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How to Fix Light Text and Low-Visibility Highlight Colors on Mac
Question details
The user needs to improve the visibility of text and selection highlights across macOS applications, including Microsoft Word and Chrome.
- Product
- macOS / Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- MacBook Air (macOS Monterey)
- Scenario
- Reading or editing documents and browsing the web on a Mac.
- Observed behavior
- Text and highlight colors appear too light and have low visibility across multiple applications.
Before adjusting your system settings, ensure your Mac's screen brightness is turned up and ambient lighting isn't causing excessive glare on your display.
Increase Contrast in Mac Accessibility Settings
Modifying system-level accessibility settings is the most effective way to improve text and highlight visibility across all Mac applications.
Since the issue affects multiple applications like Word and Chrome, adjusting the system-wide contrast settings in macOS is the best first step. This will make borders, text, and selected items stand out more clearly.
Click the Apple menu located in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'System Preferences'.
Navigate to the 'Accessibility' icon, then click on 'Display' in the left sidebar menu.
Check the box next to 'Increase contrast'. You will immediately notice deeper colors and stronger borders around UI elements.
Optionally, check the 'Reduce transparency' box to make dock and application window backgrounds solid, further improving readability.
Adjust Display Brightness and Color Settings
Optimizing your display brightness and color profile can resolve washed-out colors on your MacBook.
Customize Microsoft Word Appearance Preferences
If you are specifically struggling with text visibility in Microsoft Word, changing its personalization settings can help.
Experience Clearer Document Editing with WPS Office for Mac
If you are struggling with interface and display issues in Microsoft Word, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly optimized, native Mac interface with customizable reading themes, excellent contrast, and robust compatibility with Microsoft Office formats.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the native macOS installer.
- 2. Install and Launch: Complete the quick installation process and open WPS Office from your Launchpad.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Drag and drop your existing Microsoft Word documents directly into WPS Office to continue editing with superior visual clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my highlight colors suddenly become pale on my Mac?
This often happens after a macOS update changes the default appearance settings, or if the True Tone feature automatically adjusts your screen's color temperature based on ambient lighting, washing out certain pastel highlight colors.
Will increasing contrast on my Mac affect my battery life?
No, adjusting contrast or reducing transparency does not negatively impact battery life. In fact, reducing visual effects like transparency can slightly improve system performance and energy efficiency.
How do I change the highlight color of selected text on macOS?
You can change the system-wide selection color by going to Apple Menu > System Preferences > General (or Appearance in newer macOS versions) and selecting a new color from the 'Highlight color' dropdown menu.
Are there specific contrast settings for Google Chrome on Mac?
While Chrome largely follows macOS system settings for contrast, you can further improve readability by adjusting the font size and page zoom. Open Chrome, click the three-dot menu, go to Settings, and select 'Appearance' to modify these options.
