The user encounters the issue usually after a Windows update, when he tries to change the color of his taskbar (either the relevant options are greyed out/missing or changes do not take effect) or the taskbar automatically changes to odd colors (without user intervention). For some of the users who were able to change the color, the taskbar reverted to the odd colors after a short time. Before moving on with the solutions to fix the taskbar color, restart your system to rule out any temporary glitch. Moreover, make sure you are using an activated version of Windows as you can personalize Windows if you are using an inactivated version. Furthermore, check if your system is not in tablet mode.
Solution 1: Revert to the Default Windows Theme
The taskbar color issue could be a temporary glitch of the display module. The glitch can be cleared by reverting to the default Windows theme.
Solution 2: Update Windows of Your System to the Latest Build
Microsoft is continuously working to make Windows better by adding new features to it and patching its known bugs. You may encounter the error at hand if you have not updated the Windows to the latest build. In this context, updating Windows of your system to the latest build may solve the problem.
Solution 3: Change the Color of the Taskbar After Enabling/Disabling Different System Options
Starting from Windows 10 version 1903, Microsoft has altered the process of changing the color of your taskbar. Follow the under mentioned steps to check if you can change the color of the taskbar.
Solution 4: Reset the Graphics Settings of Your System to Defaults
You may fail to change the color of the taskbar of your system if its graphics settings are misconfigured. In this case, resetting the graphics to their defaults may solve the problem.
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After resetting the graphics settings, restart your system and then check if you can change the color of the taskbar.
Solution 5: Remove Conflicting Applications
Many Windows users tend to use different applications to control the appearance and feel of their systems. Some of these applications may restrict users from changing the color of the taskbar through the Windows Settings. In this case, uninstalling these conflicting applications may solve the problem. One such application known to create the issue is Stardock Start10. If you do not want to uninstall Stardock Start10 (or similar applications), then try to dig out the features (e.g. disabled color change) restricting you from changing the color of the taskbar.
Solution 6: Use the High Contrast Mode
If you still cannot change the color of the taskbar of your system, then using the high contrast mode to get the desired effect may solve the problem.
Solution 7: Delete the Personalization Registry Key
If trying the solutions mentioned above did not solve the taskbar color issue, then deleting the relevant registry key may solve the problem. Warning: Proceed at your own risk as editing registry requires a certain level of expertise and if not done properly, you may cause everlasting damage to your system and data.
Solution 8: Use Another User Account
You may fail to change the color of the taskbar if your user profile is corrupt. In this case, using another account (either a built-in administrator account or creating another user account) may solve the problem.
Solution 9: Reset Windows of Your System to the Defaults
If none of the solutions was able in sorting out the issue for you, then the issue could be a result of the corrupt installation of your system’s Windows. In this case, reset the Windows of your system to the defaults and hopefully, the taskbar color issue is resolved. If the issue is still there, then either you have to perform a clean installation of Windows or use a 3rd party application (like TranslucentTB, Taskbowfree, Winaero’s Personalization Panel for Windows 10, Classic Shell, or Winaero Tweaker) to change the color of the taskbar.
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