How to Use Windows High Contrast Mode

To use Windows high contrast mode, choose a contrast theme in Settings and apply it. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Accessibility > Contrast themes. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Ease of Access > High contrast. You can also toggle the selected theme with Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen.

Windows 11 calls these Contrast themes; Windows 10 uses the label High contrast. The steps below cover turning the setting on and off, adjusting colors, and choosing a different accessibility feature when contrast is not the problem.

1. Turn on high contrast in Windows 11

1. Open Start > Settings > Accessibility > Contrast themes. Or press Windows key + U to open Accessibility settings, then select Contrast themes.
2. Open the Contrast themes menu and choose a theme.
3. Select Apply. Windows updates its appearance using that theme.

To turn it off, choose None in the Contrast themes menu, then select Apply. To switch quickly between the selected theme and the regular appearance, press Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen.

2. Turn on high contrast in Windows 10

1. Open Start > Settings > Ease of Access > High contrast.
2. Turn on Turn on high contrast, then choose a theme under Choose a theme.
3. To turn it off, switch off Turn on high contrast.

The keyboard shortcut is the same in Windows 10: Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen. If the shortcut does not work, use Settings and check that the shortcut is enabled in the High contrast settings.

3. Turn high contrast on before signing in

If you need a different display before entering your account, use the accessibility controls on the sign-in screen:

1. At the sign-in screen, select the Ease of access button in the lower-right corner.
2. Switch on the High Contrast control.
3. Sign in and adjust the theme further in Settings if needed.

Microsoft documents this option for changing the display before sign-in. Microsoft’s Windows contrast guidance covers the settings paths and controls.

4. Customize a contrast theme

A preset is a starting point. You can adjust the colors used for different screen elements, including background, text, hyperlinks, disabled or inactive text, selected text, and button text. The names and editor layout differ by Windows version.

1. Open the Contrast themes or High contrast settings and select a theme.
2. In Windows 11, choose Edit. In Windows 10, select the colored rectangles for the elements you want to change.
3. Choose a color for each element you want to adjust. In the newer editor, you can enter a color using RGB, HSV, or a hexadecimal value. Adjust brightness with the slider where available.
4. Select Done when you finish editing.
5. To keep your custom combination, select Save as, give it a name, and save it. Choose Save and apply in the newer editor; in Windows 10, select Apply.

For a readable result, check that text stands apart from its background and that links, selected items, and disabled controls are distinguishable. Then try the theme in the apps you use most; some apps handle system colors differently.

5. What does high contrast change?

Microsoft says a high contrast theme changes contrast in Windows and most apps. For example, Microsoft describes Word document colors adjusting to the selected theme, while ordinary text color changes remain available. The effect can vary by application, so verify important screens and documents after applying a custom theme. See Microsoft’s color and contrast guidance for Microsoft 365.

A contrast theme may be useful if text and interface details blend together, the background feels too white, or glare makes items hard to distinguish. It is not a guarantee that every app or every display will look better; adjust the colors and check your regular workflow.

6. Choose the Windows feature that matches the problem

If you need…	Try…	What it changes
More separation between interface colors	Contrast themes / High contrast	Strongly contrasting colors across Windows and most apps, with editable theme colors.
Help distinguishing colors	Color filters	The displayed palette. Windows includes filters for deuteranopia, protanopia, and tritanopia; check the result in the apps you use.
A darker overall interface	Dark mode	Choose it under Settings > Personalization > Colors. This is a different setting from contrast themes.
Larger text	Text size or display scaling	Enlarges text or interface elements; it does not change their contrast in the same way.
A magnified view	Magnifier	Enlarges screen content. A contrast theme changes colors, not magnification.

Microsoft’s Make Windows easier to see guidance describes these related settings. Pick the one that addresses the difficulty you notice, and combine features only if the result remains comfortable in your apps.

7. Troubleshooting

Problem	Likely cause	What to do
You cannot find “High contrast” in Settings.	You may be using Windows 11, which labels the setting Contrast themes.	Open Settings > Accessibility > Contrast themes. In Windows 10, look under Ease of Access > High contrast.
The shortcut does nothing.	The shortcut may be disabled, or a keyboard may not provide a Print Screen key in the expected way.	Open the contrast settings and use the on-screen controls. Check the shortcut option there; on compact keyboards, use the keyboard’s Print Screen function or its documented key combination.
The theme looks right in Windows but wrong in one app.	Apps can respond to system colors differently.	Test the theme in the affected app. Review that app’s own appearance or accessibility settings, and adjust the Windows theme if needed.
Text is still hard to read because it is too small.	Contrast changes color separation, not text size.	Adjust text size or display scaling. Use Magnifier if you need to enlarge a portion of the screen.
You want a dark screen but the contrast theme looks too stark.	High contrast is designed to increase separation between colors; dark mode is a separate appearance choice.	Turn the contrast theme off and choose Dark under Settings > Personalization > Colors, or customize a theme with colors that suit you.
You need a different display before entering your account.	The normal Settings page is available only after signing in.	Use the Ease of access button in the lower-right corner of the sign-in screen and enable High Contrast.

8. Practical notes

• Performance: This is a display appearance setting. The cited Microsoft guidance describes changing colors and contrast; it does not specify a performance impact.
• Reliability: Presets provide a quick starting point, but application appearance can vary. Check the apps and documents you rely on after changing a theme.
• Cost: The Windows setting is built in; no paid tool or additional hardware is required for these steps.
• Reversibility: Return to the contrast settings and choose None in Windows 11 or switch off Turn on high contrast in Windows 10. The keyboard shortcut can also toggle the selected theme.

9. Or skip the browser setup

Windows contrast themes are for your computer’s display. If your developer workflow also needs website screenshots, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. One GET request returns an image or PDF; the API has options for full-page capture, viewport and device presets, waiting for page conditions, custom CSS, and more. See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation.

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webp

import requests

r = requests.get(
    "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot",
    params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"},
    timeout=90,
)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)

const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Screenshot request failed: ${res.status}`);
await Bun.write('shot.webp', res);

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10. FAQ

Does Windows 11 still have high contrast mode?

Yes. Windows 11 calls the feature Contrast themes in Settings.

Will a contrast theme change the colors in my documents?

It can affect apps and document appearance. Microsoft’s Word example says document colors adjust to the selected theme, while ordinary text color changes remain available. Check the specific app you use.

Is high contrast the same as dark mode?

No. Contrast themes emphasize separation between interface colors. Dark mode changes the overall color mode and is set under Personalization > Colors.

Can I use a custom color?

Yes. Edit the theme colors; the newer editor supports RGB, HSV, and hexadecimal color values.

Where is Microsoft’s official step-by-step guidance?

See Change color contrast in Windows for current Windows 10 and Windows 11 instructions.