Customize Your Browsing: Enable Page Colors in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11

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Microsoft Edge, the modern web browser developed by Microsoft, offers a range of features designed to enhance user experience and accessibility. Among these features is “Page colors,” a native tool that allows users to modify the color scheme of webpages. This functionality is particularly beneficial for individuals who experience visual discomfort or difficulty reading text on brightly lit or stark white backgrounds. By enabling Page colors, users can select from a palette of color schemes to customize the appearance of web content, making browsing sessions more comfortable and reducing eye strain. This article will guide you through the process of enabling and utilizing the Page colors feature within Microsoft Edge on a Windows 11 operating system.

Understanding Page Colors in Microsoft Edge¶

The Page colors feature in Microsoft Edge is designed to improve readability and provide a more personalized browsing experience. It allows users to override the default color schemes of websites and apply a consistent color filter across all web pages. This is especially useful in scenarios where a website’s color scheme is not ideal for a user’s visual preferences or accessibility needs. Unlike browser extensions that might offer similar functionality, Page colors is a built-in feature, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance within the Edge browser. By default, this feature is disabled, but it can be easily activated and customized through the browser’s settings. Understanding how to access and configure Page colors empowers users to take control of their visual browsing environment.

Default Behavior and Customization Options¶

Initially, the Page colors feature in Microsoft Edge is deactivated. When enabled, its default behavior is to apply color schemes only when a high-contrast theme is active in Windows. This is intended to complement the operating system’s accessibility settings, providing a consistent high-contrast experience. However, Microsoft Edge provides the flexibility to decouple Page colors from the Windows high-contrast theme. Users can adjust the settings so that Page colors are always applied, regardless of the system-wide theme. This customization allows for a more tailored browsing experience, catering to individual preferences and specific viewing conditions. Furthermore, Edge offers a selection of pre-defined color schemes, including Night Sky, Desert, White, and Dusk, each designed to provide a different visual tone and contrast level. Users can experiment with these options to find the scheme that best suits their needs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Enable Page Colors¶

Enabling and customizing Page colors in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11 is a straightforward process. By following these steps, you can quickly adjust your browser’s color settings to enhance your web browsing experience.

Step 1: Ensure Microsoft Edge is Up-to-Date¶

Before proceeding, it is crucial to ensure that your Microsoft Edge browser is updated to the latest version. Browser updates often include new features, performance improvements, and bug fixes, which can be essential for the proper functioning of features like Page colors. To update Edge, click on the three horizontal dots (ellipsis) located in the top-right corner of the browser window. Navigate to “Help and feedback” and then select “About Microsoft Edge.” The browser will automatically check for updates and install them if available. After the update process is complete, it is recommended to relaunch the browser to ensure all changes are properly applied. Restarting the browser after an update ensures that all new features and functionalities are correctly loaded and ready for use.

Step 2: Access the Settings Menu¶

To access the Page colors settings, you first need to open the main settings menu in Microsoft Edge. The quickest way to do this is by using the keyboard shortcut Alt + F. Pressing these keys simultaneously will open the Edge menu. Alternatively, you can click on the ellipsis icon (three horizontal dots) located in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the dropdown menu that appears, locate and select the “Settings” option. Clicking on “Settings” will open a new tab within Edge, displaying the browser’s configuration options. This settings page is the central hub for customizing various aspects of the browser’s behavior and appearance.

Step 3: Navigate to the Accessibility Category¶

Within the Edge Settings page, you will notice a sidebar on the left-hand side containing various categories of settings. To find the Page colors options, you need to locate and click on the “Accessibility” category. Accessibility settings are designed to make browsing easier and more user-friendly for everyone, including those with visual impairments or specific viewing preferences. Clicking on “Accessibility” will load the relevant settings options in the main pane of the settings tab. This section consolidates features related to visual aids, text scaling, and other adjustments that enhance browser usability for a wide range of users.

Step 4: Locate the Page Colors Section¶

Once you are in the Accessibility settings, scroll down the page until you find the “Page colors” section. This section is specifically dedicated to configuring the color scheme adjustments for webpages. It typically contains options to enable or disable the feature, choose color schemes, and manage site exclusions. The “Page colors” section is usually visually distinct, often grouped under a clear heading or within a dedicated panel within the Accessibility settings. Identifying this section is key to proceeding with the customization of webpage colors.

Step 5: Disable High Contrast Theme Dependency (Optional)¶

By default, the option “Only apply page colors when high contrast themes are on” is enabled. This means that Page colors will only be active when you are using a high-contrast theme in Windows. If you want to use Page colors regardless of your Windows theme, you need to disable this option. To do this, simply toggle the switch next to “Only apply page colors when high contrast themes are on” to the “Off” position. Disabling this option ensures that Page colors are always applied based on your chosen color scheme, even when you are using a standard Windows theme. This provides greater control and flexibility over when and how Page colors are utilized.

Step 6: Select a Color Scheme¶

Now, you can choose your preferred color scheme from the “Page colors” dropdown menu. Click on the dropdown menu to reveal the available options. Microsoft Edge offers four pre-defined color schemes:

• Night Sky: This scheme typically applies a dark background with light text, mimicking a dark mode appearance. It is often favored for reducing eye strain in low-light environments and is beneficial for nighttime browsing.
• Desert: The Desert scheme usually features a warm, earthy tone, such as a sepia or beige background with darker text. This scheme can provide a softer contrast compared to stark white backgrounds and may be preferred by users sensitive to bright colors.
• White: Despite being listed as a color scheme, “White” generally reverts to or maintains the default webpage colors as defined by the website’s design. Selecting “White” effectively turns off the color scheme alteration while keeping the Page colors feature potentially enabled for other configurations.
• Dusk: The Dusk scheme often presents a muted or pastel color palette, possibly with a light gray or off-white background and moderately dark text. This scheme aims to provide a gentler visual experience than pure white or stark dark modes, offering a balanced level of contrast.

Select the color scheme that you find most comfortable and visually appealing. As soon as you select a scheme, it is applied instantly to the current tab and all other open tabs in your Edge browser. You can immediately observe the changes in webpage colors. Experiment with each scheme to determine which one best suits your reading preferences and viewing conditions.

Step 7: Observe the Applied Color Scheme¶

After selecting a color scheme, open any webpage or navigate to a new website. You will immediately see the selected color scheme applied to the page content. The background and text colors will be adjusted according to the chosen scheme. Examine various types of websites to see how the color scheme affects different layouts and content styles. Notice how the chosen scheme alters the visual presentation of text, images, and other page elements. If you have multiple tabs open, verify that the color scheme is consistently applied across all of them. This immediate visual feedback allows you to quickly assess whether the selected scheme is suitable for your browsing needs.

Step 8: Exclude Specific Sites (Optional)¶

In some cases, you might want to exclude certain websites from the Page colors feature. For example, a website might have a specific color scheme that is crucial to its branding or visual design, and you may prefer to view it in its original colors. Microsoft Edge allows you to specify websites that should be exempt from Page colors adjustments. To do this, locate the “Specify sites” option within the Page colors section and click on the “Add” button. A dialog box will appear, prompting you to enter the URL of the website you wish to exclude. Type or paste the website’s URL into the provided field and confirm. The added website will be placed on an exclusion list, and Page colors will not be applied when you visit that site. This feature provides granular control over where Page colors are active, allowing you to customize your browsing experience on a site-by-site basis.

Step 9: Manage Excluded Sites¶

If you decide to remove a website from the exclusion list and re-enable Page colors for it, you can easily manage the list of excluded sites. In the “Specify sites” section, you will see a list of websites that you have previously added to the exclusion list. To remove a website from this list, locate the website you want to remove and click on the “Delete” icon (usually represented as a trash can or an “X”) associated with that site. Clicking the delete icon will remove the website from the exclusion list, and Page colors will once again be applied to that website when you visit it. Regularly reviewing and managing your list of excluded sites ensures that your Page colors settings remain aligned with your browsing preferences.

Enhancing Readability and Accessibility¶

Page colors in Microsoft Edge is a valuable feature that significantly enhances readability and accessibility for a wide range of users. By providing customizable color schemes, it addresses common visual challenges associated with web browsing.

Benefits for Readability¶

One of the primary benefits of Page colors is improved readability. Many websites utilize bright white backgrounds and high-contrast color schemes that can cause eye strain, especially during prolonged browsing sessions. By switching to a darker or more muted color scheme like Night Sky or Desert, users can reduce the glare and contrast, making text easier to read for extended periods. This is particularly helpful for individuals who read a lot of text online, such as students, researchers, or professionals who spend a significant portion of their day browsing the web. Reduced eye strain can lead to increased comfort and productivity.

Accessibility Advantages¶

Page colors also offers significant accessibility advantages for users with visual sensitivities or reading difficulties. Individuals with conditions like dyslexia or light sensitivity may find it challenging to read text on standard webpage backgrounds. Page colors provides a way to tailor the visual presentation of web content to meet their specific needs. For example, a user with dyslexia might find the Desert scheme, with its warmer tones, less visually distracting than a stark white background. Similarly, users sensitive to bright light can benefit from darker schemes like Night Sky, which minimize glare and reduce eye discomfort. By offering these customization options, Microsoft Edge promotes a more inclusive and accessible browsing experience.

Additional Customization Options in Microsoft Edge¶

Beyond Page colors, Microsoft Edge offers further customization options to tailor the browser’s appearance and enhance user experience. These include options to change the overall browser theme and adjust background colors.

Changing the Browser Background Color and Theme¶

To customize the overall appearance of Microsoft Edge, you can modify the browser’s theme and background color. These settings affect the appearance of the browser interface itself, including the toolbars, menus, and new tab pages. To access these options, navigate to the Settings menu (Alt + F or click the ellipsis icon) and select the “Appearance” category. In the Appearance settings, you can choose from pre-defined themes, such as Light, Dark, or System default, which aligns with your Windows theme settings. You can also select an accent color to personalize the browser’s interface further. For more extensive theme options, you can explore the Microsoft Edge Add-ons page, where you can find and install a variety of custom themes created by the Edge community. Changing the browser theme and background color allows you to create a visually appealing and personalized browsing environment.

Adjusting Edge Colors for Overall Appearance¶

If you want to adjust the colors of the Edge browser interface beyond themes, you can explore the “Customize appearance” section within the Settings page. Within this section, you can switch between System default, Light, or Dark mode themes for the entire browser interface, including pages, tabs, menus, and dialog boxes. This setting provides a broad control over the general color scheme of the browser, affecting elements beyond just webpage content. Choosing between Light and Dark mode can significantly alter the visual experience, with Dark mode often preferred for nighttime browsing or by users who prefer a darker interface aesthetic. These settings, combined with Page colors, offer comprehensive control over the visual presentation of Microsoft Edge, allowing users to create a browsing environment that is both comfortable and visually tailored to their preferences.

Page colors is a useful feature in Microsoft Edge that provides a more comfortable and accessible browsing experience by allowing users to customize webpage color schemes. Experiment with the different color options and site exclusion settings to find the configuration that works best for you.

Feel free to share your experiences and preferences with Page colors in the comments below! What color scheme do you find most helpful, and have you excluded any websites? Your insights can help other users discover the benefits of this feature.