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What Does High Contrast Mode Do? [All You Need To Know]
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Published onJune 4, 2024
published onJune 4, 2024
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So, what does high contrast mode do on your Windows 10 and Windows 11 PC?
Computing devices like Windows PCs, Macs, smartphones, tablets, and others include some features for accessibility improvement. One such feature for Windows 10 and 1 is the High Contrast and Contrast Themes, respectively.
If you’re visually impaired or aiding such persons and looking to explore these settings, read this article until the end. I’ll explain everything you need to know to use these features efficiently and customize them.
What Is High Contrast Mode?
High Contrast Mode is anaccessibility display setting that can significantly improve the readability of your screen.
Find below two distinctive settings available on Windows 10 and 11 PCs:
High Contrast Mode in Windows 10
If you find the standard Windows 10 interface a bit hard on the eyes, the High Contrast Mode can help you here. This modesimplifies the on-screen visuals by using bold colors and removing distractions.This makes text and other elements stand out.
Here are the features at a glance:
Contrast Themes in Windows 11
Windows 11 introduced the Contrast Themes feature. This refined approachoffers even more control over how your screen displays informationespecially when you activate accessibility settings.
Take a look at its quick features below:
What Does High Contrast Mode Do?
High contrast modesignificantly alters the color scheme of your device’s interfaceto improve visibility. This is particularly helpful for users with visual impairments by making text and background elements stand out.
On Windows 10, it can:
Here’s what Microsoft Teams looks like after enabling this setting:
Moreover, on Windows 11 it can:
Here’s Microsoft Word in High Contrast mode:
And here’s the look ofMicrosoft Excel:
What Is Changed in High Contrast Mode?
When you enable this mode, Windows makes the following changes to its user interface and all third-party apps that support Windows accessibility settings:
How To Enable High Contrast Mode
Want to experience high contrast mode? Try the following methods:
Activate High Contrast Mode in Windows 10
Enable Contrast Themes in Windows 11
Customize the Colors of High Contrast Mode
Once you’ve already activated the High Contrast mode on a Windows 10 PC, follow these steps to personalize the theme:
Creating Your Own Contrast Themes on Windows 11
If you have already activated the Contrast themes on your PC, here’s how to create your own one:
High Contrast Mode With Other Accessibility Settings
You can use the following Accessibility or Ease of Access settings with High Contrast mode to further enhance user experience:
Windows Magnifierenlarges a specific area of the screento make it easier to see the content, like text and graphics. You can zoom in and out, and move the magnified area around the screen.
You can customize the default values toadjust the size and blinking behavior of the cursor for better visibility. This can also be helpful if the default blinking rate is too distracting.
It reads through the screen’s content to give you a better understanding if you’re facing visual challenges. You can quickly enable or disable this feature by pressingWindows+Ctrl+Enter.
You can supplement the High Contrast mode in Windows 10 with theMake text biggerandMake everything biggerfeatures in theDisplaysection ofEase of Access.
For Windows 11, you can use theCustom scalingfeature inSystem>Displaymenu.
Summary
So, what does high contrast mode do? In short, it adjusts the visual elements of the UI so that they’re more accessible and readable. I’ve shown you examples of apps in the Windows 10 High Contrast and Windows 11 Contrast Themes modes.
You’ve also learned how to enable and tweak these accessibility settings on compatible devices. In addition, you can adjust andcalibrate the display colors.
Did you tryHigh Contrastor Contrast Themes on your Windows PC? Comment below to share your experience with other readers.
More about the topics:windows 10,Windows 11
Vlad Turiceanu
Windows Editor
Passionate about technology,Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world.
Coming from a solid background in PC building and software development, with a complete expertise in touch-based devices, he is constantly keeping an eye out for the latest and greatest!
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Vlad Turiceanu
Windows Editor
Coming from a solid background in PC building and software development, he’s a Windows 11 Privacy & Security expert.
