Categories
Windows 11

change color start menu windows 11

Change Color of Start Menu in Windows 11: A Personalization Guide

Personalizing your Windows 11 experience can make your PC feel more unique and comfortable to use. One common customization is to change color Start Menu Windows 11. While Windows 11 offers a more streamlined design, altering the Start Menu’s color is tied to your overall theme and accent color settings. This guide will walk you through how to effectively change its appearance.

Understanding Start Menu Color in Windows 11

In Windows 11, the Start Menu’s color isn’t an independent setting you can pick from a color wheel just for the Start Menu itself. Instead, its appearance is influenced by:

  • Your chosen Windows Mode: Whether you’re using Light Mode, Dark Mode, or a Custom setup.
  • Your Accent Color: The color you select to highlight various elements across Windows.

By adjusting these, you can significantly change color Start Menu Windows 11.

How to Change the Start Menu Color in Windows 11 (via Accent Color)

The primary way to influence the Start Menu color is by enabling your chosen accent color to appear on Start and the taskbar.

Step 1: Open Windows Settings

To begin, you need to access the Windows Settings app.

  1. Click the Start button on your taskbar.
  2. Click on the Settings icon (it looks like a gear).
    • Alternatively, you can press the Windows key + I keyboard shortcut.

Step 2: Navigate to Personalization

Once in Settings, you’ll find the options to customize your PC’s look and feel.

  1. From the left-hand sidebar in the Settings window, click on Personalization. 

Step 3: Choose Colors

This section contains all the color-related settings for your Windows interface.

  1. In the Personalization settings, click on Colors. 

Step 4: Select Your Mode (Light or Dark)

Your overall Windows mode affects the base appearance of the Start Menu.

  1. Find the “Choose your mode” dropdown menu.
  2. You can select:
    • Light: Start Menu will have a light background.
    • Dark: Start Menu will have a dark background.
    • Custom: Allows you to choose different modes for Windows itself and for apps. For the Start Menu color to be significantly affected by accents, often the “Dark” mode for Windows is preferred.

Step 5: Choose Your Accent Color

The accent color is what will tint your Start Menu.

  1. Locate the “Accent color” setting.
  2. You have a few options:
    • Automatic: Windows will pick an accent color based on your desktop wallpaper.
    • Manual: Allows you to select from a palette of predefined Windows colors or pick a Custom color using a color picker.
    • If you choose Manual, select a color that you’d like to see on your Start Menu.

     

Step 6: Apply Accent Color to Start and Taskbar

This is the most crucial step to change color Start Menu Windows 11.

  1. Scroll down in the “Colors” settings page.
  2. Find the toggle switch labeled “Show accent color on Start and taskbar”.
  3. Turn this toggle switch to the On position.

Step 7: Observe the Changes

Once you’ve enabled “Show accent color on Start and taskbar,” open your Start Menu. You should see that its background or certain elements are now tinted with the accent color you selected. The intensity and coverage of the color can vary depending on whether you are in Light or Dark mode.

What if “Show accent color on Start and taskbar” is Grayed Out?

Sometimes, you might find the “Show accent color on Start and taskbar” toggle is grayed out and you can’t enable it.

  • This usually happens if your “Choose your mode” (from Step 4) is set to “Light”.
  • Solution: To enable the toggle, change your mode to “Dark” or choose “Custom” and then set “Choose your default Windows mode” to “Dark”. After doing this, the toggle for showing accent color on Start and taskbar should become available.

Using Themes to Change Overall Appearance

Another way to influence the Start Menu color is by changing your overall Windows theme.

  1. Go to Settings > Personalization > Themes.
  2. Selecting a different theme will often change your wallpaper, Windows mode, and accent color simultaneously, thereby altering the appearance of your Start Menu.

Limitations and Alternatives

It’s important to reiterate that Windows 11 does not offer a dedicated, independent color picker just for the Start Menu background, separate from the system-wide accent color. The color is a reflection of your chosen accent color when the specific setting is enabled.

For users seeking more profound customization options beyond what Windows 11 natively offers, third-party applications exist that provide more granular control over the Start Menu’s appearance, including specific colors, transparency, and styles. Popular tools include StartAllBack or Stardock Start11. However, always exercise caution and download such software from reputable sources.

Conclusion

While you can’t assign a completely arbitrary color to only the Start Menu in Windows 11, you can effectively change color Start Menu Windows 11 by customizing your Windows mode and, most importantly, by choosing an accent color and enabling it to show on Start and the taskbar. This allows for a good degree of personalization, helping you make your Windows 11 interface feel more like your own.