Appearance

Appearance controls how PrimeTask looks. There are two independent controls:

Theme - Light / Dark / System for the whole app body
Sidebar & Header Theme - independently styled sidebar and header, with the option to follow the active Space, apply a custom gradient, or apply a solid colour

Splitting them means you can keep the main workspace calm while using the sidebar and header as a stronger context marker.

What you can do

Pick the app theme

Light, Dark, or System

Pick the sidebar and header theme separately

Sync (follow the app theme), Light, Dark, Space, or Custom

Follow the active Space colour

make the sidebar and header change when you switch Spaces

Apply a custom gradient or solid colour

to the sidebar and header background

Reset

the custom colour back to the default in one click

Let auto-contrast handle readability

so your sidebar stays usable with the style you choose

How to open Appearance

Sidebar (default): Open Settings from the sidebar, then expand the Appearance card.
Settings search: Open Settings and type appearance, theme, or colour.
Command palette: Press ⌘+K (or Ctrl+K), type appearance or theme, and pick Appearance.

Things worth knowing

Theme controls the app body, sidebar theme controls the chrome around it

The two theme controls are deliberately independent.

Theme sets the look of the app body - the part of the window where your tasks, projects, calendar, notes, and CRM live. Pick System to follow your operating system's light/dark setting, or Light / Dark to override it explicitly.
Sidebar & Header Theme sets the look of the main navigation area. Leave it on Sync to mirror the app theme, override to Light or Dark, pick Space to follow the active Space, or pick Custom to apply your own colour.

This split lets you choose how strong you want your workspace context to feel. If you often switch between Spaces, Space mode is the clearest option because the sidebar and header update when the active Space changes.

Start with System

If you don't have a strong preference, leave the app theme on System and the sidebar theme on Sync. PrimeTask will follow your operating system's light/dark setting automatically - light during the day, dark in the evening if your OS is set to auto-switch. You can always override later.

Custom sidebar colours: gradient or solid

When you switch the sidebar theme to Custom, PrimeTask reveals a colour picker with three tabs:

Gradient - choose from a library of preset gradients
Solid - choose from a library of preset solid colours
Reset - drop the custom colour entirely and return the sidebar to Sync mode

Click any preset and the sidebar updates immediately - no save step. Try a few until you find one you like.

Space mode follows your active Space

Choose Space in Sidebar & Header Theme if you want PrimeTask to make the current Space more obvious while you work.

When Space is selected, the sidebar and header use the colour assigned to the active Space. Switch to another Space and the sidebar/header update with it. If you want to change the colour being used, edit the Space itself from Settings → Spaces.

Use Custom instead if you want one fixed sidebar/header colour that does not change when you switch Spaces.

Auto-contrast keeps the sidebar readable

PrimeTask automatically adjusts sidebar text and controls so they stay readable with the style you choose. You don't have to configure this separately.

Use Space mode if you switch Spaces often

Custom mode is best for a fixed look. Space mode is best when the current Space should be obvious at a glance.

Appearance changes apply where you set them

Appearance controls the look of PrimeTask in the app where you set it. If another computer has different Appearance settings, open Settings → Appearance there and choose the same options.

Common questions

"I want PrimeTask to follow my system's dark mode automatically."

Open Appearance, pick System for the theme, and leave the sidebar on Sync. PrimeTask will now flip light/dark whenever your operating system does.

"I want a Light body with a Dark sidebar (Notion-style)."

Open Appearance, pick Light for the theme and Dark for the sidebar theme. Done - light reading area, dark navigation.

"I want the sidebar and header to match the Space I am working in."

Open Appearance and pick Space for Sidebar & Header Theme. PrimeTask will follow the active Space colour and update when you switch Spaces.

"I want a custom gradient sidebar."

Open Appearance, pick Custom in the sidebar theme section, click the Gradient tab, and pick a preset. The sidebar updates instantly.

"I picked a custom colour but I want to go back to the default."

Open the custom colour picker and click Reset - that drops the custom colour entirely and returns the sidebar to Sync mode. Or just click Sync in the sidebar theme buttons directly. Both work; Reset is slightly more thorough because it also clears your saved custom colour value.

"How do I change the colour used by Space mode?"

Space mode uses the colour assigned to the active Space. Open Settings → Spaces, edit the Space, and change its colour there.

"I set up Appearance on my Mac. Why does my Windows PC look different?"

Appearance can be adjusted separately on each computer. Open Settings → Appearance on the other computer and choose the same options if you want them to match.

"Will the System theme follow my OS if I switch dark/light during the day?"

Yes. With the theme on System, PrimeTask listens for the operating system's theme change and updates instantly - no restart, no reload. This is especially useful with macOS's Auto Appearance setting.

Where to go next

If you want to…	Read this
Set your name and avatar	Profile
Change Space names and colours	Spaces
Configure alerts and reminders	Notifications
Set up a PIN lock	Security
Sync your Spaces between computers or with a teammate	File Sync Settings
Browse all settings cards	Settings Overview