Desktop Icon Font Color - How do I change the font color of the text that describes desktop icons?

Anonymous
2010-02-18T11:16:49+00:00

I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit. How do I change the font color that describes the desktop icons?

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Anonymous
2010-02-18T11:56:09+00:00

I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit. How do I change the font color that describes the desktop icons?

Hi

You cannot change the Desktop font color.

Because Desktop wallpaper images have varying colors, it is easy for the font colors to be unreadable if they are on top of the same color as a wallpaper image. For instance a black font on top of a dark part of the background image or a white font on a white part of a background image.

The Desktop icon fonts are dynamic and will show white on dark backgrounds and change to white with a black shadow effect on a light background.

Hope this helps.

Thank You for using Windows 7


Ronnie Vernon MVP

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-05-06T02:01:03+00:00

    I do not have a popup that says CHANGE WINDOWS COLORS AND METRICS

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-09-26T10:39:29+00:00

    Sorry Mr. Vernon - my copy of WIndows 7 doesn't seem to be acting as you described (hence the need for this post). I have changed to a VERY light screen background, yet my desktop font text remains white - rendering them useless. Granted Im on a corporate machine governed by group policy, and I am unsure if they've controlled this aspect of windows or not, but if no changes were made to this spoecific feature, Windows 7 isn't cutting the mustard.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-01-16T13:14:00+00:00

    Its lovely that you are so instent that this solves everyone's problems, but it does not take into account everyone.  I can read the above with no problem, but the family member who uses this pc cannot.  The sections where the text passes over transitions or where white text is on a very light or white background, it is very difficult for my loved one to read.  Yes, this is a problem with vision, and was easily enough compensated for in older versions of windows...removing the ability to change font color may have made fewer choices and therefore "easier," is not better for all.  However it is all we have and a few complaints won't change an OS, so we'll live with it or revert to XP.  thanks for your input.

    Erik

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-10-24T05:37:25+00:00

    I've also had difficulty with this auto-coloring "feature" not working well with my chosen backgrounds, even when Im using themes downloaded from Microsoft.  i understand why developers try to automate things for the average user, but it frustrates me when power-user controls are taken away.  Sure, put in a default automatic setting, but leave me the option to make manual changes to adjust the OS to my liking.  It will improve my user experience and over-all satisfaction with the OS.

    Thank you for this tip.  This is exactly what I was looking for.  Now I can read my icon texts.

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