Microsoft operating systems are designed so that they can be used by all kinds of people, but not only in terms of their level of experience. They are also adapted so that they can be used by users who have vision problems but who need to use the computer. To do this, in both Windows 10 and Windows 11 we have an “Accessibility” section from where we can set filters to change the color palette of our screen.
If we have eye problems, we may not be able to see things clearly on the screen, even after adjusting the brightness or turning on the night light to filter blue light, which can certainly be annoying and will prevent us from working with the screen. normality we need.
In these cases, it is possible to use the color filters that are integrated in Windows 10 and Windows 11 , which will help us distinguish between objects that differ only in color. What this does is alter the color palette of these elements, increasing their contrast and allowing us to see them more clearly.
Set up in Windows 10
The world’s most widely used operating system has system-level color filters, including filters designed to make it easier for color-blind users to differentiate between colors like red and green, as well as making it easier for people with color sensitivity in the light they can see different contents without discomfort. In addition, it has a color wheel in its configuration and a high contrast value to help us get an idea of the effect that each of the filters has.
To do this we must access the “Settings” menu, which we access using the keyboard shortcut “Windows + I”. Here we click on the “Accessibility” section and on the new screen we click on “Color Filters” that we find in the menu on the left. Now on the right side, within the “Color filters” section, we find the “Activate color filters” box. From here we can activate or deactivate it to our liking.
Once activated we can check the box “Allow the shortcut key to activate or deactivate the filter”. In case of marking it, we can press the shortcut “Windows + Ctrl + C” to enable or disable it more quickly.
Select color filters
Later we can select one of the color filters that we have to choose from, so that we can better see the elements on the screen.
- Inverted – As the name suggests, it will invert normal to opposite colors, so black text on a white background is transferred to white text on a black background, and images would have negative colors like old photographs.
- Grayscale – This filter is responsible for setting the screen to monochrome with shades of black and white. In case we use a laptop, it can also help us save a little battery, since the processor requires less power to render the images.
- Inverted Grayscale – Reverses the colors, but with the grayscale colors applied, so that the white background would become black and vice versa.
Use color blindness filters
It also allows us to use filters especially indicated for colorblind people, since these people see a more limited range of colors than the rest of the people. That is why these filters help them distinguish between colors that they are not able to perceive effectively.
Here we will find three types:
- Red and green (soft green): for people who have Deuteranopia problems, for which it is difficult for them to perceive the color green
- Red and green (soft red): for those who have problems with Protanopia to be able to distinguish the color red.
- Blue and yellow : for those who suffer from Tritanopia, so they have trouble perceiving these colors.
Along with this, it shows us a color wheel so that when we select these filters it can help us choose the correct option.
Activate in Windows 11
Microsoft’s new operating system has built-in color filters that help people with color vision deficiencies or vision loss. In the event that we have problems seeing what is displayed on the screen, we can use the built-in filters to help us distinguish between elements that differ only by color. This will change the color palette of the objects, highlighting the contrast, which will allow us to see clearly.
To do this, we must open the “Settings” panel for which we press the keyboard shortcut “Windows + I”. Later we click on the “Accessibility” button on the left and finally we click on “Color filters”.
color filters
On the new screen we find the Color Filters section that we must press to activate or deactivate it to our liking. Once enabled, the lower menu will expand where we will see a list of six filters that we can select by marking their respective circular buttons. The available options are:
- Red-green (weak green, Deuteranopia)
- Red-green (weak red, Protanopia)
- Blue-yellow (Trytanopia)
- Grayscale
- Inverted Grayscale
- Invested
Preview and shortcut
Just when we select a filter, it will be applied automatically and immediately. If we go to the top of the screen we can see a preview of the applied effects by looking at its color wheel, the sample photo and the color grid.
If we go back to the bottom again we find the “Keyboard shortcut for color filters” button. By activating it we can enable or disable the filters using the shortcut “Windows + Ctrl + C” .
We can also activate or deactivate the color filters at any time by clicking on the Quick Settings icon on the taskbar, which we access by clicking between the speaker icon and the Internet connection icon. This will make a small drop-down menu appear, where we will click on “Accessibility”. This will show a new window from where to enable or disable the established filters.
Turn off night light when using filters
When using the color filters that Windows offers us in its Configuration section, it should be noted that these are not fully compatible with other functions offered by Microsoft operating systems. For example, the night light function, when we activate it, is responsible for reducing the intensity of the blue light emitted by the screen.
That is why when it is active, our screen may not produce accurate colors, which would reduce the effectiveness of color blindness. Therefore, it is highly recommended to disable the night light when we have these filters activated.