Windows Insider Preview 26220.7934: Muted colors when in 'dark' mode

Question

I have updated last night and wanted to resume my work in visual studio code today.

When having windows set to 'dark' mode:

To my surprise, the colors across everything (vscode, whatsapp, file explorer) seems to be muted and less vibrant. Or maybe it's just the 'blacks' which are less black? Really hard to tell, but I would say it's the colors which are less vibrant.

This issue seems to be only clearly visible when any application is in 'dark' mode.

-> Changing windows to 'Light' will solve the issue for apps like WhatsApp as well as File Explorer

-> Changing the color theme in vscode to a 'light' theme also seems to solve the issue

Has anyone else noticed a reduction in contrast/color saturation since updating?

Answer 1

The described behavior matches changes in how Windows handles dark mode, contrast themes, and color rendering after updates, especially on Insider builds.

Based on the context, there are several areas to check and adjust:

1. Confirm that a contrast theme is not active
   • Go to Settings > Accessibility > Contrast themes.
   • Ensure Contrast themes is set to None, then select Apply.
   • Contrast themes use a very limited, high-contrast palette that can make dark UIs look flatter or less vibrant.
2. Check High Contrast / Contrast theme toggle shortcut
   • Pressing Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen can toggle contrast themes.
   • If this was triggered accidentally, it can change colors system-wide in dark mode.
   • After confirming Contrast themes = None, test dark mode again.
3. Verify color mode and theme
   • Go to Settings > Personalization > Colors.
   • Set Choose your mode to Dark (not Custom) and test.
   • Insider builds can sometimes flip or override this setting, so explicitly reapplying Dark mode can help.
4. Check for color filters
   • Go to Settings > Accessibility > Color filters.
   • Make sure Color filters are turned Off.
   • Color filters can change saturation and perceived contrast across the system.
5. Visual Studio / app-specific themes
   • For Visual Studio (full IDE), the theme is independent of Windows and can be set under Tools > Options > Environment > Visual Experience > Color theme.
   • For Visual Studio Code and other apps, ensure they are set either to their own dark theme or to “use system setting” and test both.
6. Understand dark vs light mode behavior
   • Dark mode uses dark backgrounds with light foregrounds, but accent colors and neutral palettes are adjusted automatically by Windows to maintain contrast, not necessarily maximum saturation.
   • After an Insider update, these neutral and accent values can change, making dark UIs look slightly less “inky” or vibrant even though contrast is still within guidelines.
7. If the issue persists
   • As this is an Insider Preview build, visual changes or regressions in color/contrast are possible.
   • Use the Feedback Hub to report the issue, including screenshots comparing pre- and post-update dark mode, and note that light mode appears unaffected. This helps the Windows team validate whether this is an intentional design change or a regression in the dark-mode color pipeline.

These steps isolate whether the muted look is caused by contrast themes, color filters, or a change in the dark-mode palette in the specific Insider build.

---

References:

• Change color contrast in Windows
• Contrast themes
• Personalize Your Colors in Windows
• Support Dark and Light themes in Win32 apps
• Color in Windows
• Change fonts, colors, and themes in Visual Studio
• Color mode will not "stay" dark - Microsoft Q&A
• The latest windows update broke the graphics for Microsoft Edge - Microsoft Q&A