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How to Use Windows Color Filters for Color Vision Deficiency

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Open Color filters in Accessibility settings

    Go to Settings > Accessibility > Vision, then select "Color filters."

  2. Turn on color filters

    Flip the "Use color filters" switch at the top of the page to apply the selected filter across your entire screen.

  3. Choose the filter that matches your color vision

    Pick from Grayscale, Inverted, or Grayscale inverted, or choose one of three color-vision-deficiency filters -- Red-green (green weak, deuteranopia), Red-green (red weak, protanopia), or Blue-yellow (tritanopia) -- depending on which colors are hardest for you to tell apart.

  4. Turn on the keyboard shortcut

    Enable "Allow the shortcut key to toggle a filter" so you can switch the active filter on and off instantly with Windows key + Ctrl + C.

  5. Use grayscale to ease eye strain too

    Even without any color vision deficiency, switching to a grayscale filter during long screen sessions can lower visual intensity and make the display feel easier on the eyes.

Charts, maps, and status icons often rely on color alone

A lot of everyday information -- a red-vs-green stock chart, a color-coded map legend, a status light showing green for normal and red for a problem -- assumes every viewer sees color the same way. Windows' color filters work at the operating system level, so once you turn one on, every app, website, photo, and video on screen is adjusted through it automatically, without needing each individual app to build in its own accessibility support.

Not sure which type fits you? Get it checked properly

If you already know your specific type of color vision deficiency, matching it to the right filter above is straightforward. If you're not sure, this page isn't the place to self-diagnose -- an eye-care professional or a standard color vision screening can identify the specific type accurately, so you can pick the matching filter with confidence. This is general information, not medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning on a color filter change how photos and videos look, too?

Yes -- color filters apply to everything rendered on screen, so photos, videos, games, and web pages are all shown through the active filter, not just system menus.

I don't know my exact type of color vision deficiency -- what should I do?

Trying a few of the color-vision-deficiency filters to see which one makes charts and images easier to read is a reasonable start, but for a precise answer, a simple screening test from an eye-care professional is the most reliable way to find out.