Windows System Colours Reference

Never hard-code system colour values.
Use these functions and classes and set your application's colours dynamically: GetSysColor function (Win32), System.Windows.SystemColors class (Windows Presentation Foundation), System.Drawing.SystemColors class (Windows Forms).
For Windows 8 theme colours, see the Windows 8 Theme Colours Reference.
Download this table as an Excel spreadsheet here.

Display Options

Reference Table

Windows 8/8.1/10 Windows 7 Windows Vista Windows XP
Element Windows High Contrast #1 High Contrast #2 High Contrast Black High Contrast White Aero Classic High Contrast #1 High Contrast #2 High Contrast Black High Contrast White Aero Classic (Standard) Classic (Classic) High Contrast #1 High Contrast #2 High Contrast Black High Contrast White Luna Luna (Silver) Luna (Olive Green) Royale Royale Noir Zune Embedded Classic (Standard) Classic (Classic) Brick Desert Eggplant Lilac Maple Marine Plum Pumpkin Rainy Day Red White Blue Rose Slate Spruce Storm Teal Wheat High Contrast #1 High Contrast #2 High Contrast Black High Contrast White
ActiveBorder
#B4B4B4
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#FFFF00
#808080
#B4B4B4
#D4D0C8
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#FFFF00
#808080
#B4B4B4
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#FFFF00
#808080
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#C2BFA5
#D5CCBB
#90B0A8
#AEA8D9
#E6D8AE
#88C0B8
#A89890
#ECD59D
#8399B1
#C0C0C0
#CFAFB7
#9DB9C8
#A2C8A9
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#DEDEA0
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#FFFF00
#808080
ActiveCaption
#99B4D1
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#37006E
#000000
#99B4D1
#0A246A
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#800080
#000000
#99B4D1
#0A246A
#000080
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#800080
#000000
#0054E3
#C0C0C0
#8BA169
#335EA8
#5E81BC
#343434
#3E9DE8
#0A246A
#000080
#800000
#008080
#588078
#5A4EB1
#800000
#000080
#484060
#D7A52F
#4F657D
#800000
#9F6070
#558097
#599764
#800080
#008080
#808000
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#800080
#000000
ActiveCaptionText
#000000
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#0E1010
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#E1E0D2
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
AppWorkspace
#ABABAB
#000000
#FFFFFF
#000000
#808080
#ABABAB
#808080
#000000
#FFFFFF
#000000
#808080
#ABABAB
#808080
#808080
#000000
#FFFFFF
#000000
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#E1E0D2
#A28D68
#808080
#5A4EB1
#C6A646
#4B8D84
#74635A
#F5EACF
#808080
#FFFFFF
#9F6070
#424242
#D0E3D3
#808080
#808080
#BCBC41
#000000
#FFFFFF
#000000
#808080
Control
#F0F0F0
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#F0F0F0
#D4D0C8
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#F0F0F0
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#ECE9D8
#E0DFE3
#ECE9D8
#EBE9ED
#EBE9ED
#E2E2E2
#EBE9ED
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#C2BFA5
#D5CCBB
#90B0A8
#AEA8D9
#E6D8AE
#88C0B8
#A89890
#ECD59D
#8399B1
#C0C0C0
#CFAFB7
#9DB9C8
#A2C8A9
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#DEDEA0
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
ControlDark
#A0A0A0
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#A0A0A0
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#A0A0A0
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#ACA899
#9D9DA1
#ACA899
#A7A6AA
#A7A6AA
#B4B4B4
#B5B4B8
#808080
#808080
#8D8961
#A28D68
#588078
#5A4EB1
#C6A646
#489088
#786058
#D7A52F
#4F657D
#808080
#9F6070
#558097
#599764
#808080
#808080
#BCBC41
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
ControlDarkDark
#696969
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#696969
#404040
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#696969
#404040
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#716F64
#716F64
#716F64
#85878C
#85878C
#878787
#85878C
#404040
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
ControlLight
#E3E3E3
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#C0C0C0
#E3E3E3
#D4D0C8
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#C0C0C0
#E3E3E3
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#C0C0C0
#F1EFE2
#F1EFE2
#F1EFE2
#DCDFE4
#DCDFE4
#E2E2E2
#DCDFE4
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#C2BFA5
#D5CCBB
#90B0A8
#AEA8D9
#E6D8AE
#88C0B8
#A89890
#ECD59D
#8399B1
#C0C0C0
#CFAFB7
#9DB9C8
#A2C8A9
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#DEDEA0
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#C0C0C0
ControlLightLight
#FFFFFF
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#E1E0D2
#EAE6DD
#C8D8D8
#D8D5EC
#F2ECD7
#C8E0D8
#D8D0C8
#F5EACF
#C1CCD9
#FFFFFF
#E7D8DC
#CEDCE3
#D0E3D3
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#EEEED0
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
ControlText
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#00FF00
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#00FF00
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#00FF00
#FFFFFF
#000000
Desktop
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#000000
#3A6EA5
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#000000
#3A6EA5
#3A6EA5
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#004E98
#585768
#9DACBD
#000040
#101A26
#1A1A1A
#000040
#3A6EA5
#3A6EA5
#420000
#A28D68
#400040
#000000
#000000
#2C4E47
#402840
#420042
#000000
#000042
#808080
#414141
#213F21
#000000
#004040
#00401D
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
GradientActiveCaption
#B9D1EA
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#800080
#000000
#B9D1EA
#A6CAF0
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#800080
#000000
#B9D1EA
#A6CAF0
#1084D0
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#800080
#000000
#3D95FF
#C8C8C8
#C6D2A2
#70B1EB
#70B1EB
#747474
#70B1EB
#A6CAF0
#1084D0
#B07440
#84BDAA
#834B83
#B68FCB
#C09C38
#18B4C0
#A084B8
#E0CC88
#80B4D0
#0010A8
#D8CCD0
#88B8D8
#98C8E8
#388CB0
#00CCD8
#C8B048
#0000FF
#00FFFF
#800080
#000000
GradientInactiveCaption
#D7E4F2
#00FFFF
#0000FF
#008000
#FFFFFF
#D7E4F2
#C0C0C0
#00FFFF
#0000FF
#008000
#FFFFFF
#D7E4F2
#C0C0C0
#B5B5B5
#00FFFF
#0000FF
#008000
#FFFFFF
#9DB9EB
#EEEFF7
#D4D6BA
#83B7E3
#83B7E3
#C8C8C8
#83B7E3
#C0C0C0
#B5B5B5
#C8B870
#E8D080
#CBBDD2
#B8B4D0
#E0C888
#78CCD8
#A89878
#D0CC90
#B0BCD0
#BABEC9
#D0D4D0
#A0BCC8
#A8CCB0
#A8ACA8
#98C8B8
#B8B880
#00FFFF
#0000FF
#008000
#FFFFFF
GrayText
#6D6D6D
#00FF00
#C0C0C0
#3FF23F
#600000
#6D6D6D
#808080
#00FF00
#C0C0C0
#00FF00
#008000
#808080
#808080
#808080
#00FF00
#C0C0C0
#00FF00
#00FF00
#ACA899
#ACA899
#ACA899
#A7A6AA
#A7A6AA
#646464
#B5B4B8
#808080
#808080
#8D8961
#A28D68
#588078
#5A4EB1
#C6A646
#489088
#786058
#D7A52F
#4F657D
#808080
#9F6070
#558097
#599764
#808080
#808080
#BCBC41
#00FF00
#00FF00
#00FF00
#00FF00
Highlight
#3399FF
#008000
#0000FF
#1AEBFF
#37006E
#3399FF
#0A246A
#008000
#0000FF
#800080
#000000
#3399FF
#0A246A
#000080
#008000
#0000FF
#800080
#000000
#316AC5
#B2B4BF
#93A070
#335EA8
#5E81BC
#BEBEBE
#3E9DE8
#0A246A
#000080
#8D8961
#008080
#588078
#5A4EB1
#C6A646
#000080
#008080
#800080
#4F657D
#800000
#9F6070
#558097
#599764
#800080
#008080
#808000
#008000
#0000FF
#800080
#000000
HighlightText
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFFFF
#D8D0C8
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
HotTrack
#0066CC
#8080FF
#8080FF
#FFFF00
#00009F
#0066CC
#000080
#8080FF
#8080FF
#8080FF
#000000
#0066CC
#0066CC
#000080
#8080FF
#8080FF
#8080FF
#000000
#000080
#648BCB
#000080
#000080
#000080
#000080
#000080
#000080
#000080
#800000
#008080
#588078
#5A4EB1
#C6A646
#000080
#484060
#D7A52F
#4F657D
#800000
#9F6070
#558097
#599764
#800080
#008080
#808000
#800080
#800080
#800080
#000000
InactiveBorder
#F4F7FC
#00FFFF
#0000FF
#008000
#C0C0C0
#F4F7FC
#D4D0C8
#00FFFF
#0000FF
#008000
#C0C0C0
#F4F7FC
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#00FFFF
#0000FF
#008000
#C0C0C0
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#C2BFA5
#D5CCBB
#90B0A8
#AEA8D9
#E6D8AE
#88C0B8
#A89890
#ECD59D
#8399B1
#C0C0C0
#CFAFB7
#9DB9C8
#A2C8A9
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#DEDEA0
#00FFFF
#0000FF
#008000
#C0C0C0
InactiveCaption
#BFCDDB
#00FFFF
#000040
#00002F
#FFFFFF
#BFCDDB
#808080
#00FFFF
#0000FF
#008000
#FFFFFF
#BFCDDB
#808080
#808080
#00FFFF
#0000FF
#008000
#FFFFFF
#7A96DF
#FFFFFF
#D4D6BA
#6FA1D9
#6FA1D9
#747474
#6FA1D9
#808080
#808080
#8D8961
#A28D68
#90B0A8
#808080
#C6A646
#489088
#786058
#A0A0A4
#808080
#808080
#A0A0A4
#808080
#808080
#808080
#808080
#BCBC41
#00FFFF
#0000FF
#008000
#FFFFFF
InactiveCaptionText
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#434E54
#D4D0C8
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#434E54
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#D8E4F8
#A2A1A1
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#F4F4F4
#FFFFFF
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#E1E0D2
#FFFFFF
#588078
#FFFFFF
#F2ECD7
#C0C0C0
#A89890
#F5EACF
#C1CCD9
#C0C0C0
#7D7D7D
#C0C0C0
#D0E3D3
#C0C0C0
#FFFBF0
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
Info
#FFFFE1
#000000
#FFFF00
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFE1
#FFFFE1
#000000
#FFFF00
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFE1
#FFFFE1
#FFFFE1
#000000
#FFFF00
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFE1
#FFFFE1
#FFFFE1
#FFFFE1
#FFFFE1
#FFFFE1
#FFFFE1
#FFFFE1
#FFFFE1
#E1E0D2
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#C8E0D8
#D5CCC8
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#FFFF00
#000000
#FFFFFF
InfoText
#000000
#FFFF00
#000000
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFF00
#000000
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFF00
#000000
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#800000
#000000
#800080
#000000
#000000
#000000
#300058
#800080
#000000
#000080
#000000
#000000
#000000
#800080
#000000
#000000
#FFFF00
#000000
#FFFFFF
#000000
Menu
#F0F0F0
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#F0F0F0
#D4D0C8
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#F0F0F0
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#C2BFA5
#D5CCBB
#90B0A8
#AEA8D9
#E6D8AE
#88C0B8
#A89890
#ECD59D
#8399B1
#C0C0C0
#CFAFB7
#9DB9C8
#A2C8A9
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#DEDEA0
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
MenuBar
#F0F0F0
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#F0F0F0
#D4D0C8
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#F0F0F0
#F0F0F0
#C0C0C0
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#ECE9D8
#E0E2EB
#ECE9D8
#EBE9ED
#EBE9ED
#DCDCDC
#EBE9ED
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#C2BFA5
#D5CCBB
#90B0A8
#AEA8D9
#E6D8AE
#88C0B8
#A89890
#ECD59D
#8399B1
#C0C0C0
#CFAFB7
#9DB9C8
#A2C8A9
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#DEDEA0
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
MenuHighlight
#3399FF
#008000
#0000FF
#800080
#000000
#3399FF
#0A246A
#008000
#0000FF
#800080
#000000
#3399FF
#3399FF
#000080
#008000
#0000FF
#800080
#000000
#316AC5
#BBB7C7
#93A070
#335EA8
#5E81BC
#BEBEBE
#3E9DE8
#0A246A
#000080
#8D8961
#008080
#588078
#5A4EB1
#C6A646
#000080
#008080
#800080
#4F657D
#800000
#9F6070
#558097
#599764
#800080
#008080
#808000
#008000
#0000FF
#800080
#000000
MenuText
#000000
#FFFFFF
#00FF00
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#00FF00
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#00FF00
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#00FF00
#FFFFFF
#000000
ScrollBar
#C8C8C8
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#C8C8C8
#D4D0C8
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#C8C8C8
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#D4D0C8
#C0C0C0
#E1E0D2
#EAE6DD
#90B0A8
#AEA8D9
#F2ECD7
#C8E0D8
#D8D0C8
#F5EACF
#C1CCD9
#C0C0C0
#CFAFB7
#CEDCE3
#D0E3D3
#C0C0C0
#C0C0C0
#EEEED0
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
Window
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#C8E0D8
#D8D0C8
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
#000000
#000000
#000000
#FFFFFF
WindowFrame
#646464
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