Sign in Screen - Change Background Color in Windows 8

How to Change Background Color of Default Sign-in Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1


information   Information
In Windows 8, there are two sign-in screens, and each has their own background color.

The first is the user's sign-in screen that only shows that user to enter their password.

The second is the default sign-in screen that shows all user accounts like in the example screenshot below.


This tutorial will show you how to change the background color of the "default" sign-in screen that displays all user accounts in Windows 8, Windows RT, Window 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.


EXAMPLE: Default Sign in Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1

W8_Default_Sign-in_screen.jpg





OPTION ONE

To Change Background Color of Default Sign-in Screen in Windows 8


1. Press the :winkey: + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.​
2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​
3. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: If you do not have an Accent key in the left pane, then right click on Explorer, click on New and Key, type Accent, and press Enter.​

Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent
REG-1.jpg

4. In the right pane of Accent, right click or press and hold on an empty area, click/tap on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value, type DefaultColorSet, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 3)​
NOTE: If you already have the DefaultColorSet DWORD, then skip this step and go to step 5 below.​
5. In the right pane of Accent, double click/tap on DefaultColorSet to modify it. (see screenshot below step 3)​
6. Dot Decimal, and enter a number between 0 to 24 for the color in the tables below that you want the default sign in screen to have, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​
Reg-2.jpg
012345678

[TD="align: center"]



















0.jpg



0.jpg



0.jpg



0.jpg



4.jpg



5.jpg



6.jpg



7.jpg



8.jpg


[/TD]

9101112131415169.jpg10.jpg11.jpg12.jpg13.jpg14.jpg15.jpg16.jpg

[TD="align: center"]
















[TD="align: center"]
















[/TD]
[/TD]

171819202122232417.jpg18.jpg19.jpg20.jpg21.jpg22.jpg23.jpg24.jpg

[TD="align: center"]
















[TD="align: center"]
















[/TD]
[/TD]


7. If you like, you could lock :)winkey: + L) the computer, and click/tap on the back arrow button at the top left to quickly see the default sign in screen's new color.​
8. When finished, you can close regedit if you like.​






OPTION TWO

To Change Background Color of Default Sign-in Screen in Windows 8.1


1. Use the steps in OPTION ONE of the tutorial below, temporarily change your Start screen background color to the color you want for the default sign-in screen. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: You'll be able to change your Start screen background color back later when finished at step 12 below.​
Background_color.jpg

2. Press the :winkey: + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.​
3. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.​
4. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)​
Code:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent
Background_Color_Reg-1.jpg

5. In the right pane of Accent, double click/tap on the StartColor DWORD. (see screenshot above)​
6. Copy the hex value (ex: ff790000), and click/tap on OK. This hex value is for the color you selected in step 1. (see screenshot below)​
Background_Color_Reg-2.jpg

7. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)​
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent
Note   Note
If you do not have the Accent key, then right click on the Explorer key in the left pane, click on New and Key, type Accent, and press Enter.

Note   Note

Windows_8.1_Default_Sign-in_screen_color-1.jpg
8. In the right pane of Accent, right click or press and hold on an empty area, click/tap on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value, type DefaultStartColor, and press Enter. (see screenshot above)​
NOTE: If you already have the DefaultStartColor DWORD, then skip this step and go to step 9 below.​
9. Double click/tap on DefaultStartColor to modify it. (see screenshot below step 7)​
10. Paste the hex value (ex: ff790000) from step 6 above, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​
Windows_8.1_Default_Sign-in_screen_color-2.jpg

11. If you like, you could lock :)winkey: + L) the computer, and click/tap on the back arrow button at the top left to quickly see the default sign in screen's new color.​
12. When finished, you can close regedit if you like, then change your Start screen background color from step 1 back to what you wanted.​


That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • System_Configuration.png
    System_Configuration.png
    14.3 KB · Views: 399
Last edited by a moderator:
Hello Balubeto,

That's correct. You would use OPTION TWO for Windows 8.1 Update as well. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Where can I find a table showing all the color hexadecimal values applicable to the StartColor and DefaultStartColor items?

Thanks

Bye
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Hello Balubeto,

Step 1 in OPTION TWO will allow you to see all the available colors, and be able to select one to see it's value to enter later for that color. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hello Balubeto,

Step 1 in OPTION TWO will allow you to see all the available colors, and be able to select one to see it's value to enter later for that color. :)

This method of finding the hexagesimal values ​​of the Windows color is too basic.

By chance, there is a Windows color table where, beside each color, the corresponding value is displayed in hex?

Thanks

Bye
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Can I change it to a picture like windows 7?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Build 9860
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung RF511-S02
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-2630QM
    Motherboard
    Samsung RF511
    Memory
    6144 MB
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GT 540M
    Internet Speed
    1 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender
Hello Lord Mada, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Sorry, but no. That's what the lock screen is for instead now. :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Last edited by a moderator:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home
When I turn on the computer, while win8 is signing in (I have it set to no password), the background will go something like Grey-Blue-Grey. I used your tutorial to set it as Blue, but it's getting flashed out by the grey color I have set for other things.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel i7 4th Gen
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX 950m
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27in Asus display
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    240GB SSD, x2 2TB My Passport, x2 6TB My Book
    Browser
    Chrome
When I turn on the computer, while win8 is signing in (I have it set to no password), the background will go something like Grey-Blue-Grey. I used your tutorial to set it as Blue, but it's getting flashed out by the grey color I have set for other things.

Hey Jag,

When you sign out, does it show the color you set for your account when it only has your user account on the sign in screen?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
I don't think so, I think the color sequence happens with my account logo on screen, il go check
yes im right
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel i7 4th Gen
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX 950m
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27in Asus display
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    240GB SSD, x2 2TB My Passport, x2 6TB My Book
    Browser
    Chrome
sequence of events

Computer Running>Sign out(Signing out page is grey background)>Lock screen>Account logo with blue background>Press on logo> grey background
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel i7 4th Gen
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX 950m
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27in Asus display
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    240GB SSD, x2 2TB My Passport, x2 6TB My Book
    Browser
    Chrome
That sounds proper.
It may flash the first grey because of the last user sign in.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel i7 4th Gen
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX 950m
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27in Asus display
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    240GB SSD, x2 2TB My Passport, x2 6TB My Book
    Browser
    Chrome
I restarted my computer, I guess I was a bit off and it seems to be completely grey with a flash or two?

[video=youtube;rE2C7XH7Au8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE2C7XH7Au8&feature=youtu.be[/video]
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel i7 4th Gen
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX 950m
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27in Asus display
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    240GB SSD, x2 2TB My Passport, x2 6TB My Book
    Browser
    Chrome
Is it working properly now?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel i7 4th Gen
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX 950m
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27in Asus display
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    240GB SSD, x2 2TB My Passport, x2 6TB My Book
    Browser
    Chrome

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel i7 4th Gen
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GTX 950m
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27in Asus display
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    240GB SSD, x2 2TB My Passport, x2 6TB My Book
    Browser
    Chrome
Back
Top