MySQL Workbench Dark Theme

How can I change MySQL Workbench settings so that it uses a dark theme?

11 Answers

Here's how to change MySQL Workbench's colors (INCLUDING THE BACKGROUND COLOR).

Open the XML file called code_editor.xml located in the data folder of the MySQL Workbench's installation directory (usually C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Workbench 6.3 CE\data). Here you'll find a lot of styling for different code elements, but there are some missing.

MySQL Workbench uses scintilla as the code editor, and scintilla defines a few more styles that you can use in the code_editor.xml file. The one that is used for the background color is style id 32.

Here's the complete list for MySQL (scintilla has thousands of styles for many languages) with my configuration:

<style id= "0" fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DEFAULT --> <style id= "1" fore-color="#999999" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENT --> <style id= "2" fore-color="#999999" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENTLINE --> <style id= "3" fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_VARIABLE --> <style id= "4" fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style id= "5" fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KNOWNSYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style id= "6" fore-color="#FF8080" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_NUMBER --> <style id= "7" fore-color="#7AAAD7" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_MAJORKEYWORD --> <style id= "8" fore-color="#7AAAD7" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KEYWORD --> <style id= "9" fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DATABASEOBJECT --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PROCEDUREKEYWORD --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_STRING --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SQSTRING --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DQSTRING --> <style fore-color="#FFBB80" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_OPERATOR --> <style fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_FUNCTION --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_IDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_QUOTEDIDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER1 --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER2 --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER3 --> <style fore-color="#FFBB80" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_HIDDENCOMMAND --> <style fore-color="#909090" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PLACEHOLDER --> <!-- These two are for scintilla globally. --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#2A2A2A" bold="No" /> <!-- STYLE_DEFAULT THIS IS THE ONE FOR THE BACKGROUND!!!!! --> <style fore-color="#2A2A2A" back-color="#DDDDDD" bold="No" /> <!-- STYLE_LINENUMBER --> <!-- All styles again in their variant in a hidden command (with a 0x40 offset). --> <style fore-color="#999999" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENT --> <style fore-color="#999999" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENTLINE --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_VARIABLE --> <style fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KNOWNSYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style fore-color="#FF8080" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_NUMBER --> <style fore-color="#7AAAD7" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_MAJORKEYWORD --> <style fore-color="#7AAAD7" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KEYWORD --> <style fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DATABASEOBJECT --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PROCEDUREKEYWORD --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_STRING --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SQSTRING --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DQSTRING --> <style fore-color="#FFBB80" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_OPERATOR --> <style fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_FUNCTION --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_IDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_QUOTEDIDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER1 --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER2 --> <style fore-color="#B9CB89" back-color="#707070" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER3 --> <style fore-color="#FFBB80" back-color="#909090" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_HIDDENCOMMAND --> <style fore-color="#AAAAAA" back-color="#909090" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PLACEHOLDER -->

You can disable MySQL WorkBench dark-mode using default - run below command on your terminal/console.

defaults write com.oracle.workbench.MySQLWorkbench NSRequiresAquaSystemAppearance -bool yes

MySQL Workbench 8.0 Update

Based on Gunther's answer, it seems like in code_editor.xml they're planning to enable a dark mode at some point down the road. What was once fore-color has now been split into fore-color-light and fore-color-dark. Likewise with back-color.

Here's how to get a dark editor (not whole application theme) based on the Monokai colours provided graciously by elMestre:

<!-- dark-gray: #282828; brown-gray: #49483E; gray: #888888; light-gray: #CCCCCC; ghost-white: #F8F8F0; light-ghost-white: #F8F8F2; yellow: #E6DB74; blue: #66D9EF; pink: #F92672; purple: #AE81FF; brown: #75715E; orange: #FD971F; light-orange: #FFD569; green: #A6E22E; sea-green: #529B2F; --> <style fore-color-light="#DDDDDD" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#DDDDDD" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- STYLE_DEFAULT !BACKGROUND! --> <style fore-color-light="#DDDDDD" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#DDDDDD" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- STYLE_LINENUMBER --> <style id= "0" fore-color-light="#DDDDDD" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#DDDDDD" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DEFAULT --> <style id= "1" fore-color-light="#999999" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#999999" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENT --> <style id= "2" fore-color-light="#999999" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#999999" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENTLINE --> <style id= "3" fore-color-light="#DDDDDD" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#DDDDDD" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_VARIABLE --> <style id= "4" fore-color-light="#66D9EF" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#66D9EF" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style id= "5" fore-color-light="#66D9EF" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#66D9EF" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KNOWNSYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style id= "6" fore-color-light="#AE81FF" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#AE81FF" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_NUMBER --> <style id= "7" fore-color-light="#F92672" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#F92672" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_MAJORKEYWORD --> <style id= "8" fore-color-light="#F92672" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#F92672" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KEYWORD --> <style id= "9" fore-color-light="#9B859D" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#9B859D" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DATABASEOBJECT --> <style fore-color-light="#DDDDDD" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#DDDDDD" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PROCEDUREKEYWORD --> <style fore-color-light="#E6DB74" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#E6DB74" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_STRING --> <style fore-color-light="#E6DB74" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#E6DB74" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SQSTRING --> <style fore-color-light="#E6DB74" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#E6DB74" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DQSTRING --> <style fore-color-light="#F92672" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#F92672" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_OPERATOR --> <style fore-color-light="#9B859D" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#9B859D" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_FUNCTION --> <style fore-color-light="#DDDDDD" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#DDDDDD" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_IDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color-light="#E6DB74" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#E6DB74" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_QUOTEDIDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color-light="#529B2F" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#529B2F" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER1 --> <style fore-color-light="#529B2F" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#529B2F" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER2 --> <style fore-color-light="#529B2F" back-color-light="#282828" fore-color-dark="#529B2F" back-color-dark="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER3 --> <style fore-color-light="#66D9EF" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#66D9EF" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_HIDDENCOMMAND --> <style fore-color-light="#909090" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#909090" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PLACEHOLDER --> <!-- All styles again in their variant in a hidden command --> <style fore-color-light="#999999" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#999999" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENT --> <style fore-color-light="#999999" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#999999" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENTLINE --> <style fore-color-light="#DDDDDD" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#DDDDDD" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_VARIABLE --> <style fore-color-light="#66D9EF" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#66D9EF" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style fore-color-light="#66D9EF" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#66D9EF" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KNOWNSYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style fore-color-light="#AE81FF" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#AE81FF" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_NUMBER --> <style fore-color-light="#F92672" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#F92672" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_MAJORKEYWORD --> <style fore-color-light="#F92672" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#F92672" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KEYWORD --> <style fore-color-light="#9B859D" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#9B859D" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DATABASEOBJECT --> <style fore-color-light="#DDDDDD" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#DDDDDD" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PROCEDUREKEYWORD --> <style fore-color-light="#E6DB74" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#E6DB74" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_STRING --> <style fore-color-light="#E6DB74" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#E6DB74" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SQSTRING --> <style fore-color-light="#E6DB74" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#E6DB74" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DQSTRING --> <style fore-color-light="#F92672" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#F92672" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_OPERATOR --> <style fore-color-light="#9B859D" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#9B859D" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_FUNCTION --> <style fore-color-light="#DDDDDD" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#DDDDDD" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_IDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color-light="#E6DB74" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#E6DB74" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_QUOTEDIDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color-light="#529B2F" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#529B2F" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER1 --> <style fore-color-light="#529B2F" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#529B2F" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER2 --> <style fore-color-light="#529B2F" back-color-light="#49483E" fore-color-dark="#529B2F" back-color-dark="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER3 --> <style fore-color-light="#66D9EF" back-color-light="#888888" fore-color-dark="#66D9EF" back-color-dark="#888888" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_HIDDENCOMMAND --> <style fore-color-light="#AAAAAA" back-color-light="#888888" fore-color-dark="#AAAAAA" back-color-dark="#888888" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PLACEHOLDER -->

Remember to paste all these styles inside of the <language name="SCLEX_MYSQL"> tag in data > code_editor.xml.

Edit: Advise: This answer is old and a better solution can be found in this same page. This answer referred to MySQL Workbench 6.3 and is outdated. If you are using a new version (8.0 as today) look for @VSingh comment in this very page.

Original answer:

Just a copy of Gaston's answer, but with Monokai theme colors.

<!-- dark-gray: #282828; brown-gray: #49483E; gray: #888888; light-gray: #CCCCCC; ghost-white: #F8F8F0; light-ghost-white: #F8F8F2; yellow: #E6DB74; blue: #66D9EF; pink: #F92672; purple: #AE81FF; brown: #75715E; orange: #FD971F; light-orange: #FFD569; green: #A6E22E; sea-green: #529B2F; --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- STYLE_DEFAULT !BACKGROUND! --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- STYLE_LINENUMBER --> <style id= "0" fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DEFAULT --> <style id= "1" fore-color="#999999" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENT --> <style id= "2" fore-color="#999999" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENTLINE --> <style id= "3" fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_VARIABLE --> <style id= "4" fore-color="#66D9EF" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style id= "5" fore-color="#66D9EF" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KNOWNSYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style id= "6" fore-color="#AE81FF" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_NUMBER --> <style id= "7" fore-color="#F92672" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_MAJORKEYWORD --> <style id= "8" fore-color="#F92672" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KEYWORD --> <style id= "9" fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DATABASEOBJECT --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PROCEDUREKEYWORD --> <style fore-color="#E6DB74" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_STRING --> <style fore-color="#E6DB74" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SQSTRING --> <style fore-color="#E6DB74" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DQSTRING --> <style fore-color="#F92672" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_OPERATOR --> <style fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_FUNCTION --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_IDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color="#E6DB74" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_QUOTEDIDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color="#529B2F" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER1 --> <style fore-color="#529B2F" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER2 --> <style fore-color="#529B2F" back-color="#282828" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER3 --> <style fore-color="#66D9EF" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_HIDDENCOMMAND --> <style fore-color="#909090" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PLACEHOLDER --> <!-- All styles again in their variant in a hidden command --> <style fore-color="#999999" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENT --> <style fore-color="#999999" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_COMMENTLINE --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_VARIABLE --> <style fore-color="#66D9EF" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style fore-color="#66D9EF" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KNOWNSYSTEMVARIABLE --> <style fore-color="#AE81FF" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_NUMBER --> <style fore-color="#F92672" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_MAJORKEYWORD --> <style fore-color="#F92672" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_KEYWORD --> <style fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DATABASEOBJECT --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PROCEDUREKEYWORD --> <style fore-color="#E6DB74" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_STRING --> <style fore-color="#E6DB74" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_SQSTRING --> <style fore-color="#E6DB74" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_DQSTRING --> <style fore-color="#F92672" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_OPERATOR --> <style fore-color="#9B859D" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_FUNCTION --> <style fore-color="#DDDDDD" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_IDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color="#E6DB74" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_QUOTEDIDENTIFIER --> <style fore-color="#529B2F" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER1 --> <style fore-color="#529B2F" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER2 --> <style fore-color="#529B2F" back-color="#49483E" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_USER3 --> <style fore-color="#66D9EF" back-color="#888888" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_HIDDENCOMMAND --> <style fore-color="#AAAAAA" back-color="#888888" bold="No" /> <!-- SCE_MYSQL_PLACEHOLDER -->

For disabling Dark mode in MySQL workbench on mac: Open terminal use mentioned command:

defaults write com.oracle.workbench.MySQLWorkbench NSRequiresAquaSystemAppearance -bool yes

For Enabling Dark mode in MySQL workbench on mac: Open terminal:

defaults write com.oracle.workbench.MySQLWorkbench NSRequiresAquaSystemAppearance -bool no

It's not really a programming question, but it's a quick one so let me answer that. MySQL Workbench's themes are a collection of colors for certain main parts of the application. It is planned to allow customizing them in a later version. In order to get a dark theme as one of the templates please file a feature request at . But keep in mind, not every UI element is colored according to the Workbench theme, e.g. text boxes still stay white as they use the Windows standard colors.

FYI Dark theme is now in the Dev Version of MySQL Workbench

Update: From what I can tell it is Natively built into MySQL Workbench 8.0.15 for MAC OS X

The package I downloaded was mysql-workbench-community-8.0.15-macos-x86_64.dmg

For Ubuntu Users, the code_editor.xml is in

/usr/share/mysql-workbench/data

edit as you need, In Ubuntu which is a must need, some default used colours lacks contrast and it is unable to read, For a quick workaround you can also use this solution.

Visit this repo to get the full XML file.

The hack by VSingh is better than nothing.

However Visual Studio Code has a passable mySQL addon by cweijan and it DOES support dark themes (several actually). It pretty much does everything you could need, just a bit of a learning curve to figure out the new interface. It also supports several other database engines I use, so it's fast becoming my hole in one.

I'm tired of getting arc eyes every time I have to run a query, it gives me a headache. They implemented it for Mac, how long does it take to do the same for Windows?

I will be using VS Code for as much as possible from now on, maybe I will look at this later when the developers wake up.

For a more straight forward Windows answer. Just replace the code_editor.xml file with the one here: . It's not perfect but the query window is dark now.

Quoting Yoga...