UWP (Universal Windows Platform) apps have a default background color that can be changed by the user. Although this feature is deprecated in Windows 10, it still works for apps that were designed for Windows 8.x. This article will cover the key concepts of changing the app background color in Windows 8.x and how to do it through the registry.
Understanding App Background Color in Windows 8.x
The app background color in Windows 8.x is controlled by the registry. The default color is purple violet, but users can change it to their liking. The registry key associated with the app background color is:
HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AccentThis key contains a subkey called AccentColor that holds the hexadecimal value of the current app background color. The value is a 32-bit number, where the lower 24 bits represent the color itself, and the highest 8 bits are unused.
How to Change the App Background Color
To change the app background color, you need to modify the value of the AccentColor subkey. Here are the steps:
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
- Type
regeditand press Enter to open the Registry Editor. - Navigate to the key
HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent. - Modify the value of the
AccentColorsubkey to the desired color. Hexadecimal color codes can be found online. - Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Code Example
Here's an example of how to change the app background color using PowerShell:
Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Accent' -Name AccentColor -Value 0x123456In this example, the value of the AccentColor subkey is set to 0x123456, which is a dark blue color. The highest 8 bits of the value are set to 0, but they can be set to any value between 0 and 255.
Important Considerations
When changing the app background color, keep the following considerations in mind:
- The registry key may not exist on some systems, so you need to check for its existence before modifying its value.
- The color value is a 32-bit number, where the lower 24 bits represent the color and the highest 8 bits are unused. Make sure to use a valid hexadecimal value when modifying the key.
- Restarting the computer is necessary for the changes to take effect.
Changing the app background color in Windows 8.x is a straightforward process that involves modifying the registry. Although the feature is deprecated in Windows 10, it still works for apps designed for Windows 8.x. By understanding the key concepts and following the steps outlined in this article, you can change the app background color to your liking.