How to Force a Specific Background and Accent Color in Windows 8.1 Modern UI

This tutorial will show you how to force a specific background color and accent color for the modern UI screens like Start screen (Start and Apps view), sign in screen, PC settings, and Charm bar flyouts (menus) for all users that cannot be changed in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

If a user chooses to have their desktop background to also display as their Start background image instead of one of the default images, then their Start screen will not display the specified Start background color in this tutorial.
Examples of items that use the background color would be:
Examples of items that use the accent color would be:
Examples of items that use the background color would be:
- Start screen background unless as per above.
- App highlight box on Start screen (Start and Apps view).
- Arrow button background on bottom of Start screen (Start and Apps view).
- Sign in screen background.
- Charms flyout background.
- Charms menu title header background
- etc....
Examples of items that use the accent color would be:
- Start button (ex: taskbar, charms bar) when hovered on.
- Selected menus on the left side in PC settings.
- Slider colors in PC settings.
- Menu titles in PC settings.
- etc....

The colors you specify will not be applied if the colors do not meet a contrast ratio of 2:1 with white text.
EXAMPLE: Personalize from Start screen
NOTE: When your specify a default background and accent color for all users, it prevents all users from being able to change their background color and accent color.
OPTION ONE
To Force Background Color and Accent Color in Registry Editor
1. From your Start screen, start typing regedit, and press Enter when finished.
NOTE: You could also press :winkey: + R to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click/tap on OK.
3. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the Personalization key is not there in the left pane, then right click on the Windows key, click on New and Key, type Personalization, and press Enter.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization
4. Do step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do.
6. To Allow Users to Change their own Background Color and Accent Color
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) In the right pane of Personalization, right click on PersonalColors_Accent (if there), click on Delete, and click on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below step 3)
B) In the right pane of Personalization, right click on PersonalColors_Background(if there), click on Delete, and click on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below step 3)
C) Go to step 8 below.
7. To Force Specific Default Background Color and Accent Color for All Users
A) Go to the Microsoft sites below to lookup the hex number (#RGB value) of the colors you want to specify for the Start background color (ex: #191970) and Accent color(ex: #4169E1).
[*=1]Colors by Hue
[*=1]Colors by Lightness
[*=1]Colors by Name
[*=1]Colors by Saturation
B) In the right pane of Personalization, double click on PersonalColors_Accent to modify it. (see screenshot below step 3)
NOTE: If the PersonalColors_Accent string value is not there in the right pane, then right click on an empty area in the right pane, click on New and String Value, type PersonalColors_Accent, and press Enter.
C) Type in the hex number (#RGB value) of the color you want to specify for the Accent color (ex: #4169E1), and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
D) In the right pane of Personalization, double click on PersonalColors_Background to modify it. (see screenshot below step 3)
NOTE: If the PersonalColors_Background string value is not there in the right pane, then right click on an empty area in the right pane, click on New and String Value, type PersonalColors_Background , and press Enter.
E) Type in the hex number (#RGB value) of the color you want to specify for the Start background color (ex: #191970), and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
F) Go to step 8 below.
8. Close Registry Editor.
9. Sign out and in, or restart the PC to apply.
OPTION TWO
To Force Background Color and Accent Color in Group Policy
NOTE: This option for using group policy is only available in the Windows 8.1 Pro and Windows 8.1 Enterprise editions.
1. From your Start screen, start typing gpedit.msc, and press Enter when finished.
NOTE: You could also press :winkey: + R to open the Run dialog, type gpedit.msc, and click/tap on OK.
3. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and open Personalization. (see screenshot below)
4. In the right pane of Personalization, double click/tap on Force a specific background and accent color. (see screenshot above)
5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.
6. To Allow Users to Change their own Background Color and Accent Color
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below step 7C)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
7. To Force Specific Default Background Color and Accent Color for All Users
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 7C)
B) Go to the Microsoft sites below to lookup the hex number (#RGB value) of the colors you want to specify for the Start background color and Accent color.
[*=1]Colors by Hue
[*=1]Colors by Lightness
[*=1]Colors by Name
[*=1]Colors by Saturation
C) Under Options, type in the hex number (#RGB value) of the color you want to specify for the Start background color (ex: #191970) and Accent color (ex: #4169E1), click/tap on OK, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
8. You can now close the Local Group Policy Editor window if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- Change Your Start and Sign in Screen Background and Color in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Set a Default Start Background Image for All Users in Windows 8.1
- How to Enable or Disable Changing the Start Screen Background in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Show your Desktop Background on Start Screen in Windows 8.1
- How to Change Background Color of Default Sign-in Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
- Set Desktop, Lock, and Start Background to Show Image or Solid Color in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Create a "Personalize Modern UI" Shortcut in Windows 8.1
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