Changing the background of the Select File dialog box

[peifla]

This has been a problem for years with countless people complaining about it yet there seems to be no viable solution.  Certainly no options open to us to alter the color of this within Autocad.  I can change virtually every other item within the package except this one.  There used to be a solution through windows years ago but when windows released 10, the solution seems to have disappeared.

For the love of God....    either change the background so we can read it without squinting or give us an easy way to customize it.  This isn't some occasional problem.  This is a constant problem we face every freaking DAY.

[DGRL]

Hi @peifla

What was the solution for Windows 7?

[peifla]

It was within Window Personalization. An option to change background color. That no longer is an option in 10. You can google the problem and quickly find the outdated solution. I need a solution updated for today.

[DGRL]

The reason i was asking this is too trigger you to look at the Windows 7 solution.
That solution is STILL AVAILABLE in Win 10 and still working with new versions of ACAD

[peifla]

Really? Because I followed the directions exactly and there was no option for changing background color. I could change the overall color but that had no effect on Autocad. Perhaps you could include a screenshot of where in the Windows options you found it so I can replicate your path?

[peifla]

See attachment....

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Change-c...

[jwhite]

Are you talking about the screen area in beige in the image below?

That color can be changed in Windows 10 with a registry hack:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Colors/Window. I also set InfoWindow but it may not be necessary. Just set the RGB values of the color you like. This works after a boot up but reverts to white if your system goes to sleep. You have to reboot to get the color back. This changes the background window color for Notepad and many other programs but unfortunately, it does not work with File Explorer.

[peifla]

No, the grey bar on the left where the folders are listed in white.  the lettering is so close to the background color that it's difficult to read.

I appreciate your help but you seem to be unaware of the ongoing problem posted by countless users.  As for using a registry change to accomplish this, I will not be permitted access to the registry to modify it.  Our I.T. people would have a stroke if they thought I was even contemplating such a thing.

[pendean]

---

@peifla wrote:

No, the grey bar on the left where the folders are listed in white.  the lettering is so close to the background color that it's difficult to read.

I appreciate your help but you seem to be unaware of the ongoing problem posted by countless users..

---

Sadly you did not help us help you by providing any images or a more detailed explanation: I can find websites that complain about a lot of things, but most of us don't go out looking for them nor are we familiar with all the issues everyone else has.  It took several replies to finally get at what your issue exactly is for example.

Please consider upgrading your descriptions with more detail and with screenshots moving forward: that way everyone will know what you are talking about instead of trying to guess.

TIA

[peifla]

When trying to open a file in AutoCad, there is a dialog box that opens with folders in a bar/column on the left of the dialog box. Those folders are yellow. The text beneath each folder is white. The background is a grey-blue. The white text against the grey-blue background is very hard to read. If one were to google "how to change the background color of the select file dialog box in autocad, one would see a host of websites that address this question. Nearly all of the responses are dating back several years and generations of Autocad and Windows. Those solutions refer to a fix that is no longer an option in Windows.
I'm looking for a solution to this problem that deals with current versions of Autocad and Windows.
Is that specific and descriptive enough? I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I hope this helps you to understand the question and problem now. Thanks for your help (assuming you can!).

[DGRL]

Hi @peifla @pendean @jwhite

As far as i understand you want to change the color from white to black for example 

See my 2 attachments (white and black and i work on win 10)

If this is what you want then enable High contrast theme.

This enables you to change these colors

[DGRL]

@peifla

If you do not want to use the high contrast theme then update win 10 too latest edition

Enabling the Dark Theme in File Explorer and Windows 10

If you want to start using the new Dark Theme in File Explorer, make sure you are using the latest Windows Insider build, and then go into Settings, then Personalization, and finally Colors. Under the Colors settings screen will be an option labeled "Choose your default app mode" with "Light" and "Dark" options.

Once you enable the "Dark" option, Windows will automatically enable it and the Dark Theme will be enabled in all support applications and interfaces, including in File Explorer.

[peifla]

I followed the directions and changed to "Dark" in both AutoCAD and Windows.  Still have the grey-blue bar.  Everything else changed though.  LOL

[DGRL]

Hi @peifla

You mean grey blue bar in Autocad?

If i use the high contrast theme see previous post (white and black ) it changes for me.

Weird it does not change at your side

Need some time to overthink this

[peifla]

Yes!

[Anonymous]

I see the last post is nearly a year old. Did this ever get solved?

I'm in the same boat - Windows 10 theme changes everything but the grey/blue quick access bar. FWIW - we just recently upgraded to Win 10 and it was my impression that the quick access bar was easier to read at first - probably darker background. That seemed to have changed to the barely readable version below after a few days.

[legrand_design]

Here's a very late response to this subject, but...

This particular background color can be changed in the Windows 10 registry:

1)  Enter REGEDIT at your Start Run

2)  Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

3)  Double click Inactive Title

4) Change the RGB setting to your liking.  I prefer 38 91 143

Cheers

[legrand_design]

… And to add to the above message, you must do a system restart to see any change.

[akhamo]

This worked but next time I restarted the system it went back to the original color

Thanks

[jasonrudasill]

2022 and still the same problem. I have a hard time seeing the white text against the grey/blue background as well.
The registry fix only works till the machine is rebooted and then it reverts back to the original color scheme. How do we get the registry to retain the settings?