Dark Room for Windows

Used Dark Room for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffApril 13, 2026

Dark Room is a lightweight productivity utility that transforms your monitor into a simple, full-screen canvas of glowing text against a dark background. Designed for writers who want to eliminate the digital noise of modern operating systems, the free tool mimics the focused atmosphere of vintage word processors.

Focus on the fundamentals

Eschewing the buttons and ribbons found in traditional office suites, the Dark Room application provides a black screen with green text by default, though these colors are fully customizable. The absence of a complex GUI ensures that the software remains incredibly fast and responsive on almost any system.

Navigating the application is handled primarily through a series of intuitive keyboard shortcuts, allowing you to stay in the flow without reaching for your mouse. Despite its efficiency, the software is quite bare-bones and lacks advanced formatting options such as bold and italics found in Apache OpenOffice.

Pros
- Full-screen distraction-free environment
- Customizable text and background colors
- Highly responsive and lightweight performance
- Simple and intuitive keyboard shortcuts
Cons
- Lacks advanced formatting options

Bottom Line

Concentration at its core

All in all, Dark Room succeeds in its mission to capture the essence of a distraction-free writing environment while keeping the experience free and accessible. It is a niche tool that trades versatility for concentration, providing a stable platform for those who find standard processors overwhelming.

What’s new in version 0.8b

Adds neutral highlighting and cursor blink-rate control

Dark Room for Windows

Used Dark Room for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: May 14, 2007

Latest update: April 13, 2026

Version: 0.8b

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows XP
Windows 10

Additional Requirements: Windows XP, Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 57,553

Downloads Last Week: 2

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Last Updated

User Reviews

4.2/5

33 User Votes

Love the application
CarlatFSJFebruary 3, 2012
Pros
Easy to use and setup on my windows xp machine. -Starts up with the last doc I was writing -works in both full screen and window mode
Cons
nothing to report as yet. Will update later.
Summary
Can't use It.
Cat5012April 27, 2010
Pros
None. I can't find the file
Cons
I downloaded Dark Room and was really excited. It looked like a neat product. It downloaded in a zipped file, Firefox is supposed to open it, but it doesn't. It says it can't find it. I'm really disappointed. Usually I rate Cnet's products high.
Summary
Just can't find the file. I wish it downloaded in just a regular file. Now I can't even find it to delete it. Can't really rate this.
Nice and very useful for authors who get distracted
UncleMoosebuzzMarch 12, 2010
Pros
The black screen keeps my eyes focuced so I can get the job done. Nice color text. Perfect for what I wanted.
Cons
I couldn't figure out how to shut it off - so every time I tried to do something different, I was still 'in the dark' (computer moron waves here) so I had to get rid of it until someone can help me control it.
Summary
If you are an author/writer/student, who gets distracted by all the bells and whistles around your computer screen, this is great. Black screen with non-offending neon text. You just type and go. Wonderful!
Don't be afraid of the Dark
ArionexFebruary 7, 2010
Pros
Flawless design, comfortable and easy on the eyes, simply great.
Cons
It lacks of an Updated Version that is all.
Summary
Bottom line is as follows, the efficiency of this app is flawless to a degree but it lacks minimum features. It's a must have.
A WRITING TOOL FOR CREATIVE WRITERS
RedrikSeptember 18, 2009
Pros
No distractions.
Cons
Having to use other software for formatting, spell checking etc could be seen as a disadvantage but that would only apply to the less creative.
Summary
The first thing I did was start writing. What began as a "how does this thing work" quickly turned into a short story I didn't know lurking inside me. Clearly the "no distractions" concept works for me! I have sometimes been regarded as eccentric but aren't most of us?
One word: Simple
allfghhgfFebruary 19, 2009
Pros
-small -simple -full screen -fast -easy to use -really clears up writers block -word wraps(unlike notepad)
Cons
-simple fonts
Summary
This is great if you don't like the complexity, and speed, of MSWord and if you like the word wrap that notepad doesn't have. it is also very small so putting it on a flash stick is very easy and does not take up any space.
not the best
ResourcesOnlineFebruary 9, 2009
Pros
Cool way to focus on what you are doing
Cons
None......
Summary
cool looking utility, not very real world practical
josephfuentesDecember 1, 2008
Pros
simple, attractive eye candy. While I think it gets its basic job done, writing a text file, its real purpose is to catch attention while you're at an internet cafe or somewhere publc. I know I've gotten the looks.
Cons
You have to break out of input mode (by pressing Esc) to get to tools like copy, paste. At that point it just turns into another txt processor.
Summary
It's like a MAC. Pretty to look at but not much there.
A great and unique word processor
MyObsessionNovember 23, 2008
Pros
Fast and easy to use, very customisable for such a small program, ultra portable and no distractions.
Cons
Lacks image support (not a problem for writing - its ultimate purpose), and lack of save options (only in .txt and not .doc etc, which would be even better)
Summary
This program is great for anyone that likes to write without distraction. It's also great for doing coursework when there are so many other distractions (Beware the internet shortcut etc). Though it's not clear, the program is quite customisable. By pressing Esc and choosing Edt > Preferences (or using the shortcut), the font and size can be changed, as well as the font colour and background colour. Though the program is dark room for obvious reasons, if people fancy white text on a red background, it is simple and easy enough to do. The program is also super fast and low maintenance as there is no install, which means save the folder onto your desktop and there it is - also handy to carry around if you don't want to lug Open Office on your flash drive, just for image support and formatting. Though it lacks image support, this really is a program for hardcore writers, which to them I'm sure makes it a must have program. It would be great if you could save as a MS Word, MS Works, or Open Office Doc, just to make it that bit more great - but otherwise a great all round which gets the thumbs up from me.
perfect for what it's made for. I enjoy using it.
PaddygrnOctober 29, 2008
Pros
easy to use
Cons
don't have any dislikes so far
Summary

Developer’s Description

By Dark Room Team

Write in a distraction-free environment with this text editor.

Dark Room is a full-screen, distraction-free, writing environment. Unlike standard word processors that focus on features, Dark Room is just about you and your text. Dark Room is a clone of the Mac OS X application WriteRoom. The goal of the project is to capture the essence of WriteRoom, while keeping it simple and free.

Version 0.8b adds neutral highlighting and cursor blink-rate control.