Enable High Contrast in Ubuntu: A Guide
High contrast in Ubuntu turns up the color difference between text, window borders, and backgrounds so you can read your screen much easier. This built-in accessibility setting helps if you have low vision or strain your eyes against bright displays.
Turning on high contrast in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS instantly sharpens letters and shapes without changing your display brightness.
Open Settings, then navigate to Accessibility. Under the “Seeing” section, toggle the switch for High Contrast to the On position. You can also activate it from the login screen’s accessibility icon.
How to use high Contrast in Ubuntu Linux
High contrast in Ubuntu makes text and images stand out clearly if bright screens strain your eyes. You can turn on high contrast directly from the login screen by clicking the accessibility icon in the top corner and switching the High Contrast option on. This setting changes the desktop colors to stark black and white, making everything much easier to read without installing extra tools.
Here’s how to do that.
The quickest way to use high contrast is through the accessibility feature on the login screen.
On the login screen, click the accessibility icon highlighted below and toggle the button to turn on High Contrast.
The Settings app offers another route for enabling the feature. Open the system menu in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings.
The Settings app serves as the central control panel for system configurations.
Another way to get there involves clicking the System menu in the top-right corner of the desktop.
On the System menu, select Settings, as shown below.
In the Settings app, click on the Accessibility tile to open its panel.
In the System Settings Accessibility panel, under Seeing, toggle the switch for High Contrast to the On position.
To disable it, move the switch back to the Off position.
Toggling high contrast on and off works by clicking the accessibility icon on the top bar and selecting High Contrast.
Close the window once the switch is active. This high contrast mode provides a reliable option for anyone dealing with low vision or light sensitivity.
- The high contrast feature in Ubuntu Linux provides a valuable tool for users with low vision and light sensitivity.
- By adjusting the contrast of windows and buttons, users can distinguish between objects that differ only by color, offering improved clarity.
- Users can easily enable or disable high contrast through the accessibility feature on the login screen or via the System Settings panel.
- This feature enhances the user experience by offering a customizable interface and promoting inclusivity and accessibility.
- The high contrast feature can significantly improve visibility without impacting the overall screen brightness, providing a tailored solution for users facing visibility challenges.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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