High Contrast Mode is an accessibility feature in Windows designed to make text and visuals easier to see for users with vision difficulties.
If you want to reduce eye strain or make your screen elements stand out, this guide will show you how to turn ON High Contrast Mode in both Windows 10 and Windows 11 — easily and safely.
💡 Introduction
Windows offers several accessibility tools, and High Contrast Mode is one of the most useful ones.
It changes your system’s color scheme to make text, icons, and menus easier to read by improving color contrast.
You can enable this mode manually through Settings or instantly using a keyboard shortcut.
🔹 Step 1: Turn On High Contrast Mode (Windows 10)
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Press Windows + I to open Settings.
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Click on Ease of Access.
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Select High contrast from the left panel.
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Under “Choose a theme,” pick one of the available options such as:
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High Contrast #1
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High Contrast #2
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Desert
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Aquatic
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Click Apply.
✅ Your system will now apply the selected High Contrast theme.
🔹 Step 2: Turn On High Contrast Mode (Windows 11)
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Press Windows + I to open Settings.
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Navigate to Accessibility → Contrast themes.
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From the dropdown, select your preferred contrast theme (e.g., Dusk, Night Sky, or Desert).
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Click Apply.
🪄 Within seconds, your screen will switch to a high-contrast view.
🔹 Step 3: Enable High Contrast Using Shortcut Key
You can also use a quick keyboard shortcut to turn this feature ON or OFF:
Press: Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen
A pop-up will appear asking if you want to enable High Contrast — click Yes.
🔹 Step 4: Customize High Contrast Colors
You can adjust individual colors such as text, background, hyperlinks, or buttons:
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Go to Settings → Ease of Access → High Contrast (Windows 10)
or Settings → Accessibility → Contrast Themes (Windows 11). -
Click Edit under the selected theme.
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Choose custom colors and click Apply.
🎨 Key Features
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Enhances text and icon visibility.
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Reduces eye strain and improves readability.
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Works perfectly on both Windows 10 and 11.
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Quick toggle via shortcut key.
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Fully customizable color themes.
💡 Perfect For
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Users with vision difficulties.
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People working long hours on screens.
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Beginners learning accessibility settings.
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Anyone who wants a bold, high-contrast display theme.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1. What does High Contrast Mode do?
It increases the contrast between text and background to make everything easier to see.
Q2. Can I change colors in High Contrast Mode?
Yes, you can edit the theme colors manually from the settings menu.
Q3. Does High Contrast Mode affect my wallpaper or apps?
It may temporarily disable your wallpaper and adjust app colors to improve readability.
Q4. How can I turn it off again?
Use the same shortcut (Alt + Shift + Print Screen) or switch back to a normal theme in Settings.
Q5. Is this available on Windows 11 too?
Yes! In Windows 11, you’ll find it under Accessibility → Contrast Themes.
