How to Choose a Custom Color for Your Start Menu

Your Start menu is the hub of your Windows experience. It’s the launchpad for your apps, your settings, and sometimes even your daily routine. So why settle for the default look when you can personalize it to match your style?

Customizing the color of your Start menu is a simple way to make your desktop feel more like your desktop. Here’s how to pick a color that works for both form and function.

Step 1: Understand Where Colors Show Up

When you customize your Start menu color in Windows, you’re also affecting a few other UI elements:

• The Start menu background
• Taskbar
• Action center
• Title bars (optional)

So whatever color you choose, know that it might apply to more than just the menu.

Step 2: Go to Personalization Settings

1. Right-click on your desktop and select Personalize.
2. In the left sidebar, click on Colors.
3. Scroll down to “Choose your accent color”.

From here, you can either:

• Pick from Windows’ preset swatches.
• Let Windows auto-select a color based on your wallpaper.
• Or—what we’re focused on—choose a custom color.

Click on Custom color to open the color picker.

Step 3: Pick a Color That Works for You

Here’s where it gets personal. You can drag around the color wheel, enter an exact RGB or HEX value, or adjust the brightness. But before you lock it in, ask yourself:

• Is it easy on the eyes? Neon green might look cool at first, but it gets old fast.
• Does it contrast well? Your Start menu still needs to be readable. Dark text on a dark background (or light on light) isn’t helpful.
• Does it match your overall theme? If you have a minimalist black-and-white desktop, maybe avoid something loud and flashy. Or do the opposite if that’s your vibe.

Pro tip: Deep blues, muted purples, and grays tend to look clean and professional while still adding personality.

Step 4: Apply It Everywhere (or Not)

Below the color picker, you’ll see options to apply your custom color to:

• Start, taskbar, and action center
• Title bars and window borders

You can toggle these depending on how bold or subtle you want your color scheme to be.

Step 5: Switch Between Light and Dark Mode

Custom colors look different depending on your mode:

• In Light mode, brighter colors might feel too harsh.
• In Dark mode, some colors can get lost.

Try switching modes (Settings → Personalization → Colors → Choose your default app mode) to see which combination looks best.

Final Tips

• Don’t overthink it. If you don’t love your color, you can change it in seconds.
• Save your favorite color codes so you can come back to them later.
• Experiment. Your desktop is one of the few places where you can express your style without breaking anything.

In short: Choosing a custom Start menu color is one of the easiest ways to take control of your digital space. Make it look sharp, keep it readable, and don’t be afraid to change it up when your mood or setup changes.

Want to see more desktop customization tips? Drop a comment or check out our other guides.