diff --git a/docslib/_version.py b/docslib/_version.py
index 2f524e1..828bf68 100644
--- a/docslib/_version.py
+++ b/docslib/_version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 """Single source of truth for the SharedDocsLib package version."""
 
-__version__ = "0.5.2"
+__version__ = "0.5.3"
diff --git a/docslib/templates/client.js b/docslib/templates/client.js
index 903d25f..555fa01 100644
--- a/docslib/templates/client.js
+++ b/docslib/templates/client.js
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@
   }
 
   async function start() {
-    applyTheme(localStorage.getItem("docslib-theme") || "dark");
+    applyTheme(localStorage.getItem("docslib-theme") || "light");
     loadAccessibilityPreferences();
     renderAll();
     announceRendered();
diff --git a/docslib/templates/index.html b/docslib/templates/index.html
index 2cfd058..f2715ec 100644
--- a/docslib/templates/index.html
+++ b/docslib/templates/index.html
@@ -3,15 +3,15 @@
 <head>
   <meta charset="utf-8">
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1,viewport-fit=cover">
-  <meta name="color-scheme" content="dark light">
+  <meta name="color-scheme" content="light">
   <title>{{DOCSLIB_TITLE}}</title>
   <script>
-    try { document.documentElement.dataset.theme = localStorage.getItem("docslib-theme") || "dark"; }
-    catch (_) { document.documentElement.dataset.theme = "dark"; }
+    try { document.documentElement.dataset.theme = localStorage.getItem("docslib-theme") || "light"; }
+    catch (_) { document.documentElement.dataset.theme = "light"; }
   </script>
   <style id="docslib-loader-style">
-    :root { --docslib-loader-bg: #000000; --docslib-loader-text: #f4f4f4; color-scheme: dark; }
-    :root[data-theme="light"] { --docslib-loader-bg: #ffffff; --docslib-loader-text: #111111; color-scheme: light; }
+    :root { --docslib-loader-bg: #ffffff; --docslib-loader-text: #111111; color-scheme: light; }
+    :root[data-theme="dark"] { --docslib-loader-bg: #000000; --docslib-loader-text: #f4f4f4; color-scheme: dark; }
     html, body { width: 100%; height: 100dvh; min-height: 100dvh; margin: 0; overflow: hidden; background: var(--docslib-loader-bg); }
     #docslib-loading { position: fixed; inset: 0; z-index: 2147483647; display: grid; width: 100vw; height: 100dvh; place-items: center; color: var(--docslib-loader-text); background: var(--docslib-loader-bg); }
     .docslib-loading-spinner { width: 48px; height: 48px; box-sizing: border-box; border: solid 4px currentColor; border-top: solid 4px transparent; border-radius: 9999px; animation: docslib-loader-spin .8s linear infinite; }
diff --git a/tests/test_server.py b/tests/test_server.py
index cce59e5..1c5639a 100644
--- a/tests/test_server.py
+++ b/tests/test_server.py
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ def test_all_endpoints_and_self_contained_build(tmp_path):
 
 
 def test_build_writes_static_bundle(tmp_path):
-    assert __version__ == "0.5.2"
+    assert __version__ == "0.5.3"
 
     @Page("1", "Static page")
     def static_page():