To change the taskbar color in Windows 10, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors. Set Choose your color to Dark or Custom, pick an accent color, and check Start, taskbar, and action center.
Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 27, 2026. Some labels follow the Windows 10 interface.
Change the taskbar color
- Right-click the desktop and select Personalize, then select Colors. Or go to Start > Settings > Personalization > Colors.
- Under Choose your color, select Custom (or Dark).
- If you chose Custom, set Choose your default Windows mode to Dark.
- Under Choose your accent color, pick a color. To match your wallpaper, check Automatically pick an accent color from my background.
- Under Show accent color on the following surfaces, check Start, taskbar, and action center.
The taskbar changes right away.
If the option is grayed out
Start, taskbar, and action center can’t be checked when the Windows mode is Light. Choose Dark, or choose Custom with the Windows mode set to Dark.
If you use a high contrast theme, turn it off to use accent colors. If the colors still look wrong after that, reset the color settings in Windows 10 one feature at a time.
Pick an exact color
If none of the swatches is quite right, select Custom color under the color grid. Drag the picker to the shade you want, or select More to type an exact RGB or hex value, such as #1F4E79 for dark blue. Select Done. Windows warns you if the color is hard to read and may adjust it slightly.
Turn transparency on or off
On the same Colors page, Transparency effects controls whether the taskbar is slightly see-through. Turn it off for a solid, flat color, which can also help older PCs feel a bit faster. Battery saver turns transparency off automatically on laptops.
Match the taskbar to your wallpaper
Check Automatically pick an accent color from my background on the Colors page. If your wallpaper is a slideshow, the taskbar color changes each time the picture does, so you get a different look through the day without doing anything.
Color the title bars to match
Under Show accent color on the following surfaces, also check Title bars and window borders. The top bar of each window you’re using then takes the same color as the taskbar, which makes the active window easier to spot.
Change everything at once with a theme
A theme sets the wallpaper, accent color, sounds, and mouse pointer together. Go to Settings > Personalization > Themes and pick one, or select Get more themes in Microsoft Store for free ones. You can still change the accent color afterwards on the Colors page.
If the taskbar suddenly turned white
Your Windows mode was switched to Light, often by an update or a theme. Go to Settings > Personalization > Colors, choose Custom, and set Choose your default Windows mode to Dark. Apps can stay light if you set Choose your default app mode to Light.
More reasons the color may not change
- Windows isn’t activated. Personalization settings are locked until Windows is activated. You’ll see a message at the top of the page.
- A theme overrides it. Applying a theme from Personalization > Themes can change the accent color. Pick your color again afterwards.
- It’s a work or school PC. Your organization may control colors.
- The taskbar looks a different shade than the swatch. That’s normal. Windows blends the accent color with the dark taskbar background, especially with transparency on.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a black taskbar?
Set Choose your color to Dark and clear Start, taskbar, and action center. See how to turn on dark mode in Windows 10.
Can I make the taskbar bigger or smaller?
Yes. See how to change the taskbar size in Windows 10.
Can I make the taskbar see-through?
Turn on Transparency effects on the same Colors page for a slightly transparent taskbar.
Can I change the taskbar text or icon color?
Not with a built-in setting. Windows picks white or black text automatically based on how dark the taskbar is.
Does the color affect the Start menu too?
Yes. The Start, taskbar, and action center option colors all three together. Windows 10 doesn’t let you color the taskbar alone with a built-in setting.
How do I get a light taskbar?
Under Choose your color, select Light, or choose Custom and set the Windows mode to Light. The taskbar turns light gray. Accent colors can’t be shown on a light taskbar, which is why that option is grayed out in Light mode.
Is it the same in Windows 11?
Very close. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and turn on Show accent color on Start and taskbar.
To let your wallpaper show through the taskbar, see how to make the taskbar transparent in Windows 10.
On Windows 11, you can also make the taskbar transparent.
Microsoft’s guide is Personalize your Colors in Windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
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