Why does File Explorer Title Bar accent color randomly display?

Question

I set an accent colour and a solid background. On the File Explorer title bar, the accent colour I have chosen is displayed randomly. It is grey at bootup, and by the evening most days it is the accent color. No changes made all day. Reverts to grey at shutdown. I can manually have it display ff I run CMD sfc/ scannow as admin at startup. No issue with accent color on Taskbar, Start Menu, Browser, Notepad and Paint. Selecting a theme or customizing a theme will display the title bar accent color but the colors are darker than what I want, plus using a theme causes desktop icons to have a drop shadow even when selected to not appear.

Answer 1

Hi. Thank you for your question and reaching out. I’d be more than happy to help you with your query.

This issue with the File Explorer title bar color appearing randomly could be caused by a bug or corruption in the Windows operating system. Here are a few steps you can try to resolve this issue:

1. Run the Windows System File Checker (SFC) tool: As you mentioned, running the SFC tool manually (sfc /scannow) does resolve the issue temporarily, but it's best to run it from the Command Prompt with elevated privileges (run as administrator).
2. Reset the Windows Theme: You can try resetting the Windows theme to the default settings and then re-applying your custom color settings. To reset the theme, go to Settings > Personalization > Themes and select the Windows theme. Then go to Colors and reapply your custom color settings.
3. Perform a Clean Boot: Performing a clean boot can help to identify if any third-party software or services are causing the issue. You can perform a clean boot by following these steps:

• Press Windows key + R
• Type msconfig and press Enter
• In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab
• Check the box next to "Hide all Microsoft services"
• Click Disable all
• Go to the Startup tab
• Click Open Task Manager
• In the Task Manager window, select each item in the Startup tab and click Disable
• Close the Task Manager and click OK in the System Configuration window
• Restart your PC

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you can try reinstalling or repairing the operating system, or perform a system restore to a previous point when the issue wasn't present.

If the reply was helpful, please don’t forget to upvote or accept as answer, thank you.

Answer 2

I have WIN11. I tried to get the accent color on the File Explorer title bar without using a theme, but it doesn't work properly eventhough I selected to show on title bars. Strangely, on different days and times, it will randomly display the accent color when not using a theme.

I noticed the accent color works consistently on a preset theme, but I don't like the choices; therefore, I customized a one so that I could get the accent color on the File Explorer title bar. All seems fine until I reboot, then the File Explorer title bar color reverts to grey. I have resorted to selecting SLEEP instead of SHUTDOWN or RESTART when not using the laptop in order to retain my custom settings without needing to reconfigure at every reboot.

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Answer 3

Thanks for your suggestions. I have already tried them. I am somewhat techy being an IT Systems Tech and IT Helpdesk for 16+ years but this issue is baffling.

I have tried using no Theme and with Theme. Currently using no theme as although using a theme shows the File Explorer title bar accent colour, it also shows the dropshadows on the desktop icons which I don't want, and they won't remove eventhough slected to not show.

I have solid background in orchid, accent colour in orchid light, colour mode is custom/light/light, selected transparency ON, selected to show on start and task bar OFF (however, it does show), selected to show on title bars and windows borders ON (however, it dosent show). I am not using a theme or customized theme which will show the accent colour in the File Explorer title bar but that causes icons to have a drop shadow which I don't want (selected to not show but they still do)

Is there a registry key to permanently remove the dropshadow from Themes? Then possibly I can customize a Theme with the colours I want, have the accent colour on the File Explorer title bar showing permanently, and not have a dropshadow on my desktop icon titles. Hopefully a Microsoft wizard will figure out the accent colour issue when not using a Theme and it will appear when only choosing a solid background/accent colour.

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CMD as ADMIN - sfc/ scannow results in the File Explorer title bar accent colour to show; however, it will revert to grey after shutdown/restart (not using a Theme, only choose Background/Accent colour)

RESULTS FROM SETTINGS:

Selecting a Background/Accent colour (I choose Orchid, not using or customizing a Theme):

No accent colour shows on File Explorer title bar, no drop shadows on desktop icon titles

Using a preset Theme (title bar will be those themes automatic accent colour), or customizing a Theme choosing a background/accent colour (I choose Orchid):

Accent colour shows on File Explorer title bar, dropshadow shows on desktop icon titles

Selected to not show dropshadow but they still show and after restart.

Answer 4

Did all that. No resolve.

Answer 5

Today I customized a theme (preferred background color and accent color) and saved it. All seems fine, that is until I restart. Accent color on File Explorer title bar. Once I restart, the File Explorer Title Bar is no longer the accent color, it is back to grey. I have to select the custom everyday after shutdown/restart. I also tried a tweak through regedit for the AccentColor but it was no different. The accent color appears everywhere it is supposed to except on the File Explorer title bar. It only correctly works if I use a preset theme but I don't like those colors. It seems this setting isn't connected to my profile at login!