Windows · Personalization
Customize your accent color
Controls the accent color used across Start, taskbar, title bars, and other UI elements, and lets you choose whether Windows should surface a color automatically from your background.
How to open Colors & Accent Color
- Open Settings → Personalization → Colors
- Choose your mode: Light, Dark, or Custom
- Toggle 'Automatically pick an accent color from my background' on or off
- Select a color swatch or click 'View colors' for more options
- Enable accent color on Start/taskbar or title bars as desired
What you should know
- Pick a custom accent color or let Windows choose one from your wallpaper
- Show accent color on Start and taskbar
- Show accent color on title bars and window borders
- Choose between light, dark, and custom app/system mode combinations
Why it matters
Accent color is one of the most visible personalization choices in Windows, affecting how buttons, selections, and highlighted elements stand out throughout the shell and in many apps. Getting it right can improve visual clarity for users who rely on strong contrast to spot focused elements, while a poorly chosen combination can make text or icons hard to read, especially against title bars. It's also a quick way to make a shared or work PC feel personal without touching deeper system settings.
Best practices
- Choose a color with enough contrast against both light and dark backgrounds if you switch modes often
- Enable 'Show accent color on Start and taskbar' for quicker visual orientation
- Avoid very light accent colors on title bars if you have low vision, as text contrast can suffer
- Let Windows auto-pick from your background for a coordinated look with minimal effort
Common problems and fixes
- Accent color doesn't seem to change anything visible
- Enable the title bar and Start/taskbar accent toggles, since the color swatch alone only affects a subset of UI elements.
- Text is hard to read after picking a bright accent
- Switch to a darker or more muted custom color, or revert to 'Automatic' so Windows balances contrast for you.
- Accent color looks different in some apps
- Some apps use their own theming and don't inherit the system accent color; this is expected behavior.
Tips and tricks
- Toggle 'Automatic' on and off quickly to preview several accent options pulled from your wallpaper palette
- Pair a custom accent color with dark mode for a high-contrast, modern look
Frequently asked questions
Does accent color affect all apps?
No, only apps built with Windows UI frameworks that respect system accent settings will reflect the change; many third-party apps have their own theme controls.
Can I sync my accent color across devices?
Yes, if you sign in with a Microsoft account and have personalization sync enabled in your account settings.
What's the difference between accent color and theme?
Accent color is one component of a theme; a theme also bundles wallpaper, sounds, and mouse cursors.
Related settings
- ThemesThemes bundle a desktop background, color scheme, sound scheme, and mouse cursor set into a single saved combination you can switch between instantly. Windows includes several built-in themes, and you can download more or save your own custom combination.
- PersonalizationPersonalization is the hub for changing how Windows looks and feels — desktop background, accent colors, themes, lock screen, Start menu layout, and taskbar behavior all live under this one settings category. It's the starting point for making a shared or new PC feel like your own.
- Background & Windows SpotlightControls your desktop background, including static pictures, slideshows, solid colors, and Windows Spotlight, which automatically rotates curated images and can show fun facts on your desktop.
More Personalization guides for Windows
- Lock ScreenLock Screen settings control the image, slideshow, or Windows Spotlight photo shown before you sign in, plus which apps can show quick status glances like unread email count or your next calendar event. It's the first thing you and anyone walking by sees on a locked PC.
- TaskbarTaskbar settings control which icons appear, how they're aligned, and which system tray items show by default. This is where you manage pinned apps, the search box, widgets, and corner icons like clock, network, and volume.
- Start MenuStart menu settings let you control which folders appear next to the power button, how many pinned app rows and recommended file rows show, and whether recently added or most-used apps surface automatically. It's where you shape the layout you see every time you click Start.
- FontsFonts settings let you preview every typeface installed on your PC, download additional fonts from the Microsoft Store, and install new ones by dragging a font file directly onto the page. Every font installed here becomes available system-wide, appearing in the font list of every app that lets you choose one, from word processors to design software.
- Touch Keyboard PersonalizationLets you personalize the appearance and behavior of the on-screen touch keyboard used on tablets, touchscreens, and 2-in-1 devices, including theme, key sound, and text suggestions.
- Device UsageLets you tell Windows how you primarily use the device, such as Gaming, Family, Creativity, Business, School, or Entertainment, so it can tailor recommendations, tips, and pre-installed app suggestions accordingly.