The title bar, an often overlooked yet significant component of our computing experience, essentially tells us which application or file we are currently viewing on our screens. Positioned at the topmost part of every window, it displays the name of the app or file in focus. On Windows 11, these title bars, by default, shy away from vibrant hues, opting instead for the understated elegance of blacks and whites, tailored according to the overall theme of your PC. But what if the minimalistic black and white palette doesn’t cater to your aesthetic preferences? Fear not, as Windows 11 allows users the flexibility to infuse these title bars with a burst of personalized colors, differentiating between the active and the inactive windows. While we previously enlightened our readers on achieving this on Windows 10, this risewindows piece is your guide to customizing these title bar colors on Windows 11. Dive in, as we walk you through the steps to make your desktop truly yours!
How to Choose a Color for the Active Title Bar on Windows 11 Settings?
Use the following steps to set a color for the active title bar on Windows 11 using the built-in Settings app:-
Step 1: First, open the Settings app on your computer.
Step 2: In the left sidebar, choose the option that says Personalization.
Step 3: Look for the Colors option on the right sidebar.
Step 4: In the drop-down menu, saying “Accent color,” go to Manual.
Step 5: You have, in front of you, a set of colors that you can choose from. However, if you dislike any available colors, click on the View colors button and choose the desired color from the palette.
Step 6: Scroll down to the toggle switch “Show accent color on title bars and windows borders” and turn it on.
The above steps will change the active window’s title bar and border color.
How to Use Registry Editor to Set the Color for Inactive Title Bars on Windows 11?
Like Windows 10, the custom color settings apply to only the active title bars and not the inactive ones in Windows 11. You will have to change it manually by tweaking the Registry. Keep reading further to do it.
Use the following steps to set the color for inactive title bars on Windows 11:-
Step 1: Go to the Registry Editor on your computer.
Step 2: In the Registry Editor address bar, type the following and hit Enter:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
Step 3: Navigate to New > DWORD (32-bit) Value by right-clicking on the DWM key.
Step 4: Name the newly created REG_DWORD to AccentColorInactive.
Step 5: After completing the above steps, find AccentColor and AccentColorInactive REG_DWORDs on the right sidebar. Copy the AccentColor REG_DWORD “Value data” and paste it into the AccentColorInactive REG_DWORD. Once done, set a different color for an Accent Color in the Settings app.
Copy the “Value data” by double-clicking on the AccentColor.
Step 6: Click on OK.
Step 7: Paste the color code you copied in the AccentColorInactive REG_DWORD.
Step 8: Click on OK.
Step 9: Now, set a new Accent color from Windows 11 Settings.
Once you have completed all the above steps, it will set different colors for active and inactive Windows title bars.
Also Read: How to Change Window Title Bar Text Color on Windows 10?
Conclusion
Windows 11 offers an array of customization options for its users, and the ability to personalize the title bar color for active and inactive windows is one such feature. With a few steps within the Settings app, users can modify the color of the active title bar. However, for the inactive windows, a deeper dive into the Registry Editor is required. Nevertheless, with the provided guide, users can effortlessly add their touch to the Windows environment, making their desktop genuinely reflective of their preferences.
