Window Color and Appearance - Change in Windows 8

How to Change Color of Window Borders and Taskbar in Windows 8 and 8.1


information   Information
This tutorial will show you how to change the color of your window borders, buttons, text, and taskbar in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

Note   Note
The color settings for a user are saved in the registry key locations below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

and

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Colors




Here's How:

1. Do step 2, 3, or 4 below for how you would like to open Personalization.

2. While on the desktop, open the Charms bar, click/tap on the Settings charm, click/tap on Personalization, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You could also press the Windows + I keys for this as well.
Settings-Charm.jpg

3. Right click or press and hold on an empty area of your desktop, click/tap on Personalize, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)
desktop.jpg

4. Open the Control Panel (icons view), click/tap on the Personalization icon, and go to step 5 below.

5. Click/tap on the Color button at the bottom, and do step 6 or 7 below depending on what theme you are using. (see screenshot below)
color-2.jpg


6. If You are Using a "Windows Default" Theme
NOTE: While using either one of these themes, you will be able to change the color of your window borders and taskbar.
A) You can either select a specific color option you want, or select the Automatic (top left color box with fan) option to have a color chosen automatically based on the colors in your desktop background. (see screenshots below)​
B) If you selected a color and not Automatic, then move the sliders left and right to adjust the Color intensity and color mixer to how you like.​
C) When finished, go to step 8 below.​
color-3.jpgColor-Auto.jpg

7. If You are Using a "High Contrast" Theme
NOTE: While using this theme, you will be able to change the color of your window borders, buttons, and text.
A) Click/tap on the Window, Foreground, or Background button on the right side of a item on the left side that you want to change the color for. (see screenshot below)​
color-contrast-1.jpg
B) Select or set a color for the selected item, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)​
color-contrast-2.jpg
C) Repeat steps 7A-7B for any other item you would like to change the color of.​
D) When finished, go to step 8 below.​

8. Click/tap on the Save changes button, and close the Personalization window.


That's it,
Shawn


 
Last edited by a moderator:
Many thanks for the post. Is it possible to set these settings in the registry, script or via Group Policy (preferred option) please?

I would like to be set to Automatic.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7010
    Memory
    8GB

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
FNGM,

After you set your colors how you wanted them, you could export the registry keys below to back them up as a .reg file. To restore it to any user account, you would just merge the .reg file, then sign out and in to apply. :)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Colors
 

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
FNGM,

After you set your colors how you wanted them, you could export the registry keys below to back them up as a .reg file. To restore it to any user account, you would just merge the .reg file, then sign out and in to apply. :)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Colors


Hi, we are a domain with 1,500 users so the microsoft account isn't an option. I will try the reg stuff.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7010
    Memory
    8GB
You're welcome. Please let us know how it went. :)
 

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
Just would like to say that this works in windows 10 technical preview as well as windows 8/8.1
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 ultimate and windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    intel core i5 760 OCed to 3.2ghz
    Motherboard
    Biostar T5 XE
    Memory
    4gbs of crucial ballistix sport
    Graphics Card(s)
    Diamond Multimedia Amd radeon hd 7750 1gb gddr5
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    2x200gb hdd
    Cooling
    jerry rigged Arctic Cooling freezer 7
    Internet Speed
    Pitifully slow 3mbs/s
    Browser
    Chrome master race
    Antivirus
    Comodo dragon

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
Back
Top