How to change the taskbar color in Windows 11

Windows' own taskbar in Dark mode with Transparency effects on.

Dark mode with "Show accent color on Start and taskbar" on: Windows colors the taskbar with the accent color.

opaque with #1D4ED820: the alpha (20) is ignored and the bar is solid.

How these were captured

Captured October 29, 2026 on Windows build 26100 in our hands-on test; only cropped and resized. Settings used:

{ "desktop_appearance": { "accent": "opaque", "color": "#1D4ED820" } }

The two methods at a glance

Method 1: Windows Settings (accent color)

1. Open Personalization › Colors

   Right-click the desktop, choose Personalize, then Colors. Or press Win+I and go to Personalization › Colors.

2. Set Choose your mode to Dark

   Pick Dark. If you want light apps, pick Custom and set Choose your default Windows mode to Dark and app mode to Light. The taskbar follows the Windows mode.

3. Pick an accent color

   Under Accent color, choose Manual and click a color, or View colors for a custom one. Automatic picks one from your wallpaper.

4. Turn on Show accent color on Start and taskbar

   The switch is in the Accent color section, below the color grid. The taskbar and Start change at once.

On our test machine (build 26100) the option colored the taskbar with the accent color as soon as it was on:

Windows' own taskbar in Dark mode with Transparency effects on.

Dark mode with "Show accent color on Start and taskbar" on: Windows colors the taskbar with the accent color.

How these were captured

Captured October 29, 2026 on Windows build 26100 in our hands-on test; only cropped and resized. Settings used:

We turned the option on through its registry value (ColorPrevalence = 1 under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize), which is what the switch writes, and set the accent color the same way.

What the Windows setting can't do

• It only uses your accent color, which Windows also uses for buttons, links and highlights.
• It doesn't work in Light mode.
• No transparency control: the taskbar is either Windows' default or a solid accent color, with Windows' own slight translucency on PCs with a graphics card.
• It always colors Start too.

Why "Show accent color on Start and taskbar" is greyed out

Because Windows mode is set to Light. Windows only allows the accent color on Start and the taskbar when Choose your mode is Dark, or Custom with the default Windows mode set to Dark. Change that and the switch becomes available. If every option on the page is greyed out, Windows isn't activated or a work or school policy manages your PC.

Method 2: any color with TranslucentTB

TranslucentTB replaces the taskbar's background with your own color, so it doesn't depend on Windows' mode or accent color.

1. Install TranslucentTB

   From the Microsoft Store, or with winget install CharlesMilette.TranslucentTBCopy. Start it and click Continue. Install guide.

2. Right-click the tray icon and open Desktop

   Choose Opaque for a solid color, or Clear for a see-through color.

   

3. Click Accent Color and pick your color

   The color picker previews the color live on the taskbar. Its alpha slider sets the transparency (ignored for Opaque, which is always solid).

4. Optional: different colors for other states

   Each state in the menu (Visible window, Maximized window, Start opened…) has its own look and color, for example a dark taskbar only when a window is maximized.

opaque with #1D4ED820: the alpha (20) is ignored and the bar is solid.

clear with #1D4ED880: blue at 50% alpha, no blur.

How these were captured

Captured October 29, 2026 on Windows build 26100 in our hands-on test; only cropped and resized. Settings used:

{ "desktop_appearance": { "accent": "opaque", "color": "#1D4ED820" } }

{ "desktop_appearance": { "accent": "clear", "color": "#1D4ED880" } }

Prefer typing the color? In settings.json the color is #RRGGBBAA, with the alpha in the last two digits:

{
  "desktop_appearance": { "accent": "opaque", "color": "#1D4ED8FF" }
}

The settings builder lets you pick colors for every state over your own wallpaper and downloads a file TranslucentTB accepts. Color format and examples: appearance modes.

Change the taskbar color in Light mode

Windows can't, so use TranslucentTB: its color works in Light and Dark mode alike. One thing to keep in mind: Windows still draws the taskbar's icons and clock for the mode you're in. In Light mode they are dark, so pick a light or mid-tone color, or a transparent one over a light wallpaper, to keep them readable. TranslucentTB can't change the text or icon color.

Make the taskbar black

With Windows: switch Choose your mode to Dark; the default dark taskbar is near-black. For pure black, use TranslucentTB with Opaque and #000000FF, which also works in Light mode.

Make it transparent instead

Use TranslucentTB's Clear look with a color whose alpha is 00 for fully clear, or between 40 and C0 for a tinted glass look. Every method compared: how to make the taskbar transparent.

Change the taskbar color without activating Windows

On an unactivated copy of Windows, the Personalization pages are locked and show a message asking you to activate Windows, so Method 1 isn't available. TranslucentTB doesn't use those pages: it draws the taskbar color itself and stores its own settings. Based on how it works, it should work the same on an unactivated PC; we have not tested one ourselves.

Reset the taskbar color to default

• Windows Settings: turn off Show accent color on Start and taskbar. To go back to the light taskbar, set Choose your mode to Light.
• TranslucentTB: choose Desktop › Normal, or Exit from the tray menu; the taskbar returns to Windows' look right away. Advanced › Return to default settings resets all of TranslucentTB's looks.

Windows 10

Windows 10 works the same way: Settings › Personalization › Colors, set the default Windows mode to Dark, then check Start, taskbar, and action center under "Show accent color on the following surfaces". TranslucentTB also runs on Windows 10 (version 1903 or later) and gives you any color there too. Windows 10 guide.

FAQ

Something wrong or out of date? Email hello@translucenttb.dev and we will fix it.