Where to find the highlight color setting

The highlight color on your Mac is the shade that appears when you select text, click a button, or mark an item in a list. You change it through System Settings, not through individual apps. Open System Settings, go to Appearance, and look for the Accent Color option — this controls the highlight shade across most of macOS.

The Accent Color menu gives you nine preset options: blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, and graphite. Each one changes how selections appear in Mail, Safari, Finder, and nearly every other built-in app. The change takes effect when ready, so you can switch between colors and see the result right away without restarting anything.

If you want a highlight color that is not in the preset list, you will need to use a third-party tool or adjust the setting through Terminal. The built-in options cover most common preferences, but some users prefer custom shades that macOS does not offer by default.

Key Takeaways

  • Highlight color on Mac is controlled through System Settings under Appearance, using the Accent Color menu.
  • Nine preset colors are available: blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, green, graphite, and multicolor.
  • Changes to highlight color take effect when ready across Mail, Safari, Finder, and most other apps.
  • Custom highlight colors beyond the presets require Terminal commands or third-party tools.
  • Some apps like Microsoft Office may not follow the system highlight color and use their own instead.

Step-by-step: changing highlight color through System Settings

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. In the sidebar, click Appearance. You will see a row of colored circles under the heading "Accent color" — these are your nine options. Click the color you want, and the highlight color changes when ready across your Mac.

If you use dark mode, the highlight color may appear slightly different than in light mode, but the same color choice applies to both. You can switch between light and dark mode without changing your accent color selection — the two settings are separate.

The graphite option is a neutral gray and works well if you prefer a subtle highlight. The multicolor option cycles through different colors depending on the app, though this is less common in recent macOS versions. Most users stick with one of the solid colors for consistency.

What the highlight color actually changes

The accent color affects several visual elements across macOS. When you select text in Mail or a document, the selection background uses your chosen color. Buttons you click, checkboxes you mark, and menu items you hover over all reflect the accent color. In Finder, selected files and folders highlight in your chosen shade.

The highlight color also appears in system dialogs, preference windows, and progress bars. If you open a file save dialog or a confirmation box, the default button uses your accent color. This consistency makes your Mac feel more personalized without requiring changes to individual apps.

Not every app respects the system highlight color. Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, and some third-party apps use their own color schemes and ignore the macOS setting. If you use those apps heavily, changing the system highlight color will not affect them.

Using Terminal to set a custom highlight color

If the nine preset colors do not match what you want, you can use Terminal to set a custom accent color. Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities) and enter a command that specifies a color using RGB values. The command format is: defaults write -g AppleAccentColor -int [value], where the value is a number from 0 to 7 for the presets, or you can use a different approach to define custom RGB values.

Custom colors through Terminal require more technical knowledge and involve editing preference files directly. If you make a mistake, you can reset to the default by running: defaults delete -g AppleAccentColor. After running any Terminal command, you may need to log out and back in, or restart your Mac, for the change to take full effect.

For most users, the nine preset colors are sufficient. Terminal customization is worth attempting only if you have a specific color in mind that the presets do not offer and you are comfortable working in command-line tools.

Why your highlight color might not be changing

If you change the accent color but nothing appears different, check whether you are looking at an app that ignores system settings. Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook do not use the macOS highlight color — they have their own built-in color schemes. The same is true for many Adobe apps and some specialized software.

Another reason the change might not be visible is if you are in a window that has not refreshed yet. Close the app completely and reopen it to see the new highlight color. Some apps cache the color setting when they launch, so restarting them forces them to read the current system preference.

If you changed the color in System Settings but the change did not take effect anywhere, restart your Mac. This is rare, but a full restart ensures all running processes pick up the new setting.

Highlight color versus text selection color

The accent color controls the highlight shade, but some apps let you set text selection color separately. In certain text editors and word processors, you can choose a different color for selected text independent of the system accent color. Check the app's own preferences or settings menu if you want to override the system highlight color for that specific program.

In Mail, for example, you can set a custom text selection color in Mail's preferences under Viewing. This overrides the system accent color for that app alone. Other apps may have similar options buried in their settings, so it is worth checking if the system highlight color does not give you the result you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different highlight colors for different apps?

No, the system accent color applies across all apps that respect it. However, individual apps like Mail, Word, and some text editors have their own color settings that override the system color. Check each app's preferences if you want app-specific highlight colors.

Does changing highlight color affect my wallpaper or desktop appearance?

The accent color does not change your wallpaper or desktop background. It only affects UI elements like buttons, selected text, and menu highlights. Your wallpaper remains the same regardless of which accent color you choose.

Will changing highlight color slow down my Mac?

No. Changing the accent color is a straightforward preference change that has no impact on performance. Your Mac will run exactly the same speed regardless of which highlight color you select.

What happens to highlight color when I update macOS?

Your accent color choice is preserved when you update macOS. The setting is part of your user preferences and carries over to new versions of the operating system.

Can I use a custom highlight color without using Terminal?

Not through the standard System Settings interface. The nine preset colors are the only options available in the Appearance menu. Custom colors require Terminal commands or third-party tools designed to modify system preferences.