accent colors Archives

Winsage

December 11, 2025

Your PC, your personality: New themes in Store for you

Microsoft has launched a new Themes department within the Microsoft Store on Windows, allowing users to easily discover and customize their devices with curated themes. The store now features over 400 themes, including more than 35 new additions, such as the Sea of Thieves theme and the World National Parks theme. Users can manage their themes through Windows Settings, and the store also offers various apps for further customization. Microsoft encourages user feedback and contributions through the Feedback Hub and the Theme Publisher Interest Form.

Winsage

August 15, 2025

7 settings Windows 11 should show us during setup instead of all those ads

Setting up a Windows 11 PC can be challenging due to a lengthy installation process and a cluttered out-of-box experience (OOBE) filled with ads and irrelevant settings. Users often wait to access important settings until reaching the desktop. Key features that could improve the initial setup include: - Dark mode and theme options: Introducing theme choices during setup could enhance user satisfaction. - Taskbar alignment: Offering the option to align taskbar icons during setup would allow users to customize their experience from the start. - Start menu layout: Allowing users to choose their preferred Start menu layout during setup would facilitate a smoother transition. - Night light: Enabling the night light feature during setup could improve user comfort and awareness. - Nearby sharing: Including an option to enable discoverability for nearby sharing during setup would encourage its adoption. - Clipboard history: Presenting the option to enable clipboard history during setup would elevate user awareness of this useful feature. - Partially restore backups: Introducing a selective restoration option during setup would enhance user control over what is restored from a previous PC. Overall, incorporating these features into the initial setup could streamline the process and improve user engagement and satisfaction.

Winsage

July 4, 2025

I made Windows 11 look like 10 without tools

Many users wish to replicate the aesthetics of Windows 10 while using Windows 11. Adjustments can be made using built-in settings without additional software: - Start menu alignment: Users can change the Start menu from center to left by navigating to Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar -> Taskbar behaviors. - Classic File Explorer: Users can access the classic File Explorer interface by pressing the Windows key and searching for Windows Tools, then clicking on Home or This PC. - Return app labels: Users can enable app labels on the taskbar by going to Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar -> Taskbar behaviors and selecting Never next to “Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels.” - Always show scrollbars: Users can make scrollbars always visible by navigating to Settings -> Accessibility -> Visual Effects and toggling on the “Always show scrollbars” option. - Change the color scheme: Users can modify the color scheme by going to Settings -> Personalization -> Colors, selecting Custom for “Choose your mode,” and opting for Dark for “Choose your Windows mode.” - Desktop icons: Users can restore legacy desktop icons by navigating to Settings -> Personalization -> Themes and clicking on Desktop icon settings. These adjustments help create a Windows 10-like experience within Windows 11.

Winsage

June 29, 2025

This app makes my Windows 11 PC look like Windows 7 — but it’s not for everyone

Explorer 7 is a customization tool designed to restore the Windows 7 taskbar and Start menu for users of Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11. It allows users to modify accent colors and integrates familiar Windows 7 UI elements, although it lacks the Aero effect in app windows and retains a modern appearance in File Explorer. Setting up Explorer 7 requires registry edits and Windows 7 installation files, with no built-in method to revert changes. Limitations include compatibility issues with UWP apps, lack of support for multiple taskbars on different monitors, and potential inconsistencies with autoplay features. The project is aimed at enthusiasts seeking a Windows 7 experience, but its compatibility with future updates of Windows 10 and 11 may be uncertain.

Winsage

June 24, 2025

Bring the “Windows 10 look” back to Windows 11 — Everything I changed to restore the desktop UI experience

Many users transitioning from Windows 10 to Windows 11 find the new design and interface changes challenging. Windows 11 features a centered Taskbar, a simplified Start menu, and an updated File Explorer and Settings app. Users can customize their Windows 11 experience to resemble Windows 10 by making several adjustments. To align the Taskbar and Start menu to the left, users can go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and select "Left" for Taskbar alignment. To show app labels in the Taskbar, users need to select "Never" for the "Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels" setting in the same menu. For those preferring the classic File Explorer, they can access it by searching for Windows Tools in the Start menu and selecting Home or This PC. Users can also change the color scheme by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors and selecting "Custom" mode, choosing a dark theme, and enabling accent colors for the Start and taskbar. To display classic desktop icons, users can go to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings and check the desired icons. In Notepad, users can disable new features by adjusting settings in the app to revert to a more classic experience. For further customization, third-party tools like ExplorerPatcher and Windhawk can be used. ExplorerPatcher allows users to restore various interface elements from earlier Windows versions, while Windhawk provides a framework for modifying Windows 11 with community-created mods. Both tools can be installed via the Windows Package Manager and offer options to revert to classic aesthetics.

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Google Play Store gets colorful search tab with Material 3 Expressive

The Google Play Store is updating to version 46.5.19, incorporating the Material 3 Expressive design language, which includes a new color palette for category icons in the search tab and improved clarity in sections like Explore apps and Explore games. This update is part of a broader initiative that also affects other Google applications, such as Gmail, which will feature a new look with accent colors in the search bar, bottom navigation bar, and compose button. The compose button will have a more prominent font and updated icon, contributing to a modern card-style layout in Gmail.

AppWizard

May 17, 2025

Pixelify Your Android Smartphone with This Wallpaper App

Doodle is a Java-based open-source wallpaper application developed by Patrick Zedler, featuring the original Doodle wallpaper collection from the Pixel 4 and unreleased Material You static wallpapers from the Pixel 6. The app allows users to explore wallpapers organized into three categories, select variants, add accent colors, set daily random wallpapers, and toggle night mode. Doodle includes three live wallpapers with interactive features like "Swipe" and "Tilt" effects. Users can customize live wallpaper animations and app color themes through various settings. During testing on a Samsung smartphone with Android 14, some features like the "Swipe" effect and Accent Colors were non-functional due to compatibility issues with the default launcher. The app's live wallpaper occasionally malfunctioned during the lock/unlock process, and transitioning between light and dark modes required relaunching the app. The source code is available on GitHub under GPLv3 licensing, and the app can be downloaded from F-Droid and the Play Store.

AppWizard

December 20, 2024

Android Auto 13.4 update rolling out, adds colorful flare with Material You accents [Gallery]

Google is rolling out Android Auto version 13.4, which incorporates its Material You design language, enhancing the visual experience with vibrant accent colors that align with users' phone settings. This update applies new accent colors to various system elements such as buttons, toggles, and backgrounds of cards and menus, extending functionality beyond music applications. Users can see these changes in the Settings menu, notifications, and notification center, but the feature does not yet apply to third-party apps. To experience the new color scheme, users must enable the setting that matches the phone’s wallpaper. There are reports of inconsistencies, with some colors not updating in real-time, necessitating a force stop of the app and reconnection to see the changes.