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 10, 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:
- Open Settings > Accessibility > Color Filters
- Turn on color filters, and then select Inverted
- To turn invert colors on and off with keyboard shortcut Windows + Ctrl + C, select the check box to enable the keyboard shortcut.
To turn on system wide dark mode:
- Open 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
- Choosing Between Light Mode and Dark Mode For Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
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
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 in Windows:
- Open Ease of Access (Windows 10) or Accessibility (Windows 11) in Settings
- In the Vision section, select Mouse Pointer
- Using the slider, adjust the size of the pointer to the desired size
- Once selected, the mouse pointer size will be automatically adjusted
To change mouse pointer color in Windows:
- Open Ease of Access (Windows 10) or Accessibility (Windows 11) in Settings
- In the Vision section, select Mouse Pointer
- Select a cursor color from the list: White, Black, Invert, or Custom
- For custom cursors, select a color from either the suggested pointer colors or select More/Choose Another Color to choose a custom shade, selecting Done when finished
- Once selected, the mouse pointer color will be automatically activated
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:
- Open Ease of Access (Windows 10) or Accessibility (Windows 11) in Settings
- In the Vision section, select Mouse Pointer
- Turn on Touch Indicator, and select the checkbox to make the circle larger and darker
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.
How to change the text cursor indicator color in Windows
- Open the Ease of Access menu in Settings
- Search for the Text Cursor option, or select Text Cursor from the list of options in the Vision section
- Underneath the slider to choose the text cursor indicator size, choose a pre-set color for the indicator color or add a custom color with RGB, HEX, or HSV values.
- To increase the text cursor thickness, adjust the slider on the text cursor page. The slider increases in increments of 1 and goes up 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 size of desktop icons:
- Right-click on the desktop
- On the callout menu, select View
- Select small, medium, or large icons. The changes will automatically take effect
To increase the size of taskbar icons:
- Right-click on the taskbar
- At the bottom of the menu, select Taskbar settings (gear icon)
- Switch the slider for “Use small taskbar buttons” to off.
Related links
- How To Customize Icons For Windows
- 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 below.
To create custom keyboard shortcuts in Windows:
- Right-click on an application in the Start menu
- Under More, select Open File Location
- Right-click on the application icon and select Properties
- Select the text box that says Shortcut Key in the Shortcut tab
- Type in the desired keyboard shortcut using the keyboard
- Select OK to save the shortcut. The application does not need to be visible on the taskbar or desktop in order for the keyboard shortcut to work
- Restart the computer if needed to activate the keyboard shortcut.
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
- Interested in Microsoft Office accessibility features? Read Secret Microsoft Office Accessibility Features I Use Every Day
- 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
Published November 14, 2016. Updated November 2025