The Creators Update for Windows 10 adds new option to choose a custom accent color. Before the Windows 10 Creators Update, you were able to change the accent color to make your experience a little more personal. However, Windows 10 only included a limited number of colors that you can choose from.

You’re able to use Control Panel’s Color and Appearance to customize color accent, but the OS removed this option with the Anniversary Update. Also, there was a workaround that involved editing the Registry, but it wasn’t practical, and it didn’t work for many users.

Fortunately, on “Windows 10 version 1703”, Microsoft is introducing a new color pickers to set any accent color you want to see throughout the OS, and there is even an option to select a custom color when setting a solid color as background on your desktop.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to choose a custom accent color on Windows 10, and how to set a custom color when setting a solid color desktop background.

  • How to set a custom accent color
  • How to set a custom solid color desktop background

How to set a custom accent color

To set a custom accent color on Windows 10, do the following:

  • Open Settings.
  • Click on Personalization.
  • Click on Colors.
  • Under “Windows colors”, click the Custom color button.
  • Custom color settings
  • Select the color you want using the color picker.
  • Choose a custom accent color
  • See the “Color preview” to get a glimpse of how the new color choice will look.
  • If you know exactly the color you want to use, click the More button, and enter the RGB or HSV color you want.
  • Specific RGB/HSV custom color settings
  • Click the Done button to complete the task.

Once you completed the steps, you’ll see your new custom color in the Taskbar, Start menu, windows, and throughout the OS.

Open Settings.

Click on Personalization.

Click on Colors.

Under “Windows colors”, click the Custom color button.

Custom color settings

Select the color you want using the color picker.

Choose a custom accent color

See the “Color preview” to get a glimpse of how the new color choice will look.

If you know exactly the color you want to use, click the More button, and enter the RGB or HSV color you want.

Specific RGB/HSV custom color settings

Click the Done button to complete the task.

The only caveat is that even though you can virtually pick any color, Windows 10 won’t let you pick certain colors, because they may be hard to read or not supported.

How to set a custom solid color desktop background

On the Windows 10 Creators Update, it’s also possible to pick a custom for your desktop background, which is something that wasn’t possible in previous versions.

To choose a custom solid desktop background, do the following:

  • Open Settings.
  • Click on Personalization.
  • Click on Background.
  • Under “Background”, select Solid color.
  • Click the Custom color button.
  • Custom color for desktop background
  • Select the color you want using the color picker.
  • Pick custom background color
  • See the “Color preview” to get a glimpse of how the new color choice will look.
  • If you know exactly the color you want to use, click the More button, and enter RGB or HSV color.
  • Click the Done button to complete the task.

Once you completed the steps, your new custom color will appear on your desktop. Unlike using a custom accent color, you can pick any color you want for your desktop background.

Click on Background.

Under “Background”, select Solid color.

Click the Custom color button.

Custom color for desktop background

Pick custom background color

If you know exactly the color you want to use, click the More button, and enter RGB or HSV color.

If you can’t add a custom accent color on your device, it’s probably because you’re not yet running the Windows 10 Creators Update, which is set to release in mid-April 2017.

Originally published on March 2017, updated on April 2017.