How to Customize the Taskbar Color in Windows 11: A Simple Guide

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Personalize your taskbar with accent colors and more

Co-authored by Glenn Carreau Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: January 21, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Changing the Taskbar’s Color in Windows 11
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• What is the Windows taskbar?
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• Other Customization Options
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• Video

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Want to give your Windows setup a pop of color? The taskbar (located at the bottom of the screen) is very customizable—and, in this handy guide, we’ll show you how to adjust the color of said taskbar, as well as the Start menu. In just a few clicks, you can personalize your computer’s display with a taskbar that’s convenient and visually pleasing! Keep reading to get started.

Quick Steps to Change the Taskbar Color in Windows 11

1. Open the Settings menu with the Windows + I keyboard shortcut.
2. Navigate to Personalization in the Settings menu.
3. Select Colors to view the Windows color settings.
4. In Choose your mode, select Dark from the dropdown menu to enable Dark mode.
5. Scroll down to Accent color and click on a color option.
6. Click the toggle next to Show accent color on Start and taskbar to apply color to your taskbar.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Changing the Taskbar’s Color in Windows 11

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1. 
   1
   Open the Settings menu. You can use the keyboard shortcut Windows + I, or simply click on the Start icon (the Windows logo) in the taskbar and then select the gear icon labeled Settings. Either way, a new Settings window will open!
2. 2
   Navigate to the “Personalization” tab in Settings. From the main Settings menu, look at the list of different tabs to the left and click on Personalization. This is where you’ll find all the different display, theme, and color options that let you customize your desktop the way you want it.
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3. 3
   Click on the “Colors” option. You’ll find Colors right below the Background option in the list of Personalization settings. The Colors window is where you can change the current display mode, enable or disable transparency effects for the taskbar, and, of course, change your taskbar’s color.
4. 4
   Change the default Windows mode to “Dark.” To the right of Choose your mode, click on the drop-down menu and select Dark from it. This is very important: you can’t change the taskbar’s color while you’re in the default (Light) mode, where all windows and apps have a light (white) background and format.

   • In Dark mode, windows and apps have black or dark grey backgrounds instead—and you can only change the taskbar’s color while in Dark mode.
5. 5
   Pick an accent color from the grid. Scroll down to the Accent color section, where you’ll see a display of different color options. Select the color you’d like to use for your taskbar (it won’t take effect yet, but don’t worry—that’s the next step).

   • Alternatively, you can select View colors below the default offerings and make your own custom color!
6. 6
   Apply the new color to your taskbar (and Start menu). Finally, just scroll down a little more until you see the Show accent color on Start and taskbar option. Click on the toggle to the right so that it’s switched On; once that’s done, the taskbar will turn whatever color you previously selected. You’re all set!

   • If the option to Show accent color on Start and taskbar is greyed out, that probably means you haven’t enabled Dark mode yet. Make sure you do!
   • If you don’t like the accent color you first picked, you can always try out some others. Just click on whatever color you want to use, and the taskbar will change accordingly.
   • Finally, if you want to apply the new color to title bars and windows, simply toggle the Show accent color on title bars and windows borders option to the On position, too.
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Section 2 of 3:

What is the Windows taskbar?

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1. The Windows taskbar is a platform for quickly accessing applications. In Windows 11, the taskbar is located at the very bottom of the screen by default; it features the Start menu, a search bar, and space for pinning important apps. Let’s go over the key components of the taskbar in a little more detail:

   • Start menu - The Start menu facilitates quick access to all apps, settings, and files, as well as user account options. You can access it via the Start (Windows) button on the taskbar.
   • Widgets - Widgets are interactive additions to the taskbar that organize information for you; you can access widgets by clicking on the Widgets button (the icon with the current weather and temperature) from the taskbar.
   • Search bar - The search bar (labeled Search) is where you can search for any files, apps, or web results from the taskbar. Just click on the search bar and type in your query to use it!
   • Task view - The task view button is the white, grey, and black icon that looks like two overlaid boxes. It’ll show you thumbnails of all active windows, applications, and even desktops.
   • Applications - One section of the taskbar is dedicated to application shortcuts, allowing you to quickly open those applications with one click. You can pin your own applications; options like File Explorer and Microsoft Edge are usually pinned by default.

Section 3 of 3:

Other Ways to Configure the Taskbar in Windows 11

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1. 
   1
   Changing the taskbar’s alignment You can change the way the taskbar’s icons are positioned; they’re centered by default, but can be aligned to the left side of the taskbar alternatively. To change the taskbar’s alignment, simply do the following:

   • Right-click on the taskbar.
   • Select Taskbar settings from the menu.
   • Click on Taskbar behaviors to expand it.
   • To the right of Taskbar alignment, click on the dropdown menu and select the alignment you want (Left or Center).
2. 2
   Hiding the taskbar Don’t want to see the taskbar—whether you’re in desktop mode or, if applicable, tablet mode? There’s an easy way to adjust your settings. Here’s how:

   • Right-click on the taskbar.
   • Select Taskbar settings.
   • Click on Taskbar behaviors.
   • Check the box next to Automatically hide the taskbar (or uncheck it, if you want the taskbar to be visible again).
     • Additionally, just hover your mouse over the bottom edge of the screen if you want to see your hidden taskbar.
3. 3
   Showing badges or flashing for taskbar apps Badges are essentially alerts that appear when something is happening (or requires your attention) within a particular app. Similarly, “flashing” is a setting that allows app icons in the taskbar to flash when your attention is needed. You can enable or disable both in the taskbar settings:

   • Right-click on the taskbar.
   • Select Taskbar settings.
   • Click on Taskbar behaviors.
   • Check (or uncheck) the box next to Show badges on taskbar apps to enable or disable badges.
   • Check (or uncheck) the box next to Show flashing on taskbar apps to enable or disable flashing.
4. 4
   Sharing windows This setting is basically an easy way to share information with others during meetings in Microsoft Teams (if you use that application). With this setting enabled, you can hover over an app in the taskbar and opt to share the window with other people in the meeting, meaning you don’t have to alternate between different applications. Here’s how to use it:

   • Right-click on the taskbar.
   • Select Taskbar settings.
   • Click on Taskbar behaviors.
   • Check (or uncheck) the box next to Share any window from my taskbar to enable or disable window sharing.
5. 5
   Quick-access to the desktop If you want to be able to click over to the desktop quickly without minimizing a bunch of windows, there’s an option for that in the taskbar settings! With this setting enabled, you can simply click on the small area to the far right side of the taskbar to immediately view your desktop (and click on it again to see all your windows back where they were). Here’s how to enable it:

   • Right-click on the taskbar.
   • Select Taskbar settings.
   • Click on Taskbar behaviors.
   • Check (or uncheck) the box next to Select the far corner of the taskbar to show the desktop.
6. 
   6
   Enabling the taskbar on all displays With this option enabled, you’ll be able to see the taskbar on multiple monitors (rather than just one). It might be handy if you use more than one monitor and need to switch back and forth between them sometimes. Here’s how to enable (or disable) this feature:

   • Right-click on the taskbar.
   • Select Taskbar settings.
   • Click on Taskbar behaviors.
   • Check (or uncheck) the box next to Show my taskbar on all displays.
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