# Visual Studio IDE Color Fixes For true black theme, use Vanta Black theme. But, it will bork several color settings that you have to correct. Here's how to touch them up: These settings corrected several overly bright or distracting elements in Visual Studio 2026 when using a very dark theme.

NOTE: Some settings require closing and reopening the IDE, to take effect.

#### Fixing the IDE Empty Background Color Open Tools/All Settings/Environment/Visual Experience/Theme Colors. Scroll down to the EnvironmentHeader entry (They're not in alphabetical order), and change it to "FF282828". #### Fixing the Solution Explorer Pane's Top Header Background Color Open Tools/All Settings/Environment/Visual Experience/Theme Colors. Scroll down to the EnvironmentBody entry (They're not in alphabetical order), and change it to "FF000000". --- ## 1. Active document tab background ### Problem The selected document tab had a white background, making the filename, pin, and close button nearly invisible. ### Navigation 1. Open **Tools → Options**. 2. Select **Environment → Visual Experience**. 3. Open the **Theme Colors** or **Shell Colors** page. 4. Find: ``` EnvironmentTab ```

### Value ``` FF282828 ```

The format is: ``` AARRGGBB ```

So `FF282828` means fully opaque dark gray. --- ## 2. Solution Explorer and tool-window header background ### Problem The title bar above panes such as Solution Explorer, Git Changes, and Class View had a white background. The pane name and pin, docking, and close buttons were washed out. ### Navigation 1. Open **Tools → Options**. 2. Select **Environment → Visual Experience**. 3. Open the **Theme Colors** or **Shell Colors** page. 4. Find: ``` EnvironmentHeaderInactive ```

### Value ``` FF282828 ```

Despite the name, `EnvironmentHeaderInactive` controlled the visible title bar for the docked Solution Explorer pane. --- ## 3. Collapsed comment or code-region text and border ### Problem A collapsed comment block or code region appeared as bright blue text inside a bright blue border. It stood out too strongly for content that had intentionally been collapsed. ### Navigation 1. Open **Tools → Options**. 2. Select **Environment → Fonts and Colors**. 3. Set **Show settings for** to: ``` Text Editor ```

4. Under **Display items**, find: ``` Collapsed Text (Collapsed) ```

5. Change **Item foreground**. ### Value ``` Red: 72 Green: 104 Blue: 76 ```

Hex equivalent: ``` #48684C ```

This creates a subdued green-gray similar to normal comment text. The foreground setting controls both: - The collapsed placeholder text - The thin border around the collapsed placeholder The **Item background** option is disabled for this display item. Visual Studio may need to be restarted before this setting fully takes effect. --- ## 4. Full-width background behind collapsed regions ### Problem Every collapsed comment block or code region painted a gray strip across the full width of the editor. ### Navigation 1. Open **Tools → Options**. 2. Select **Environment → Fonts and Colors**. 3. Set **Show settings for** to: ``` Text Editor ```

4. Under **Display items**, find: ``` Collapsible Region ```

5. Change **Item background**. ### Value ``` Black ```

This matched the editor background and caused the full-width strip to disappear visually. This is separate from `Collapsed Text (Collapsed)`: - `Collapsed Text (Collapsed)` controls the placeholder text and its border. - `Collapsible Region` controls the full-width background behind the collapsed line. --- ## 5. Current-line rectangular border ### Problem The line containing the text cursor had a prominent gray rectangular border around the entire row. It was heavier and more noticeable than the equivalent indicator in Visual Studio 2022. ### Navigation 1. Open **Tools → Options**. 2. Select **Environment → Fonts and Colors**. 3. Set **Show settings for** to: ``` Text Editor ```

4. Under **Display items**, find: ``` Highlight Current Line ```

5. Change **Item foreground** to a subdued dark gray. 6. Leave **Item background** at its existing or automatic value unless a filled line background is desired. ### Suggested values Moderately subdued: ``` Red: 38 Green: 38 Blue: 38 ```

Hex: ``` #262626 ```

More subtle: ``` Red: 28 Green: 28 Blue: 28 ```

Hex: ``` #1C1C1C ```

Visual Studio allows the border color to be changed, but does not appear to expose a setting for the border thickness. --- ## Settings that were tested but did not control these elements These were restored after testing: ``` EnvironmentBorderInactive DividerStrokeDefault EnvironmentHeader SolidBackgroundFillTertiary Collapsed Text Indicator (Collapsed) ```

Notes: - `SolidBackgroundFillTertiary` controlled the main Solution Explorer tree-view background. - `Collapsed Text Indicator (Collapsed)` controlled the background behind the expand/collapse chevron in the editor margin. - Neither controlled the full-width collapsed-region strip.