How to change the Font and Background Color of DOS

by gedet basumatary on October 8, 2008

How to change the Font and Background Color of DOS is today’s topic. If you use computer regularly then you must be familiar with DOS. Although DOS came at very early stage but still today it is a very powerful tool. Many of the works are still done at DOS like configuring some typical tasks of computer, deleting virus which can’t be done generally on the windows. Many more advantages are there.

We know that Default color of DOS is white font and black background. Many people think they can’t change this font color and background color. They are very wrong. We can change this font color and background color of DOS according to our choice like black font and white background in MS word, any combination you wish.

Windows Command Prompt windows or DOS has a default value of 0, for standard white text on a black background.

Now let’s learn how to change the font and background color of DOS

  1. Open Registry (press win + r or goto start->run and type regedit and hit enter)
  2. Now goto [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Command processor]
  3. You’ll find Default color in the right side.
  4. Double click the Default color (by default you will see 0 value in inserted there)
  5. You can replace its value with a two-digit hexadecimal number, in which the first digit selects a background color and the second a font color. The hexadecimal codes and colors are: -

0 Black
1 Blue
2 Green
3 Aqua
4 Red
5 Purple
6 Yellow
7 White
8 Gray
9 Light Blue
A Light Green
B Light Aqua
C Light Red
D Light Purple
E Light Yellow
F Bright White

A value of F0, for example, would give black text on a white background. You can try any combination with these values and work with the comfortable combination.

The change should take effect the next time you open a console window.

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

John D October 9, 2008 at 7:37 am

Nice, I didn’t know you could change the background and font colours in DOS. I’m not sure if it’s useful, but i bet people wouldn’t mind a change from the boring black and white colours :) . John

Reply

gedet basumatary October 9, 2008 at 9:30 am

Yeah John, that’s the point. We need some changes also to refresh the mind. Even though it is not useful and necessary but people who would come to know that this trick exist then they would surely love do experiment it.

Reply

marly October 14, 2008 at 2:44 am

Now I know the number codes for the colors for DOS. Thanks for sharing.

Reply

Mike May 4, 2009 at 11:59 pm

How do you change the font ?

Reply

Anton June 4, 2009 at 10:16 am

Cool!

Reply

gedet basumatary June 6, 2009 at 10:51 am

Hi marly, Glad you learn it.

Mike, I will get back to you soon.

Anton, thanx.

Reply

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