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How do I change the Color Scheme in Win 8.1?

Anonymous
2014-02-10T07:03:34+00:00

I'm trying to customize my color scheme, but Win 8.1 doesn't seem to have any way to really edit the colors, like the older versions of Windows.  Mainly, I want to change the background color of my text screens.  The default white screen strains my eyes, so I like to tone it down by replacing it with a neutral color.  The only thing I can find in Win 8.1 is something to change "themes."  It only allows me to alter some of the foreground colors, and change the wallpaper.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-05-18T15:03:17+00:00

    Okay, I FINALLY figured out how to do this!  Go to the Personalization screen.  Choose one of the High Contrast Themes.  When that screen displays, it will allow you to change the colors of your desktop, buttons, title bars, etc.  You may have to play with the colors a little to get what you want, but I personally am thrilled to get away from the ghost of White/Gray or Dark Gray themes.  Now I don't get headaches from the glare!

    Hope this helps.  Funny the Microsoft IT person couldn't figure this out - and only replied those white/gray themes were "by design".  LOL.

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-11T02:29:37+00:00

    Actually, I'm trying to make sort of a "low-contrast" scheme.  In earlier versions of windows, you could choose the colors for every segment of the display.  This not only included foreground colors and wall-paper, but background and text colors as well.  I can't find the controls in Win 8.1.  They might not be easy to find, like they were in earlier versions of Windows, but they have to be there.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-05-18T15:11:57+00:00

    Hi,

    Thank you for sharing the information.

    Your efforts to resolve this issue is very much appreciated.

    Feel free to post your query here on Windows Forums, we would be happy to assist you.

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-28T01:42:23+00:00

    In settings, click on Personalization, this takes you to Themes, scroll down for "High Contrast Themes", click on any of the 4 preset themes; your "color" choice (shown at the bottom of screen) will now look like the "High Contrast Theme" you chose, click on it ("color") and change the colors of windows and text per your preferences.  I personally changed only the background color to a baby blue color which is very easy on the eyes and looks great!

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2014-02-17T13:51:04+00:00

    I found a forum where people were discussing getting around the lack of this tool.  They were able to adjust the color scheme in the registry.  This is going to be a great deal tougher than I had imagined.  While typing on a white background is tiring, one cannot edit a photo against a glaring white background.

    There has to be an "App" to get in and change this.  I mean, this should be easy for anybody that codes.   I've already bought a start menu from Stardock.  I hope this doesn't mean that we are going to have to buy all future MS OS's piecemeal.  Is this what MS intended?

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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