If you are bored with the default light or dark themed taskbar, you can change the taskbar color in Windows 11 to whatever color you want. For instance, I changed my taskbar color to purple, which is my favorite color. If needed, you can even set a dynamic color so that Windows 11 automatically changes the taskbar color based on your wallpaper.
Whether you want to use a specific color or allow Windows to choose one based on your wallpaper, you can do it via the Settings app. In this tutorial, I’ll take you through the steps to change the taskbar color in Windows 11. Let’s get started.
Steps to Change the Taskbar Color in Windows 11
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Go to the Personalization tab on the sidebar.
- Click on the Colors option.
- Make sure “Choose your mode” is set to Dark.
- Select Manual from the “Accent Color” dropdown menu.
- Choose a color of your choice from the “Windows Colors” palette.
- Turn “ON” the Show accent color on Start and taskbar toggle.
- With that, the taskbar color in Windows 11 is changed to the selected color.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
First, open the Settings app in Windows 11 by pressing the Windows key + I shortcut. Alternatively, right-click on the Start button on the taskbar and select Settings.
Go to the Personalization tab in the Settings app. Click the Colors option next.
On this page, select Dark from the “Choose your mode” dropdown menu.
Important notes:
- You need to use dark mode to change the taskbar color. If you are using light mode, Windows 11 won’t allow using a custom color on the taskbar or Start menu.
- If you don’t want to use system-wide dark mode, set the “Choose your mode” to Custom. Next, set “Choose your desktop Windows mode” to Dark and “Choose your default app mode” to Light.
If you want to set your taskbar to a specific color, select Manual from the “Accent color” dropdown menu and choose a color from the available color palette.
(Optional) If you want a specific share of a color, click the View Colors button in the “Custom Colors” section. Pick a color from the color picker tool and click Done.
Important note: To allow Windows 11 to dynamically change the taskbar color based on your current wallpaper, select Automatic from the “Accent color” dropdown menu.
After selecting your favorite color, turn ON the Show accent color on Start and taskbar toggle to apply the selected color to the taskbar.
That’s it. You will instantly see the taskbar color change to your chosen color. For example, I selected the Purple Shadow color so the taskbar is using that color.
Troubleshooting Steps
The “Show accent color on Start and taskbar” option is greyed out
If the “Show accent color on Start and taskbar” option is greyed out, ensure the “Choose your mode” dropdown option is set to Dark. This enables dark mode in Windows 11.
If you don’t want to use system-wide dark mode, select the Custom option and then set “Choose your desktop Windows mode” to Dark and “Choose your default app mode” to Light. This configuration gives you the best of both worlds.
The taskbar color is not applying
If the taskbar color is not applying after you select the color, ensure the Show accent color on Start and taskbar toggle is turned on.
If the option is turned on and yet the color is not applied, restart explorer or reboot your computer. This should fix the problem and apply the taskbar color.
Taskbar color reverting to light or dark
If the taskbar color is reverting to its previous color or light/dark mode, it could be due to conflicts with Windows themes or sync settings in your Microsoft account. To fix this, do the following:
- Open the Settings app and go to the Personalization > Themes page. Here, select one of the default themes under the “Current theme” section.
- Next, change the taskbar color as shown above, close the Settings app, and restart your computer.
These steps will resolve the conflicts with your current theme and re-sync your system settings with your Microsoft account to fix the problem.
Wrapping Up — Customizing Taskbar Color in Windows 11
As you can see, changing the taskbar color in Windows 11 is easier than you think. While changing, remember to set the color mode to dark and enable the “Show accent color on Start and taskbar” option. Otherwise, the taskbar color won’t apply. If you face any issues, follow the troubleshooting steps provided above.
If you need any help or have questions, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist. Windows 10 users can follow this guide: on changing the taskbar color on Windows 10.
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