First automatic theme switch after boot from Dark Mode results in irreversible color mismatch — only manual system setting switch can fix it

[Geber2]

Description

After shutting down the PC while in Dark Mode and booting up again, the very first automatic theme switch (e.g., from Light to Dark, or just the scheduled refresh) leaves the system in a broken mixed-color state:

• Taskbar stays dark
• Start menu shows the accent color (or remains themed)
• File Explorer and other windows appear in Light Mode

Crucially, switching themes within Auto Dark Mode (either via the tray menu or a scheduled toggle) cannot repair this state. Even after multiple software switches, the broken mixture persists. The only way to recover is to manually open Settings → Personalization → Colors and switch the mode (Light/Dark) by hand. After that one manual system switch, everything returns to normal, and Auto Dark Mode works perfectly again until the next cold boot.

Expected Behavior

Expected Behavior

The very first automatic theme switch after boot should produce a complete, clean theme change, just as a manual system settings switch does.

Actual Behavior

• Software-driven theme switches (automatic or manual) after boot result in a permanently broken mixed-color state.
• Only a manual toggle inside Windows Settings can break the loop and restore correct behavior.

Log Data

service.log

config.yaml

Commit Hash, Version and Windows Build

• Commit: 7a8d94d1
• Service/App: 11.1.0.18
• Updater: 4.0.3
• Shell: 1.3.3.0
• .Net: 9.0.11
• Windows: 26200.8246
• Arch: X64

Screenshots / Videos

[Jay-o-Way]

Hello and thanks for your message. Is it possible that you have set a theme to be applied in ADM settings? Can you show the ADM settings under Personalization > Colors, and Personalization > Theme?

[Geber2]

[Armin2208]

That's weird, Auto Dark Mode seems to enable TaskbarColorSwitch at boot. Although the config is set to TaskbarColorSwitch: false.

WindowsThemeMode is also set to false.
But the log still sometimes says its using a custom theme for syncing:
2026-05-08 12:09:58 | Info | ThemeFile.SyncWithActiveTheme: theme used for synching is custom theme, path: C:\Users\x2907\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\Custom.theme
Although it sets the ADMTheme for the switch:
2026-05-08 12:09:59 | Info | Tm2Handler.SetTheme: applied theme ADMTheme, from origin: C:\Users\x2907\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\ADMTheme.theme directly via IThemeManager2

Did you enable Windows Custom Theme sometime, to try something out?

[Geber2]

No, this issue started appearing after a certain update. Since then, I’ve just been manually switching the color mode every day after booting up. It may also be that I changed something a long time ago without noticing, but I don’t think I ever intended to modify the theme color setting. It might also be caused by Wallpaper Engine’s feature that automatically adjusts the system accent color or theme based on the wallpaper.

[Jay-o-Way]

Have you tried Deleting the settings file?

[Geber2]

Thank you for the suggestion! Yes, deleting the config.yaml file and restarting Auto Dark Mode solved the problem. I really appreciate your help.

[Jay-o-Way]

Good to hear it is now fixed for you. I am not sure, but my suspicion is that, at some point in time, a color setting changed inside the Custom.theme and ADMtheme.theme files. If you want to, you can open the file in a text editor, or you can (zip and) upload it to the chat so we can see it.

[Geber2]

config.zipThis is the newly generated one after deletion

config1.zipThis is the original

[Jay-o-Way]

Sorry, what I meant was the actual (Custom and ADMtheme) .theme files. As in C:\Users\x2907\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\Custom.theme

[Geber2]

Custom&ADM.zipAre these the two?

[Geber2]

Unfortunately, the issue has returned today, exactly as before — taskbar is dark, Start menu shows the accent color, and everything else remains light. The problem is back despite having deleted the config.yaml file and restarted Auto Dark Mode, which had previously seemed to fix it.

[Armin2208]

Unfortunately, the issue has returned today, exactly as before — taskbar is dark, Start menu shows the accent color, and everything else remains light. The problem is back despite having deleted the config.yaml file and restarted Auto Dark Mode, which had previously seemed to fix it.

sorry, but I again need a new service.log file, to check this case after your config deletion

[Jay-o-Way]

I'm going to to guess the issue is in here, inside the theme files...

@Geber2 So, as far as I can tell, my advice is to create or select a new Windows theme and start fresh.