Choose system, light, or dark appearance

Change the TechDash theme, understand System mode, and fix an unexpected appearance.

Last checked 21 August 2026

TechDash supports System, Light, and Dark themes. The choice applies immediately and is saved in this installation's local settings.

Change the theme

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Find the Appearance card.
  3. Under Theme, select:
    • System to follow the current macOS or Windows appearance.
    • Light to keep TechDash light.
    • Dark to keep TechDash dark.

The app updates as soon as you select an option. There is no separate Save button. Close and reopen the main window if you want to confirm that the preference was stored.

How System works

System lets the operating system decide whether TechDash uses its light or dark palette. If macOS or Windows changes appearance manually or on a schedule, the open TechDash interface follows the system change. Choose Light or Dark if you want TechDash to remain fixed while the operating system changes.

On Linux, System uses the theme information the operating system provides. Desktop environments differ, so a fixed Light or Dark choice is the clearest option if System does not match the rest of the desktop.

What the theme does not change

The theme changes surfaces, text, borders, charts, and controls. It does not change:

  • Which checks run or how often they run.
  • Incident severity or notification behavior.
  • The meaning of Advisory, Good, Warning, and Critical.
  • Website screenshots captured as monitoring evidence.
  • The appearance of monitored websites.

Status colors remain distinct product signals in each theme. A red Critical result remains Critical even when the surrounding interface changes between light and dark.

TechDash also stores the last route and window bounds locally. Returning to a previous area or window position after reopening is separate from the theme setting.

If the appearance is unexpected

  • Confirm which of System, Light, or Dark is selected under Settings > Appearance > Theme.
  • If System is selected, check the operating system's current appearance and any automatic day or night schedule.
  • Switch to Light or Dark to test whether the fixed preferences apply.
  • If a fixed theme applies but System does not, the operating system or desktop environment may not be exposing the expected theme signal.
  • If none of the three choices changes the interface, fully quit and reopen TechDash. A normal window close keeps the same process running and is not a full restart.

The expected result is an immediate palette change with no interruption to monitoring, queued work, or open incidents.

Verify the saved appearance

After choosing a theme, move to Websites or Incidents and confirm that cards, page backgrounds, and text use the selected palette. Status badges should keep their normal meanings and remain readable. Fully quit and reopen TechDash, then return to Settings > Appearance. The same option should still be selected.

A common confusion is expecting System to remember the palette that was visible when it was selected. System is not a fourth fixed palette. It continues to follow the current operating system preference, so TechDash may look light now and dark later. The setting is also local to this TechDash installation. Choosing Dark on one computer does not change another computer.

If a fixed theme repeatedly returns to another option after a full restart, open Help & Support and include the selected option, operating system, and whether the change appeared before restarting. If only System behaves unexpectedly, include the operating system appearance and schedule settings too.

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