Change Windows Console Colors Using Regedit

This guide provides a straightforward method for modifying the default color palette and screen colors of the Windows Command Prompt using the Windows Registry Editor (regedit). By altering specific keys under the console registry path, you can set custom background and text colors or redefine the entire 16-color system palette to match your preferred theme.

Step 1: Open the Registry Editor

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control (UAC).

Step 2: Navigate to the Console Key

In the Registry Editor address bar, paste the following path and press Enter:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console

Note: Changes made directly in the Console key apply globally to all command line windows that do not have custom application-specific subkeys.

Step 3: Modify Default Text and Background Colors (ScreenColors)

The ScreenColors DWORD value controls the default foreground (text) and background colors using hexadecimal attributes.

1. Locate the ScreenColors DWORD value in the right pane. If it does not exist, right-click an empty area, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it ScreenColors.
2. Double-click ScreenColors and set the Base to Hexadecimal.
3. Enter a two-digit hexadecimal value:
   • The first digit sets the background color.
   • The second digit sets the text color.

Color Reference Table:

• 0 = Black
• 1 = Dark Blue
• 2 = Dark Green
• 3 = Dark Cyan
• 4 = Dark Red
• 5 = Dark Magenta
• 6 = Dark Yellow / Olive
• 7 = Light Gray
• 8 = Dark Gray
• 9 = Light Blue
• A = Light Green
• B = Light Cyan
• C = Light Red
• D = Light Magenta
• E = Light Yellow
• F = White

(Example: Entering 0A produces standard black background with light green text.)

4. Click OK.

Step 4: Customize the Palette (ColorTable00 to ColorTable15)

To alter the actual RGB definition of any of the 16 colors:

1. Locate the keys named ColorTable00 through ColorTable15 (these correspond to indices 0 through F in the reference table above).
2. Double-click the color you wish to customize and set the Base to Hexadecimal.
3. Enter the color value using the 0x00BBGGRR format (Blue, Green, Red in hexadecimal):
   • Pure Red: 0x000000FF
   • Pure Green: 0x0000FF00
   • Pure Blue: 0x00FF0000
4. Click OK.

Step 5: Verify Changes

Close the Registry Editor and open a new Command Prompt window. The new default colors will take effect immediately.