While interning at a major tech company, I started using high contrast themes regularly while at work to make it easier for me to read text and interact with applications without getting eye strain too quickly. Even though some of the apps I used at my internship had a few bugs with high contrast mode, I found that I preferred high contrast mode over dark mode or similar display modes when working in my office and would switch between display modes when screensharing or testing software. Here are my tips for using high contrast themes in Windows 11, and how high contrast mode looks with different applications I use for school and my internship.
How to enable high contrast in Windows 11
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.
What is removed in high contrast mode?
By default, the following visual elements are removed from the Windows interface in high contrast mode/high contrast themes:
- Desktop background/wallpaper; this can be changed in display settings
- Transparent toolbar
- Device color schemes/accent colors
- Additional background graphics in Office applications
Program icons and colors, images in the gallery/web browser, and similar visual items are not affected by high contrast mode and remain unchanged. This is different from dark mode or invert colors, which can change the appearance of images.
Related links
- Choosing Device Wallpapers and Backgrounds with Low Vision
- How I Document Accessibility Preferences with Low Vision
- How To Use Invert Colors with Low Vision
- Choosing Between Light Mode and Dark Mode For Low Vision
High contrast color palettes
There are four high contrast theme presets in Windows 10 and Windows 11. In Windows 11, the high contrast theme presets include:
- Aquatic: White text (#ffffff) and dark gray background (#202020), text highlighted in electric blue (#75e9fc) with links in light blue (#8ee3f0) and UI elements in white (#fffffff)
- Desert: Dark gray text (#202020) and off-white background (#fffaef), text highlighted in brown (#903909) with links in blue (#0063b3) and UI elements in onyx (#3d3d3d)
- Dusk: White text (#ffffff) and dark gray background (#2d3236), text highlighted in blue (#0063b3) with links in turquoise (#70ebde) and UI elements in light turquoise/celeste (#b6f6f0)
- Night Sky: White text (#ffffff) and black background (#000000), text highlighted in mauve (#d5b4fd) with links in purple (#8080ff) and UI elements in yellow (#ffee32)
The high contrast themes available in Windows 11 are identical to the high contrast themes in Microsoft Edge. Users can set high contrast themes to display in the Edge web browser when high contrast themes are turned on at the system level or enable high contrast themes from the browser directly.
Related links
- Customize Microsoft Edge Accessibility for Low Vision
- Dialog Boxes and Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- How To Make Text Cursors Easier to See in Windows
- High Contrast and Low Vision
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Computers
Choosing custom colors for high contrast
In high contrast themes, each display item is assigned a color for improved readability. The colors of the following visual elements can be changed by selecting Edit next to a high contrast theme:
- Background
- Text
- Hyperlink
- Inactive text
- Selected text
- Button text (foreground and background)
To set high contrast theme colors, users can select a color from the slider, configure RBG or HSV values, or type in a HEX color code. Once finished, select Save as to save a custom high contrast theme that can be activated from the settings menu or with the high contrast keyboard shortcut.
When determining the best colors for high contrast color schemes, I recommend talking to a vision professional such as a teacher of the visually impaired (TVI), assistive technology specialist, low vision optometrist/low vision ophthalmologist, vision therapist, or similar professional to determine what color scheme will work best for an individual’s eye condition.
Related links
- Learning To Explain Usable Vision
- How To Write Alt Text For Color Palettes
- How To Make Mouse Pointers Easier To See in Windows
- Mainstream eReader Apps and Low Vision Accessibility
Using high contrast with other accessibility settings
High contrast mode can be used along with other accessibility settings such as Magnifier, keyboard shortcuts, custom mouse pointers/text cursors, custom icons, and large print sizes/display scaling. The only display setting that may be adversely affected by high contrast mode is invert screen, though high contrast mode often looks similar to an inverted screen so many users find that they don’t need to invert their screen to read text.
When I was using high contrast mode at my tech internship, I preferred to enable a lower display resolution for my monitor/computer screen, which made it easier for me to use programs with larger display scaling and magnification.
Related links
- Windows Magnifier and Low Vision
- How To Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows
- Computer Mice and Mouse Alternatives for Low Vision
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Keyboards
- Low Vision Accessibility Settings for Windows 11
How does high contrast look in different applications?
Wondering what high contrast mode looks like in different applications? Here is how high contrast mode looks in some of the most-used applications at my tech internship and in my college classes. In some applications, the text in high contrast mode appears invisible when the user is typing in a search box, but the text is visible again once the user finishes typing. This is typically due to custom themes in the web browser or other applications, and high contrast mode will prompt users to turn off themes for improved visibility.
For the screenshots below, I shared a preview of my website with the four high contrast themes available in Windows 11 and used Night Sky for the remaining screenshots without any additional theme modifications.
Veronica With Four Eyes website
Aquatic high contrast theme includes white text, dark gray background, text highlighted in electric blue with links in light blue, and UI elements in white:
Desert high contrast theme includes dark gray text and off-white background, text highlighted in brown with links in blue and UI elements in onyx:
Dusk high contrast theme with white text and dark gray background, text highlighted in blue with links in turquoise and UI elements in light turquoise/celeste:
Night Sky high contrast theme with white text and black background, text highlighted in mauve with links in purple and UI elements in yellow
Microsoft Word with high contrast enabled (Night Sky)
Microsoft Excel
An important thing to note when using Microsoft Excel with high contrast mode is that conditional formatting/color scales are not visible when high contrast themes are enabled. The colors of charts are also not visible, which demonstrates the importance of creating charts where color is not the sole mean of conveying information. I shared an example below with a custom high contrast theme that uses the High Contrast #1 theme colors from Windows 10.
Microsoft Outlook
This is a screenshot of a newsletter in my Microsoft Outlook inbox for my university email. The graphic colors are not affected by high contrast mode and remain intact, but the text in the email is white to match the high contrast theme preferences.
Gmail/Google Workspace
Another email screenshot from Gmail, here is how a newsletter from Top Tech Tidbits appears in my inbox. The icons for deleting emails and performing other tasks are lower contrast compared to the rest of the screen.
Related links
- Designing Accessible Documents With Microsoft Word
- How I Organize Emails In College With Low Vision
- How To Create Accessible Pie Charts For Low Vision
- Mainstream Educational Technology Certifications For Teachers of the Visually Impaired
Other tips for using high contrast displays in Windows 10 and Windows 11
- Outside of low vision, high contrast mode is also beneficial for people who get migraines, as the dark high contrast display is easier to focus on for many users. Learn more about accessibility settings for light sensitivity in Smartphone Accessibility Settings For Photosensitivity and Avoiding Flashing Lights On Social Media
- High contrast mode is visible in screenshots and screen recordings, which is helpful when teaching someone how to use high contrast mode or when making text easier to see. Learn more about screensharing in Tips For Screensharing With Low Vision
- To report a bug with high contrast mode, I recommend using the Feedback tool; more information can be found at How To Use The Feedback Tool in Microsoft Office
- For technical support with high contrast mode, contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk on the phone or through the Be My Eyes app. Learn more about this feature in Accessibility Support Phone Numbers and Low Vision
Published July 16, 2019. Updated December 2025