempt to load and only loads them if they're signed by Microsoft.
Once the patch is applied, you can download theme files and drop them in C:\Windows\Resources\Themes. They'll appear in the Personalization dialog.
Selected Dark Themes for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1
Since you can choose from so many different themes, here are a few samples.
Some of these dark themes also come with icons and fonts—the screenshots below show how they look without the additional bits. Bear in mind that the themes won't look perfect in every program, as many programs just assume you're using the Microsoft-provided default themes.
Dark Agility for Windows 7 focuses on providing a dark interface. Many dark themes for Windows 7 provide a dark toolbar and white content panes, but Dark Agility goes all the way. Compare it to the high-contrast theme above, and you'll see just why you'd want to use a third-party theme. It's much slicker.
Dark Pearl VS for Windows 7 incorporates more gray for additional contrast. The content panes are no longer blindingly white, so it's a nice compromise between an all-black or all-bright theme, making it a great dark theme for Windows 7.
Steam VS for Windows 7 uses dark grays that match how Valve's Steam gaming service looks.
Abisso 2014 for Windows 8.1 is about as dark as you can get. It's all black aside from the text and interface elements, which are white and blue to stand out. The contrast makes it a tidy dark theme for Windows 8.1.
Check out the visual styles for Windows 7 or visual styles for Windows 8 categories on deviantART to find more themes.
Dark Browser Themes for Windows 7 and 8.1
You'll probably want to install a dark browser skin, so your web browser fits in with your dark Windows theme.
The themes here are just suggestions—you'll find many more dark themes on your web browser's theme-download website.
Slinky Elegant for Chrome provides a nice-looking, minimal dark theme that makes Chrome mesh with your new dark desktop.
Dark Fox for Firefox gives you a dark Firefox logo in your toolbar as well as white, brightly colored buttons.
Dark Theme Web Styles
User styles can go beyond theming your desktop and the applications running on it. You can have user styles give a single website—or even the entire web—a dark look. These work by applying a CSS style. You'll need the Stylish extension installed to use these scripts in Chrome, Firefox, or Opera.
Midnight Surfing Alternative is a user style that attempts to turn every web page you see into a dark theme. Of course, it won't work perfectly on every site.
Dark Google Minimalist attempts to do the same thing, but only for Google. It won't interfere with other websites.
Search userstyles.org for "Dark" to find dark themes for other websites.
The Best Dark Themes for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1
You've got a great list of dark themes for Windows 7 and 8.1! We hope these help reduce strain on your eyes and provide a more pleasant browsing experience; these dark themes are also helpful if you're just looking for a change of pace.
Recently upgraded to Windows 10? You have far more customization options as far as dark themes go. Give your eyes a break!