When I had to reinstall Windows on my computer, one of the first things I did was configure low vision accessibility settings for Windows 10, because without assistive technology features like this, I wouldn’t be able to use my computer at all. A lot of people I’ve talked to over the years have been surprised about the number of low vision settings for computers and the amount of features Microsoft has released, and it’s always exciting for me when I find a new feature that makes it easier for me to use my favorite devices. Here is a list of low vision accessibility settings I use for Windows 1o, with many of these settings available for Windows 11 as well.
High Contrast Themes
High contrast mode/high contrast themes are a display feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that removes non-essential display graphics and formatting, allowing users to select color schemes for their device’s display, text, links, and similar items. This is ideal for users with low vision, light sensitivity, or diminished contrast vision, as well as for users who are working in low-light environments.
The next two sections are excerpts from the Microsoft Support page for high contrast themes/high contrast mode. High contrast mode is used in Windows 10, while high contrast themes are used in Windows 11. Both provide the same functionality.
TO ENABLE HIGH CONTRAST MODE IN WINDOWS 10:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Ease of Access > High contrast.
- Turn on the toggle under Turn on high contrast. Then, choose a theme from the drop-down menu. You can customize colors for things like links and button text. When you’re done, select Apply.
- To turn off high contrast mode, switch off the toggle under Turn on high contrast.
- To turn high contrast mode on or off from the sign-in screen, select the Ease of access button in the lower-right corner, then turn on the toggle under High Contrast.
- To turn high contrast on or off from the keyboard, press left Alt + left Shift + Print Screen.
TO ENABLE HIGH CONTRAST THEMES IN WINDOWS 11:
- Select the Start button, and then select Settings > Accessibility > Contrast themes.
- To turn on contrast themes, select the theme you want from the Contrast themes drop-down menu, and then select the Apply button. Windows may display a “Please wait” screen for a few seconds, after which the colors on the screen change.
- To turn off contrast themes, select the None option from the Contrast themes drop-down menu, and then select the Apply button. Windows may again display a “Please wait” screen for a few seconds, after which the colors on the screen change back to default.
Related links
- How To Use High Contrast in Windows 10 and Windows 11
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
Inverted display and system wide dark mode
Inverted display is an alternative to high contrast mode, and changes a light-colored display with dark text to a dark-colored display with light text. This can be helpful for users with low vision that are sensitive to bright lights or want to have a high contrast display without removing any background graphics.
For users that prefer a darker display across applications in general, system wide dark mode can be helpful for making display screens seem less harsh/bright, with options to set individual apps for dark mode/light mode.
To invert colors and show an inverted display:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Color filters.
- Turn on the toggle under Turn on color filters and select Inverted/reverse colors on display
- To turn on inverted colors from the keyboard, enable the keyboard shortcut Windows Logo Key-Ctrl-C
To turn on system wide dark mode:
- Select the start menu, then select Settings > Personalization > Colors.
- Choose between system wide dark or light mode, or choose the default Windows mode and application mode. Windows mode is for tools like the taskbar, Start menu, and other system visuals
Related links
Make text bigger
There are two ways to make text bigger with low vision accessibility settings for Windows 10, including applying a system-wide large font and using Windows Magnifier. I have an entire post on Windows Magnifier linked below, but also use large font sizes on my computer as well.
To make text bigger in Windows 10:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Display.
- Adjust the slider to make text bigger and preview the desired font size, which will be used for system applications
- To enable Windows Magnifier keyboard shortcut, open the Magnifier section in Ease of Access and turn on the toggle Turn on Magnifier
Related links
- Windows Magnifier and Low Vision
- How I Document Accessibility Preferences With Low Vision
- Paper Size and Low Vision
Make everything bigger
Instead of or in addition to large print, display scaling enlarges all display items on the page such as windows, dialog boxes, text, images, and more, with additional options for adjusting display scaling. I personally have my display scaling set at 150% to avoid having graphics run off the edge of the page.
To make everything bigger/enable display scaling in Windows 10:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Display.
- From the drop-down menu, select the desired display scaling value
- To further customize display sizes and scaling, select the link to Change the size of apps and text on other displays
Change mouse pointer size and color
I love my large mouse pointer, which makes it easier for me to locate items on the screen. I use a custom color pointer in turquoise/green, because it is highly visible on the page and I don’t frequently interact with a lot of content that is the same color.
To change mouse pointer size and color in Windows 10:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Mouse pointer.
- Adjust the slider to change the mouse pointer size- for my desktop, I use a size 6 pointer out of 15
- Customize the pointer color to white, black, inverted, or a custom color of the user’s choice.
Related links
Add visual feedback
When I am using a touch screen, it helps to be able to visualize where I am tapping and to show visual feedback. This isn’t particularly helpful when I am using a mouse, but is great for using touch screen displays.
To add visual feedback:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Mouse pointer.
- Under the Change touch feedback section, toggle on Show visual feedback
- Check the box to make touch feedback darker and larger
Related links
- Questions To Ask When Choosing A Desktop Computer For College
- Questions To Ask When Choosing A Laptop For College
Change the text cursor indicator and appearance
I write a lot, and having options to customize the text cursor indicator and appearance makes it easier for me to find my cursor while typing a long document. The text cursor indicator is especially helpful, as I can quickly spot the colored dots on a page.
To change the text cursor indicator:
- Select the Start button, then select Settings > Ease of Access > Text Cursor.
- Turn on the toggle Turn on text cursor indicator and choose the desired color
- To change the text cursor appearance, move the slider to change text cursor thickness- I use 8 on a scale of 1 to 20.
Related links
Increase icon size
I have a few different customization options enabled for my computer icons, including custom designs and larger icon sizes. This is super helpful for locating programs, as I rely on bright colors to identify icons more than I rely on text.
To increase the icon size of programs on the desktop:
- Right click or long press on the desktop, and select the View menu from the drop-down
- Select the desired icon size and arrangement- I use large
Related links
- How To Customize Icons In Windows 10
- How To Create A Custom Android Home Screen With Microsoft Launcher
Creating custom keyboard shortcuts
Custom keyboard shortcuts allow users to set their own key combinations for opening programs on their computer, which can help users that have difficulty with locating programs on their screen and make their computer easier to use. I go more into depth about how to do this in my post on creating custom keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10.
To create custom keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10:
- Pin the program to the taskbar, if it is not already there
- Right-click the desired program icon
- At the bottom of the drop-down menu, above “unpin”, right-click the name of the program. This might take a moment to pop up
- Left-click “properties”
- Select the text box that says “shortcut key”
- Type in your desired keyboard combination by pressing the key combination of your choice
- Once completed, select “ok”
- If desired, remove the app from the taskbar by clicking “unpin”
Related links
Bonus- add website to the taskbar
When I was redesigning my desktop and toolbar on my Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers, I added website links to my taskbar so I could select the icon to immediately open a new tab or browser window with a specific website. This was a game changer for writing posts for my website, as I only have to click two buttons to start writing a new post and don’t get distracted by deciding to go to another website instead.
To add a website to Windows taskbar from Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome:
- Select the three dots in the top right corner to open the Settings menu, or use the keyboard shortcut alt-F
- Select More Tools
- Select Pin to Taskbar (or Pin to Start to add to the Start menu)
Related links
More resources on low vision accessibility settings for Windows
- I love using Microsoft applications with various assistive technology settings, including Office 365 and mobile applications. I share several resources on Microsoft products in Microsoft Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
- Need help choosing a computer? Visit Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Computers
- Want to use dictation with your Windows computer? Read Learning To Use Dictation As Assistive Technology With Low Vision
- Want to use Read Aloud or an on demand screen reader for reading text? Check out How To Use Text-To-Speech With Low Vision and Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
- Looking for resources on another operating system’s low vision accessibility settings? Read Low Vision Accessibility Settings For MacBooks or CentOS Accessibility For Low Vision
- Want to learn more about smartphones and mobile devices? Read How To Make iPad Accessible for Low Vision and Low Vision Accessibility Settings For Android Phones
