How to disable transparency effects on Windows 11
Yes, it’s possible to disable the transparency effects on Windows 11, and in this guide, we’ll show you three ways to do it.
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On Windows 11, the desktop elements like the Taskbar and Start menu, and some apps like the Settings app, use a new transparent base layer that uses the Mica material part of the Microsoft Fluent Design language. The new material lets the background shine through using a blur technique without affecting performance or battery life and falls back to a solid color when the app is not in focus.
Although the new transparency makesWindows 11look fresh and modern, it is not a feature that everyone wants. If this describes you, there are thankfully at least three ways to disable the effect and use a solid background color using the Settings app and Registry.
In this Windows 11 guide, we will walk you through the steps to enable and disable the transparency effects.
How to disable system transparency on Windows 11
On the Settings app, you can disable the transparency effects in two ways using the Colors and Visual Effects settings.
Disable effect using Colors settings
To disable transparency via the Colors settings page, use these steps:
Disable effect using Accessibility settings
To disable transparency via the Accessibility settings page, follow these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the Taskbar, Notification Center, Quick Settings, the Settings app, the Start menu, and other elements will no longer appear with the blur effect.
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How to enable system transparency on Windows 11
You also enable the visual effects through the “Colors” and “Visual effects” settings.
Enable effect using Colors settings
To enable transparency on Windows 11, use these steps:
Enable effect using Accessibility settings
To enable transparency effects with the Accessibility settings, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the transparency effect will enable across the desktop.
If the visual effects are not available, even after turning on the settings, the video driver could be a problem. In this case, it’s recommended you update the video driver to the latest version or reinstall the current version of the driver.
How to disable system transparency using Registry
To disable the blur effect of desktop elements on Windows 11 with the Registry, use these steps:
Warning:This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky and can cause irreversible damage to your installation if you don’t do it correctly. Before proceeding, it’s recommended to make afull backup of your PC.
Once you complete the steps, the Mica transparency effect will be disabled on the system.
How to enable system transparency using Registry
To enable visual transparency effects with the Registry, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, elements on the desktop should now show the transparent visual effect.
More Windows resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
