Change UWP app background color in Windows 8.x

In Windows 8.x, there is an AppBackgroundColor registry that determines the default background color for applications. By default, this color is a purple-violet hue. However, this setting is deprecated in Windows 10, but it still works for some apps.

Here's a detailed explanation of the AppBackgroundColor registry and how it works in Windows 8.x:

AppBackgroundColor Registry

The AppBackgroundColor registry is a setting that determines the default background color for applications in Windows 8.x. The registry key is located at:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalization

Under this key, there are two DWORD values: AppsUseLightTheme and AppsUseTranslucency. The AppsUseLightTheme value determines whether the app uses a light or dark theme, while the AppsUseTranslucency value determines whether the app uses translucency effects.

The AppBackgroundColor value is a DWORD value that specifies the RGB value of the default background color for applications. The RGB value is a 32-bit integer that represents the red, green, and blue components of the color. The range for each component is 0 to 255.

For example, the default purple-violet background color in Windows 8.x is represented by the RGB value 0x660099. This value corresponds to the hexadecimal color code #423C63.

Changing the AppBackgroundColor

To change the AppBackgroundColor in Windows 8.x, you can modify the AppBackgroundColor value in the Personalization key under the Themes key in the registry.

Here's an example of how to change the AppBackgroundColor to a custom color using the Registry Editor:

1. Open the Registry Editor by typing regedit in the Start menu search box and pressing Enter.

2. Navigate to the following key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalization
   

3. Right-click on an empty area in the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

4. Name the new value AppBackgroundColor.

5. Double-click on the AppBackgroundColor value and enter the RGB value of your custom color. For example, to set the background color to red, enter the RGB value 0xFF0000.

6. Click OK to save the changes.

7. Close the Registry Editor.

After making these changes, the background color of applications in Windows 8.x will be updated to the new color you specified.

Deprecated in Windows 10

In Windows 10, the AppBackgroundColor registry setting is deprecated. Microsoft recommends using the AppCompatFlags registry key to enable the legacy AppCompat mode for apps that require it.

However, it's still possible to change the background color of some apps in Windows 10 using the AppBackgroundColor registry setting. This is because some apps still use the legacy AppCompat mode, even though it's deprecated.

Summary

In Windows 8.x, the AppBackgroundColor registry determines the default background color for applications. The AppBackgroundColor value is a DWORD value that specifies the RGB value of the default background color. To change the AppBackgroundColor, you can modify the AppBackgroundColor value in the Personalization key under the Themes key in the registry. In Windows 10, the AppBackgroundColor registry setting is deprecated, but it still works for some apps that use the legacy AppCompat mode.

References

• AppBackgroundColor registry key
• Personalization registry key
• AppCompatFlags registry key
• Changing the AppBackgroundColor in Windows 8.x
• AppBackgroundColor registry in Windows 10