- To change the accent color on Windows 11, open Settings > Personalization > Colors, choose “Manual,” and select the accent color for your environment. You can also click on “View colors” to create a custom accent color.
On Windows 11, you can change the color accent to anything, and in this guide, you will learn how. The accent color (not to be confused with the “color mode”) is the color that emphasizes certain elements of the interface, such as the Start menu, Taskbar, Settings app, window borders, and title bars.
The system offers two ways to customize the experience. You can let the system automatically pick an accent color based on the desktop background’s colors. This means the accent color will change whenever you change the wallpaper automatically. And you have the option to choose a color manually.
It’s important to note that the accent color doesn’t change the color system color mode (unless you use the custom settings). Instead, the accent color adds visual queues across the experience. For example, you will see this color on icons, under the app button in the Taskbar, toggle switches, certain fonts in the Settings app, windows title bars and borders, etc.
This guide will teach you the easy steps to change accent color for your desktop experience on Windows 11.
Change accent color on Windows 11
To change the accent color on Windows 11, use these steps:
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Open Settings on Windows 11.
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Click on Personalization.
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Click the Colors tab.
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Choose the Manual option in the “Accent color” setting to choose a specific accent color.
Quick note: The “Automatic” option will generate a color based on the background image. -
Select an accent color to use across the system.
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(Optional) Click the View colors button in the “Custom colors” setting.
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Create a custom accent color to use on the desktop and apps.
Quick tip: Clicking the “More” menu allows you to choose a color using RGB and HSV values. -
Click the Done button.
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(Optional) Turn on the “Show accent color on title bars and windows borders” toggle switch to show the accent colors in File Explorer and other apps.
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(Optional) Turn on the “Show accent color on Start and taskbar” toggle switch to show the accent color in the Taskbar and Start menu.
Quick note: You must select the “Custom” option for the “Choose your mode” setting and set the “Choose your default Window mode” to Dark. Otherwise, the option will not be available.
Once you complete the steps, the new accent color will apply to the desktop and applications on Windows 11.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.