Changing the taskbar colour in Windows 11 sounds easy enough, but sometimes it can be a bit more fiddly than expected. You might find that tweaking the colours doesn’t actually change anything, or maybe your accent colour gets stuck in some weird limbo. No worries—that’s pretty common. There are a few tricks to get around these frustrations. Doing this can really personalise your desktop, plus it’s pretty satisfying to see your interface match your vibe. So, if the usual settings aren’t doing the trick, here’s what might help fix it or at least give you a different angle to try.
How to Change Taskbar Colour in Windows 11
Changing the taskbar colour isn’t too tricky in theory, but Windows sometimes decides not to play ball, especially after updates or if some settings are out of whack. This guide covers some real-world fixes that worked on my setups (not saying they’ll fix everything, but worth a crack). Expect your desktop to look a bit more personalised, or at least get a better handle on how Windows keeps stubborn colours locked in tight.
Method 1: Double-check the Basics in Personalisation Settings
If your colour change isn’t sticking, start here. Sometimes it’s just a matter of making sure the right toggle is on and Windows isn’t confused. Head over to:
- Start menu > Settings > Personalisation > Colours
Make sure the switch for ‘Show accent colour on Start and taskbar’ is toggled on. Of course, Windows has to make everything a bit more complicated. Also, turn on ‘Transparency effects’ if you want that semi-see-through look—that often helps the colour show up properly.
After doing this and picking your colour, your taskbar should update. Might not happen instantly—sometimes you’ll need to restart or log out and back in, especially if something’s hanging onto old settings.
Method 2: Use the Registry Editor (if Settings are being stubborn)
This is a bit more advanced, but it’s surprising how often this simple tweak sorts out weird colour issues. Head into the registry at:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\PersonaliseLook for a DWORD called ColorPrevalence and set it to 1 if it’s not already. This forces Windows to favour your chosen accent colour a bit more. To do this:
- Press Win + R, type
regedit, and hit Enter. - Navigate to the path above, find ‘ColorPrevalence’, right-click it, and select Modify.
- Change the value to 1 and restart your PC.
Not always a guaranteed fix, but it’s worth a shot if things are playing up.
Method 3: Reset Colour Preferences with PowerShell
If Windows is being particularly stubborn, resetting your colour settings might do the trick. Open PowerShell as an admin and run:
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalise" | Remove-ItemProperty -Name "AppsUseLightTheme","SystemUsesLightTheme"This clears some cached theme info, prompting Windows to refresh its colour recognition. After that, go to Settings > Personalisation > Colours and pick your preferred accent colour again.
If all that sounds a bit of a hassle, sometimes switching between light and dark themes or toggling the accent colour off and on again can do the trick. Windows has a habit of getting stuck in a loop, so a bit of jiggery-pokery with themes might help loosen things up.
Not sure why, but some machines are more prone to these glitches than others. Restart after making these tweaks — it helps ensure everything’s properly applied. Expect a bit of trial and error; Windows can be a bit finicky like that.
Tips for Getting It Working Smooth as
- Choose colours that match well with your wallpaper—otherwise, it might look clunky or clash.
- Try different combinations, especially after a Windows update, since settings sometimes revert unexpectedly.
- If you want that nice transparent look, turn on ‘Transparency effects’ in the Colours menu.
- Save your custom colours regularly if you’re tinkering around—Windows can revert to defaults now and then.
- Check if any third-party apps are mucking around with your theme or colours, especially if you use customisation tools.
FAQs That Might Save Your Skin
Why isn’t the taskbar colour changing even after I set a new one?
Could be a glitch or a conflict in settings. Try toggling ‘Show accent colour on Start and taskbar’ off then back on, or restart Windows. Sometimes the colour is applied to the Start menu but not the taskbar—check if that toggle is enabled.
Can I have different colours for taskbar and Start menu?
Nah, in Windows 11 they share the same accent colour by default, unless you go deep into theme customisation—which can get a bit tricky and cause odd behaviour.
How do I fix weird colour bugs after an update?
Try resetting your theme, clearing cache via PowerShell (like in Method 3), or reapplying your accent colour. Sometimes, Windows just glitches and needs a bloody refresh. Keeping your system up-to-date also helps—patches can fix these bugs.
What if I want a transparent taskbar?
Head to Settings > Personalisation > Colours and turn on ‘Transparency effects’. That’ll give your taskbar and other elements that see-through look—looks pretty schmick if your wallpaper’s busy.
Wrap-up
- Make sure all the toggles are on in Personalisation > Colours.
- If your settings aren’t sticking, give the registry tweak or PowerShell reset a go.
- Experiment with themes or custom colours—Windows can be a bit fussy about which ones show up properly.
- Don’t forget to reboot after changes; Windows sometimes won’t update the UI until you do.
Final words
Getting the taskbar colour to behave in Windows 11 can be a bit of a head-scratcher. Sometimes, it’s just about making sure Windows isn’t stuck in some outdated setting or cache. A little patience and a few of these tips usually do the trick. If all else fails, fiddling around like this can actually help you get to know your system a bit better—and maybe, finally, match that taskbar to your mood. Hope this helps you avoid the endless fiddling I’ve done trying to sort it out.