The main cause is the system’s mode setting, with other causes including problems from third-party tools like ExplorerPatcher or Wallpaper Engine.
1. Revert to the Default Windows Theme
The taskbar color issue could be a temporary glitch in the display module. You can often clear it by switching back to the default Windows theme.
2. Update Windows of Your System to the Latest Build
Microsoft regularly adds features and fixes bugs through updates. If Windows isn’t up to date, you may experience this problem. Updating to the latest build may resolve it.
3. Change the Color of the Taskbar After Enabling/Disabling Different System Options
Starting with Windows 10 version 1903, Microsoft changed how taskbar colors work. Follow these steps to set it up correctly.
4. Reset the Graphics Settings of Your System to Defaults
If your graphics settings are misconfigured, Windows may not apply color changes correctly. Resetting your graphics settings to their defaults can help.
4.1. AMD
4.2. NVIDIA
4.3. Intel
After resetting the graphics settings, restart your system and check if you can change the taskbar color.
5. Remove Conflicting Applications
Customization apps can override Windows settings and prevent the taskbar color from changing. Uninstalling conflicting apps may resolve the issue. One known example is Stardock Start10. If you do not want to uninstall Stardock Start10 (or similar apps), explore its settings to disable features that control taskbar colors, which may be blocking Windows from changing them.
6. Use the High Contrast Mode
If the taskbar color still won’t change, switching to High Contrast mode can sometimes produce the desired effect.
7. Delete the Personalization Registry Key
If none of the above worked, deleting the related registry key may help.
8. Use Another User Account
A corrupt user profile can also prevent color changes. Using another account (either the built-in Administrator or by creating a new user account) may solve the problem.
9. Reset Windows of Your System to the Defaults
If none of the solutions worked, your Windows installation might be corrupted. In that case, reset Windows to its defaults. Hopefully, this will resolve the taskbar color issue. If the issue persists, you may need 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 taskbar color.
