Solved Desktop Icon font color change

R

ronspruell

New Member
I need to know how to change the font color from white to black. I clicked on personlize then went to windows color and apperance then Icon but the color change was grayed out. Anyone that knows a work around I really need it. Right now the font color is white but the background I want to use is light which makes the fonts type hard to read when it is white. Changing to black would make all the difference in the world.

Ron Spruell Sr.
 

My Computer

System One

Hi Ron,

Welcome to Vista Forums. :party:

I do not think you can unless you switch to the Windows Classic color scheme.

This might work as an alternative for you though. In the Visual Effects Performance Options, check Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop. This should help make them easier to see.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/75417-visual-effects-options.html

Shawn
 

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runspruel said:
I had almost all of the check boxes unchecked to speed my system up. I did not have transparent unchecked but I did uncheck it and the box for color change on the icons is still grayed out. Microsoft has a long way to go yet. There should be a way to change the font color since they know the background would be changed by users. All I want right now and I did say now is a way to change the font color from white to black even if I have to edit the registry. If this be the Case I will need to know where and what to put in to change the font color. Maybe in the next upgrade or update they will add this little nicety.
Thanks for the help thou.

Ron Spruell Sr.
Click to expand...

Ron,

I found this free little program D-Color XP 1.2 that will you change the desktop icon text or background to whatever color you want them all to be. It was made for XP, but I tested it and it works fine on Vista 32 bit and 64 bit. After you install it and run it, you will see a tray icon. Click on it to change the colors.

Dindo Liboon's Website

Shawn
 

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Thanks Shawn, if nothing else turns up I will give it a try. I just had so much trouble getting upgraded from primium vista to ultimate I really would hate to mess things up.<BG>

Ron Spruell Sr.
 

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LOL, I can understand that. So far I had no problems with it if it helps.

Shawn
 

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    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
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    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Shawn,

I just wanted to thank you for your advice on the desktop font color change for Vista. I used the program and now can actually see the names of all my icons. My desktop changes daily (I know a resource eater, but I like having a new image greeting me everyday), and many have white or very light backgrounds. Now if a background comes up that matches the color I chose its a simple click and its changed. Thanks Again.;)

Bob
 

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You're welcome Bob, and welcome to Vista Forums. :party:

I'm glad to hear that program helped you.

Shawn
 

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    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
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  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
There is actually a trick whereby you can do this. The thing is to change the "colour" of your desktop background (the colour it would show if you're not showing a picture on it)

The easiest way I know to do this is by using firefox (not tried it with other browsers). Basically, open up the image you want to use in firefox (I find all of my desktop backgrounds on the internet anyway), then right click on it and select "Set as desktop background". On the dialog that then shows, choose between Stretch/Tile/Centre and then on the top right there's a selector marked "Colour"
Set this to the colour that MOST RESEMBLES your background, not that which you'd like your text to come up with. So, if you have a dark background, set it to black, if you have a light background then set it to white.
Vista will then change the colour of your icon text accordingly. If you set "Colour" to white, then the text will appear black, and vice versa.

I just tried setting "Colour" to red and the text has stayed white, so maybe this trick will only work for changing the colour from black to white and vice versa. But at least now you can choose a little :)
 

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System One

Go to Control Panel > Personalization > Desktop Background and click "Change background color" which is at the buttom of that screen.. There you should pick white if you want black text and black for white text.. Sorry if anyone mentioned this before me lol im to lazy to read thru the topic..

Have fun..
 

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System One

This will work, but its kind of quirky.
1- Right Click on your desktop and goto Personalize
2- Click on Desktop Background
3- In the location field select "Solid Colors"
4- If you want "Black" text choose the "white" solid color background
5- If you want "White" text choose a "black" background
6- In the location field select "Windows Wallpapers"
7- Choose the Wallpaper you want
8- Your Text should stay the same color it was when you chose you background color in steps 4 or 5.
9- Apply your background changes.

Yes, this is quirky, but it works. Well, at least it works with my Vista Business Setup.
I agree that there should be a place to do this setting and can't believe that Microsoft forgot to let us make a Font Color Setting for the Desktop... I'm sure they will fix it eventually...

Hoping this helps ya all...
Scooter
 

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So glad you posted on this, I was having the same issue. Of all the things to not let users control, the font colour on their desktop..fail :) Thanks for the info guys!
 

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Robert Runyon said:
Shawn,

My desktop changes daily (I know a resource eater, but I like having a new image greeting me everyday), and many have white or very light backgrounds. Bob
Click to expand...

Apologies for being OT, but Robert, what application or setting are you using to change your Desktop daily? I would love to be able to do that!
 

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Thanks for all the advice from everyone regarding fixing this. I found the easiest way to get the background colour changed is to goto:

Control Panel -> Personalization -> Window Color and appearance -> Advanced -> item: desktop color 1 (I set it to white)

Hope this helps other people.
 

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Brink said:
runspruel said:
I had almost all of the check boxes unchecked to speed my system up. I did not have transparent unchecked but I did uncheck it and the box for color change on the icons is still grayed out. Microsoft has a long way to go yet. There should be a way to change the font color since they know the background would be changed by users. All I want right now and I did say now is a way to change the font color from white to black even if I have to edit the registry. If this be the Case I will need to know where and what to put in to change the font color. Maybe in the next upgrade or update they will add this little nicety.
Thanks for the help thou.

Ron Spruell Sr.
Click to expand...

Ron,

I found this free little program D-Color XP 1.2 that will you change the desktop icon text or background to whatever color you want them all to be. It was made for XP, but I tested it and it works fine on Vista 32 bit and 64 bit. After you install it and run it, you will see a tray icon. Click on it to change the colors.

Dindo Liboon's Website

Shawn
Click to expand...

wow thanks for this little program. im using vista 32bit as well . and it works fine too
 

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Hello my apologies, missed a step in the previous msg. Pls see below.

You can customise your desktop fonts, colours etc by doing the following:

1. Right click your desktop and select "Personalization"
2. Click on "Window Color and Appearance"
3. Scroll down and click on "Open classic appearance properties for more color options"
4. Click on "Advanced".
5. Now, say you want to change the font color of your desktop icon, click the tab and scroll to the word "icon". Then you can change the font colour, type etc. using the colour palettes.

Regards,
Time88
 

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I download D-Color XP 1.2, and nothing is happening. I have installed and run the program, set icon colours, and still nothing, not a single change. Im not sure what im doing wrong, and am following all the steps. Could you please help me, as i too have icons that are hard to read.

Regards Cameron
 

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System One

time88 said:
You can customise your desktop fonts, colours etc by doing the following:

1. Right click your desktop and select "Personalization"
2. Click on "Window Color and Appearance"
3. Scroll down and click on "Open classic appearance properties for more color options"
4. Click on "Advanced".
5. Now, say you want to change the font color of your desktop icon, click the tab and scroll to the word "icon". Then you can change the font colour, type etc. using the colour palettes.

Regards,
Time88
Click to expand...

Actually, when you go to Icon, you can change everything EXCEPT the color of the font. You can change the icon size, font type, and font size, but NOT the font color.
 

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THANKS rebdk.....your suggestion was perfect and solved the issue without having to install anything or tweak the registry. :D
 

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