Given how important computers have become for us, we may ever so often feel the need to customize them to our liking, be it with our favorite programs or cluttering the screen with the colors of our choice. Luckily for Windows users, Microsoft provides a plethora of options to do so. Today, I will be guiding you through the process of changing the color of your Windows 11/10 PC’s taskbar and some possible reasons as to why you may be unable to do so.
Why can’t I change the taskbar color?
In case, Windows is automatically applying color to your taskbar, you may need to disable an option in the Colors setting. To do so, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors. Then, under Choose your accent color, uncheck the box next to ‘Automatically pick an accent color from my background.
How to change the Taskbar color on Windows 11/10
The process to do so is very straightforward and doesn’t require the user to install any third-party apps. All you have to do to change the Taskbar color is follow the steps below on Windows 10:
- Click on the Start option from the taskbar and head over to Windows 10 Settings.
- From the group of options, click on Personalization.
- On the left side of the screen, you’ll see a list of settings; click on Colors.
- In the dropdown ‘Choose your Color,’ you’ll find three settings; Light, Dark, or Custom.
- The light option is the default, but to change the color of your taskbar, you must choose either Dark or Custom.
- With the Light option selected, you’ll find the option to change the taskbar’s color greyed out upon scrolling down.
You can click on Dark, but the preferred setting is Custom, which allows for further customization.
- After selecting Custom, you will get two further color options, one for Windows and the other for apps.
- Choosing dark in the Windows mode is mandatory, while either light or dark would work for the apps.
- Scroll down and pick a color of your choice from the color palette.
- You can also add a custom color if any of the given colors don’t fit your bill.
- You can choose to show the accent color on the taskbar by checking the box that says ‘Start, Taskbar and action center.’
You can customize your background and have your taskbar pick up a color from it. You can also disable the Transparency effects to further enhance the color you’ve chosen for your taskbar.
In Windows 11, you will see the settings here:
Open Windows 11 Settings > Personalization > Colors.
Read: How to add a custom color for Windows Taskbar.
Can’t change the taskbar color on Windows 11/10
If you can’t change the color of your taskbar even after following the aforementioned steps, you may have to perform the tasks mentioned below, too.
Switch the color filters off
Microsoft’s color filters are meant to making photo and video viewing experiences better and more convenient for its users. This, may, however, conflict with the user’s color scheme of choice. In this case, you would have to turn the color filters off. Here’s how you can do so:
- Go to settings and click on Ease to Access
- From the list of options under ‘Vision,’ click on Color filters.
- In case your taskbar colors aren’t showing even after setting them up to do so, it may be because your device’s color filters are on, and if it is the case, turn them off.
Below is a picture to depict the impact Color Filters have on the color of your taskbar. As you can see, a considerably bright blue color can turn into a very dense grey.
Change the Windows theme
Sometimes, a third-party theme may interfere with the user’s color settings. In such a scenario, the user would have to resort to Microsoft’s default theme, the process for which is pretty simple, too.
- Click on settings and open Personalization.
- Scroll down and apply the Windows theme.
- Restart your PC if the theme isn’t instated immediately.
If the issue persists, it may be because you have enabled the accent color to be set automatically or your device has a bug, in which case you would have to check it.
I hope this was able to help you customize your taskbar to your liking.
Why can’t I change my Taskbar color?
If you can’t change your taskbar color, it may be due to your Windows theme settings. Ensure you’re using a Windows theme that allows customization and not a high-contrast or restricted mode. Also, verify that “Show accent color on the following surfaces” is enabled under Settings > Personalization > Colors.
Why cant I change the color of my Start taskbar and Action center?
If you can’t change the color of your Start, Taskbar, and Action Center, ensure you’ve activated the “Show color on Start, Taskbar, and Action Center” feature. This issue often arises when using the “Light” mode, as only the “Dark” or “Custom” modes allow accent color changes. Switch modes in the “Settings” under “Personalization.”
