Accent Color Won't Change on Top of Windows

Question

Level 1

10 points

Accent Color Won't Change on Top of Windows

I am using the current version of Catalina on my MacBook Pro. When I go into System Preferences/General to change the accent color the color will change within the System Preferences/General window but it will not apply to the top headers of other windows like Safari (or any other Application).

I have restarted the computer but still no change to the accent color that I selected. All the top headers of Applications stay blue in color, only the accent color within the small System Preferences/General window change when I select a different color. And I just noticed that the color will change also when words are highlighted to cut or copy in Safari.

This isn't a big deal, but I was curious if this might just be something that I am overlooking.

Thanks for any help that you can pass my way.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Aug 17, 2023 5:48 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

chuckbl

Community Specialist

Aug 18, 2023 2:23 PM in response to LJM24

Hello LJM24,

Let's use the steps below to boot your Mac into safe mode to see if that persists from there:

1. Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key as your Mac starts up.

2. Release the key when you see the login window, then log in to your Mac.

3. You might be asked to log in again. On either the first or second login window, you should see ”Safe Boot” in the upper-right corner of the window. If you can't start up in safe mode, make sure that your Mac isn't using a firmware password.

You can also find those steps in this resource: Use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

It can take a few extra minutes to boot into safe mode. Your screen may flash or flicker while in safe mode. Those behaviors are expected. Testing in safe mode runs a check on your disk, removes some cached files, and can help isolate conflicts with startup items. Once you've tested that behavior in safe mode, you can restart to leave safe mode.

Let us know your results, and we'll keep moving forward from there.

Reply

Answer 2

Aug 20, 2023 1:28 PM in response to LJM24

Hi LJM24,

Thanks for letting us know more more, and clarifying the issue.

From here, we'd like to get you in touch with Apple Support, as they'll be in the best position to check into this further. You may be able to reach Apple Support here: Get Support

Thanks!

Reply

Answer 3

LJM24 Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 19, 2023 1:57 PM in response to chuckbl

Hi chuckbl,

Thank you very much for your response. I placed the computer in Safe Mode and the accent headers were all in grey now instead of of blue when the computer is in normal mode (as described in my original inquiry). When in Safe Mode the accent colors within the System Preference/General window itself (not the header) do change as a different accent is selected and accent color for when words are highlighted on a page also change to whatever is selected in the System Preference/General window.

So to summarize, the Accent Color issue acts pretty much the same in Safe Mode and Normal Mode with the only difference that I noticed being that in Normal Mode all accent headers are in blue and in Safe Mode all accent headers are in grey......regardless of what what color is selected within the System Preference/General window.

Thank you for your help.

Reply

Answer 4

faith185

Community Specialist

Aug 19, 2023 2:20 PM in response to LJM24

Hi LJM24,

It sounds like you're referring to the top menu on your display which is not changing highlight color. Right? This may be expected. Changing the accent color will change the color for "buttons, pop-up menus, and other UI controls" as mentioned in Change Appearance settings on Mac - Apple Support.

Your menu highlight color will either be gray or follow the color of your background. You can change this using the Reduce Transparency feature shown in macOS general accessibility features - Apple Support.

It sounds like your Desktop wallpaper may be blue. Right? You can change the Desktop wallpaper using the below guidance from Customize the desktop picture on your Mac - Apple Support.

"On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click Wallpaper in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)"

All the best.

Reply

Answer 5

LJM24 Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 20, 2023 1:14 PM in response to faith185

Hi faith185,

Thank you for your response.

I think that there might be a misunderstanding on what I was looking for regarding the accent color. I am using Catalina OS and when I go to System Preferences/General the first two options to adjust are Appearance and then Accent color. When a different accent color is chosen the new accent color is actually displayed in the little screen pictures that represent Light, Dark and Auto that are listed next to Appearance in the General window of System Preferences. This has worked without problem in the past for changing the accent color on my top page menus, so I am not sure why it stopped working all of a sudden.

I hope this additional information is helpful in clarifying what I am trying to correct.

Thank you very much for your help.

Reply

Accent Color Won't Change on Top of Windows

Similar questions