What the taskbar is and why you might change its color
The taskbar is the horizontal bar at the bottom of your Windows screen that shows your open programs, the clock, and system icons like volume and network. By default it is dark gray or black, but Windows lets you change it to nearly any color you want. Most people do this because they prefer how a different color looks, want to match their desktop background, or find a lighter shade easier on their eyes.
The steps differ depending on which version of Windows you have. Windows 11 and Windows 10 have slightly different menus, so find your version first by right-clicking the Start button (the Windows logo at the bottom left) and looking for "System" or "Settings" — if you see "System" listed directly, you have Windows 11. If you have to open Settings separately, you likely have Windows 10.
Key Takeaways
- The taskbar color is controlled through your system settings, not through right-clicking the taskbar itself.
- Windows 11 users go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and toggle "Show accent color on taskbar" to enable color changes.
- Windows 10 users go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and choose from preset accent colors or create a custom color.
- You can also enable "Dark mode" or "Light mode" to change the overall appearance of the taskbar and menus.
- Changes take effect when ready, and you can revert to the default color at any time by toggling the setting back off.
Changing taskbar color in Windows 11
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Once Settings opens, click "Personalization" on the left side menu. Then click "Colors" — you will see several options for how your system looks.
Look for the toggle labeled "Show accent color on taskbar" and turn it on. Once you do, the taskbar will change to match your system accent color. To pick a different accent color, scroll up slightly in the same Colors window and you will see a row of color circles under "Accent color." Click any color circle to explore it. If none of the preset colors suit you, click "Custom color" at the end of the row to open a color picker where you can choose from millions of colors.
If you want the taskbar to be lighter or darker overall, you can also toggle between "Dark" and "Light" mode at the top of the Colors window. Dark mode makes the taskbar and menus dark gray or black. Light mode makes them white or light gray. These settings work together — you can have a light taskbar with a blue accent color, for example.
Changing taskbar color in Windows 10
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Click "Personalization" on the left side. Then click "Colors" — the window that opens shows your color options.
Under "Accent color," you will see a row of color circles. Click any color to explore it to your taskbar and other system elements. The taskbar will change when ready. If you want a color not shown in the preset row, click "Custom color" at the end to open a detailed color picker where you can select from a much wider range.
You can also toggle "Dark" or "Light" mode at the top of the window to change whether your taskbar appears dark or light. In Windows 10, these two settings work together — your accent color sits on top of whichever mode you choose. If you turn off "Show color on Start, taskbar, and action center," the taskbar will return to its default gray color even though your accent color is still set.
Using the color picker for custom colors
Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 let you pick a custom color instead of using the presets. When you click "Custom color," a color picker window opens. You will see a large color square on the left and a vertical rainbow bar on the right.
Click anywhere in the large square to choose how bright or dull your color is — the top right corner is the brightest, the bottom left is the darkest. Then click on the vertical rainbow bar on the right to choose which color family you want (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and so on). Once you have picked a color you like, click "Done" and the taskbar will change to that color.
If you know the exact color code you want (for example, a hex code like #FF5733), you can paste it into the text field at the bottom of the color picker instead of clicking around. This is useful if you want your taskbar to match a specific color from your desktop background or another program.
Reverting to the default taskbar color
If you change your mind and want the taskbar to look the way it did before, the process is straightforward. In Windows 11, go back to Settings > Personalization > Colors and toggle "Show accent color on taskbar" back off. The taskbar will return to its default dark gray appearance.
In Windows 10, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and toggle "Show color on Start, taskbar, and action center" back off. Again, the taskbar will revert to its default color. You can change your mind as many times as you want — there is no limit to how often you can switch colors.
Troubleshooting if the color does not change
If you pick a new color but the taskbar does not change, first check that you are in the right Settings window. Make sure you are in Personalization > Colors, not Personalization > Themes. Themes control wallpapers and sounds, not taskbar color.
In Windows 11, make sure the "Show accent color on taskbar" toggle is actually turned on — it should be blue and switched to the right. In Windows 10, make sure "Show color on Start, taskbar, and action center" is turned on. If the toggle is already on and the color still has not changed, try closing Settings completely and opening it again. Sometimes the display needs a moment to refresh. If that does not work, restart your computer — a restart will force Windows to explore the color change.
Why you might want a light taskbar instead of a dark one
Windows defaults to a dark taskbar because it uses less power on some screens and can be easier on the eyes in dim lighting. However, some people find a light taskbar easier to read in bright rooms or prefer how it looks with their wallpaper. You can switch between dark and light mode without changing your accent color — they are separate settings.
If you use your computer in different lighting conditions throughout the day, you might want to experiment with both. Windows 11 also has an option to automatically switch between dark and light mode based on the time of day, which you can find in Settings > Personalization > Colors under "Choose your mode."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change just the taskbar color without changing the Start menu color?
In Windows 11, the accent color applies to both the taskbar and the Start menu together — you cannot separate them. In Windows 10, you can toggle "Show color on Start, taskbar, and action center" to turn the accent color on or off for both at once, but again you cannot change one without the other.
Will changing the taskbar color affect my desktop background or other programs?
No. The taskbar color is separate from your wallpaper and does not change anything outside of Windows system elements like the Start menu and notification area. Your programs will look the same.
What if I want a semi-transparent taskbar instead of a solid color?
Windows does not have a built-in setting for taskbar transparency through the Colors menu. However, in Windows 11, you can go to Settings > Personalization > Transparency effects and toggle it on, which will make the taskbar slightly see-through. This works with whatever color you have chosen.
Does changing the taskbar color use more battery on a laptop?
Not noticeably. The color you choose makes almost no difference to battery life. Dark colors use slightly less power on older screen types, but the difference is too small to matter on modern laptops.
Can I set the taskbar to a different color than the Start menu?
No. Windows ties the taskbar and Start menu colors together. If you want them to be different colors, you would need to use third-party software, which is beyond what Windows allows through its standard settings.