On Windows 11, by default, the Start menu and Taskbar use the light color scheme, and while you can always switch to the dark mode, you can also change the accent color to anything you want. However, changing the accent color for these elements is not straightforward since you must use a specific color mode before the option to switch colors becomes available in the Settings app.
Also, choosing a new accent color, this setting will change the colors for the title bars and windows borders, and other elements, such as Quick Settings, Notification center, Windows Search, and others.
In this guide, you will learn the steps to change the color of the Start menu and Taskbar on Windows 11.
Change Start menu and Taskbar color on Windows 11
To change the accent color for Start and Taskbar on Windows 11, use these steps:
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Open Settings on Windows 11.
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Click on Personalization.
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Click the Colors page on the right side.
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In the “Choose your mode” setting, select the Custom option.
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In the “Choose your default Windows mode” setting, select the Dark option.
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Turn on the “Show accent color on Start and taskbar” option.
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In the “Accent color” setting, select the Manual option. The system will generate a color based on the desktop background image when using the Automatic option.
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Select the accent color for the Windows 11 Start menu and Taskbar.
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(Optional) In the “Custom colors” setting, click the View colors button to create a custom color.
Once you complete the steps, Start and Taskbar will reflect the accent color you selected in the Settings app.