How to Enable Accent Color with Dark Theme in Windows Search
Windows 10 added a dark theme for its UI and various UWP apps. Historically, the theme was only partially implemented, so Windows Search showed a dark panel but switched to a bright results pane after you typed. Microsoft has since expanded dark mode for Search in late 2021 updates, so many Windows 10 systems now show dark results natively (and Windows 11 continues to improve consistency). If your system still shows light results—or you want an accent-colored top bar—use the BeautySearch tool below.
Windows search accent color and dark theme
To get Windows Search results in dark theme—and optionally add your accent color to its top bar—follow these steps.
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Personalization.
- Select Colors.
- Make sure the “Choose your color” dropdown is set to Dark. (On many Windows 10 builds starting in late 2021, this alone makes Search results dark; Windows 11 is also steadily improving dark-mode coverage in File Explorer and dialogs.)
- Download BeautySearch from GitHub. (It’s open-source and actively updated for newer Windows 10 builds.) :contentReference
- Run the app with admin rights.
- In the installer, enable “Show accent color on Search Window” and “Show search results in Dark Theme.” Adjust other options to taste.
- Click “Install.”
- Windows Search will now show results in dark theme, with the accent color on the top navigation bar.
Security note: If Windows blocks the app, click See more > Run anyway, then authenticate with admin rights.
Troubleshooting installation
If the app doesn’t work or only works partially, reinstall it: run the executable with admin rights, ensure the features you want are checked, and click Reinstall. Restart your system after reinstalling.
If that still doesn’t work, fully uninstall and then reinstall:
- Run BeautySearch with admin rights.
- Make sure everything is checked.
- Click Uninstall.
- After uninstall completes, restart the system.
- Run BeautySearch again (with admin rights), and install it.
Why does Search still look white?
If your Search results turn white while the rest of the UI is dark, check if Bing/web results are disabled via policy or registry tweaks—this can force the Search panel back to light mode in some Windows 10 builds. Re-enabling DisableSearchBoxSuggestions (set value to 0) or undoing “debloater” scripts often restores dark results.
How it works
BeautySearch tweaks Search UI settings (and related registry values) to fill gaps Microsoft left in Windows 10’s theming. It does not need to run in the background after installation. Note that, per third-party testing, BeautySearch’s approach can disable the Start menu’s web search function; if you rely on Bing results in Search, leave web search enabled or test before committing. Windows updates can also undo UI tweaks, in which case reinstall BeautySearch.
FAQs
Does this still matter on fully updated Windows 10?
Often, no—the dark results pane rolled out server-side in late 2021. BeautySearch remains useful if your device never received that change or if you want accent color and additional visual tweaks.
What about Windows 11?
Windows 11 generally respects dark mode in Search and File Explorer, and Microsoft is actively unifying more legacy dialogs to dark. BeautySearch targets Windows 10; accent coloring for Windows 11’s Search isn’t necessary.
Is BeautySearch maintained?
Yes. The project is open-source on GitHub and received compatibility updates as recently as March 2025.
Can I add the acrylic effect to menus/search?
BeautySearch offers an alternative acrylic effect for Windows 10 20H1+ where the built-in effect is broken. Results vary by system.
Conclusion
BeautySearch doesn’t just modify the look of Windows Search and its results; it can also hide solid-color Start tiles on UWP apps and add acrylic effects to some context menus. If your Windows 10 build already shows dark Search results natively, you may not need BeautySearch—but it’s still handy for accent color touches and filling in theming gaps. Windows 11 continues to reduce those gaps with ongoing dark-mode improvements to built-in dialogs.
References
- BeautySearch on GitHub (project page & releases): https://github.com/krlvm/BeautySearch
- Neowin – Microsoft improved dark mode for Windows 10 Search (Nov 2021): link
- TenForums – Dark Search results server-side rollout (Nov 2021): link
- The Verge / Windows Central – Windows 11 dark-mode consistency updates (2025): link, link
- Microsoft Q&A & community threads – Web results/registry interactions that can affect Search theming: link, link
What’s New in This Update
- Added note that Windows 10 (late 2021+) can natively show dark Search results without third-party tools.
- Explained Windows 11’s ongoing dark-mode improvements for dialogs and Explorer.
- Updated BeautySearch status (open-source, releases in 2025) and linked project page.
- New troubleshooting for “Search turns white when Bing is disabled” with registry/policy context.
- Added FAQ section and a References list to verify changes.
Last updated: 2025-10-09
