How to Fix Weird Colors and Inverted Colors on Windows 10

If you’re experiencing strange color issues on your Windows 10 computer, such as faded colors, inverted colors, or a blue and green mix-up, don’t worry – there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to fix the problem. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of restoring your display’s color settings to their default state and troubleshooting any color-related issues you may encounter.

Check Your Display Settings

The first step in fixing color issues on your Windows 10 PC is to check your display settings. Here’s how to access the Color Management window and select your default display profile:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and go to Settings.
2. In the Settings window, go to System.
3. Scroll down and go to Advanced display settings.
4. If you have multiple displays, select the display where the visual color is not working properly. If it’s not working properly on all your displays, select them one by one from the drop-down menu.
5. Go to Display adapter properties for display one.
6. Click on Color Management.
7. In the Color Management dialog box, make sure your display is selected (not a printer).
8. Go to Advanced options and ensure that the System default is selected in all cases.
9. Click on Change system defaults.
10. In the Advanced tab, select “Use Windows display calibration” and close all windows.

It may take 15-20 minutes for Windows to calibrate your display to its original colors. Repeat these steps for each display and restart your system after calibrating each one.

Disable High Contrast Mode

If you’ve enabled high contrast mode on your Windows 10 PC, it can cause color issues. Here’s how to disable it:

1. Press Windows I to open the Windows Settings.
2. Go to Personalization and click on Background.
3. Scroll down and click on High contrast settings.
4. Turn off “Use high contrast”.

Your Windows operating system should now return to its original state.

Update Your Graphics Card Drivers

Outdated or corrupted graphics card drivers can also cause color issues on your Windows 10 PC. Here’s how to update your drivers:

1. Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the “Display adapters” section.
3. Right-click on your graphics card and select “Update driver”.
4. Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software” and follow the on-screen instructions.

If you’re still experiencing issues, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling your graphics card drivers.

Use the Magnifier Tool

The Magnifier tool in Windows 10 can sometimes cause color issues. Here’s how to disable it:

1. Press Windows I to open the Windows Settings.
2. Go to Ease of Access and click on Magnifier.
3. Turn off the Magnifier tool.

If the color issues persist, you can try disabling other accessibility features in the Ease of Access settings.

Check Your Graphics Card Settings

Your graphics card settings can also affect the color output on your Windows 10 PC. Here’s how to check your settings:

1. Right-click on your desktop and select your graphics card’s settings (e.g., NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings).
2. Navigate to the color settings and ensure that the color depth and resolution are set correctly for your display.
3. Try adjusting the color settings and see if it resolves the issue.

If you’re unsure about the correct settings for your display, consult your monitor’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.

Check Your Registry

In some cases, a corrupted registry entry can cause color issues on your Windows 10 PC. Here’s how to check your registry:

1. Press Windows R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit” and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors
4. Check if any of the values (e.g., “ActiveBorder”, “Background”, “ButtonFace”) have incorrect values.
5. If you find any incorrect values, try resetting them to their default values or consult an expert for further assistance.

Be cautious when editing the registry, as making incorrect changes can cause serious issues with your system.

Try Running Windows in Safe Mode

If the color issues are caused by a third-party application or driver, you can try running Windows in Safe Mode to isolate the problem. Here’s how:

1. Press Windows I to open the Windows Settings.
2. Go to Update & Security and click on Recovery.
3. Under “Advanced startup”, click on “Restart now”.
4. In the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.
5. Select Advanced options and then Startup Settings.
6. Click on Restart.
7. In the Startup Settings screen, press the F4 key to start Windows in Safe Mode.

If the color issues are resolved in Safe Mode, it indicates that a third-party application or driver is causing the problem. You can try uninstalling recently installed applications or updating drivers to resolve the issue.

Perform a System Restore

If none of the above methods work, you can try performing a System Restore to revert your Windows 10 PC to a previous state where the color settings were working correctly. Here’s how:

1. Press Windows R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “rstrui” and press Enter to open the System Restore utility.
3. Click on “Next” and select a restore point that was created before the color issues started.
4. Click on “Next” and then “Finish” to begin the restoration process.

Keep in mind that performing a System Restore will revert your system to a previous state, which may undo any recent changes or installations you’ve made.