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The thread discusses how to change the black color of the Windows 10 power menu or related interface elements. Users share various approaches, including personalization settings and high contrast themes, but there is confusion about whether the issue pertains to the power menu or other areas like the desktop background or context menus. Overall, the conversation highlights uncertainty and experimentation among users seeking to customize interface colors, with some indicating that certain options are limited or require advanced adjustments like registry edits.
iuta

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Thread Author #1
Hi !
How to change this black color ?
 

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BIGBEARJEDI
One interesting thought, on the W10 machine I'm writing this (v1511:b10586.29), W10 is not activated, and you cannot change Themes, or backgrounds (wallpapers), or much of anything else unless your W10 is activated. Did you perform an upgrade from an earlier version of Windows (such as Win7 or Win8/8.1)? Was that Windows version licensed? Or did your PC come with W10 pre-installed? If so, your upgrade to W10 should now be also Activated. If you type in "THIS PC" next to the W10 Start Flag in the lower left of your W10 desktop, and click on "Properties", look under "Windows Activation". If not activated, you won't be able to make any changes to your desktop.

However, if your Windows Activation shows "Activated", then you have the...
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MikeHawthorne

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#2
Hi

Try right clicking on the desktop and selecting Personalize.
Then try Color or Themes.

Mike
 
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davehc

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#4
Are you referring to your cut out of the Power menu.? If so, to date, there is no known way. The desktop can be changed by using Mike's path.
 
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MikeHawthorne

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#5
Hi

Mine has black type on a White background, I assumed that it had to do with color selection.

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Maybe we aren't talking about the same thing?
It does seem to be a little different shape.

I thought he was showing the right click menu from the Start button.
It has exactly the same entries on it as the image he linked to.

Where does that menu open from?

Mike

PS. I can only turn mine black with white letters by using a high contrast theme.
 
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davehc

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#6
Hmm. Another MS mystery!

Yes, he is talking about the right click (power) menu. I don't have high contrast myself. All the Windows 10 computers I have encountered so far have a black background. Now you have wound me up. I am going to need to dive into my computer and try and change mine!
 

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AceInfinity

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#7
There is a hidden dark theme that I was going to post above in which requires a registry modification, but it only applies to the settings window and apps. I have not yet updated, but I'm fairly sure that it's an option with the new latest builds of Windows 10 with context menu options. I'm currently installing 10586 via Windows Updates as I post this.

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davehc

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#8
Thanks for the suggestion. I stay away from reg mods. If I cant do it through the settings, then I feel it is best left alone.

Mike. Stranger and stranger. I have just experimented. Mine seems to be the other way around. High contrast (The first time I have ever ventured into that, with Windows 10), gives me the white background, but, unfortunately, I cannot then adjust a few other colours to my liking. Interesting though.
 
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AceInfinity

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#9
I am running build 10586 and it appears that the power menu is black by the settings I currently have. No visible settings added to the personalization menu however so I'm not sure if it has something to do with an existing theme option or not. It's very late however and I need to go to sleep.
 
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MikeHawthorne

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#10
Weird that it's not the same, I don't have any idea what I did to make it white.
As far as I can remember it was always that way.

I'm using a theme with my cars that I created myself, but all I did color wise is pick the basic blue color that I wanted.

Mike
 
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BIGBEARJEDI

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#11
One interesting thought, on the W10 machine I'm writing this (v1511:b10586.29), W10 is not activated, and you cannot change Themes, or backgrounds (wallpapers), or much of anything else unless your W10 is activated. Did you perform an upgrade from an earlier version of Windows (such as Win7 or Win8/8.1)? Was that Windows version licensed? Or did your PC come with W10 pre-installed? If so, your upgrade to W10 should now be also Activated. If you type in "THIS PC" next to the W10 Start Flag in the lower left of your W10 desktop, and click on "Properties", look under "Windows Activation". If not activated, you won't be able to make any changes to your desktop.

However, if your Windows Activation shows "Activated", then you have the ability to change your themes as mentioned above. Haven't tried to change this submenu myself, so I don't know about that yet; but will look into it and report back. Letting us know which state your W10 is in (Activated or Not-Activated) may help us to track down the issue.

P.S. Since things like desktop themes, backgrounds, etc. are linked to W10 desktop, it is an "Active" desktop, which means any changes you make on the "Activated" W10 machine will propagate to all other W10 machines you have. If you could change this submenu to another color, it will be forced to change on automatically on all your other W10 machines as well.

Best,
<<<BIGBEARJEDI>>>
 

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Mike

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#12
Well I'm running 10586.29 and right-clicking on the Start Menu (or Windows Key + X) gives me the black-grey command menu too. I don't think this was a thought when they were changing the context menus, as it is more of a administrative function. They probably want to make sure it renders properly no matter what color scheme has been set? Hmm?
 
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davehc

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#13
I don't think I see it as an issue, for the OP. It just, for the present anyway, cant be done
 
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AceInfinity

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#14
I would really like consistency though. My power context menu is a dark gray, but the regular context menu for anything else related to a right click is still that light control color.
 
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