color bars under taskbar icons


NunyaBeeswax

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Does anyone here know what the little color bars mean that appear under the open program icons in the taskbar? I have noticed that the length of the color bar is longer under the icon of the program I am currently using and short under the icons of the programs that are in the 'background', so I am guessing that is what the different lengths mean? But I am curious to know what the different colors mean. I currently have 3 open programs and they each have different colors - my outlook taskbar icon has a red color bar, my browser icon has a blue one, and my file/folder explorer icon is gray. Also, the outlook color bar always stay red, whether I am currently using it or it is in the 'background', but the colors of the other two (my browser and file explorer icons) change colors depending on which one of them is being used at the time - like right now since I am using my browser, the color bar under the icon is longer and blue, while the color bar under the file explorer is short and gray. But if I switch to the file explorer program, the color bar under that icon changes to long and blue and the color bar under the browser icon (which would now be in the 'background') would change to short and gray. I am concerned that the red color bar could indicate an issue with that program. Any confirmation/clarification on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
 
Windows Build/Version
windows 11, ver. 21H2

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win11home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
    Motherboard
    MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 2x16GB (32GB total) 3600MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super (Mem size: 6GB GDDR6/Mem bus:192-bit)
    Sound Card
    on board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultragear Gaming Monitor (Model: 24GL600F)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    I have 4 hard drives currently connect to my system:
    running my current Win11 OS is a 2TB Western Digital Black (7200 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache)
    Western Digital Green 2TB (IntelliPower SATA 6.0Gb/s 64MB Cache)
    Western Digital Caviar Green 500GB
    WD 1TB (can't access specifics on this drive right now)
    (the last 3 came from my old system w/the last one containing my old OS Win7)
    PSU
    SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold (SS-650KM Active PFC F3) 650W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply New 4th Gen CPU Certified Hasw
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 431 Plus
    Cooling
    for my CPU I am currently using the stock cooling fan/system that came with it, and in my case I have 1x COUGAR 14CM CFD Green LED Hydraulic (Liquid) Bearing Ultra Silent Fan, 2x COUGAR CF-V12H Vortex Hydro-Dynamic-Bearing (Fluid) 12CM Silent Cooling Fan, and 1 other 120mm fan that I don't remember the specifics for
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop Pro
    Mouse
    generic Wal Mart ONN optical mouse
    Browser
    Brave
So, just a quick follow up to my first post... out of curiosity, I just closed/reopened outlook and now the color of the little color bar is switching between blue and gray depending on if I am currently using that program - blue when I am and gray when it is in the 'background'. Still curious to know why it would have turned to red. ty
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win11home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
    Motherboard
    MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 2x16GB (32GB total) 3600MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super (Mem size: 6GB GDDR6/Mem bus:192-bit)
    Sound Card
    on board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultragear Gaming Monitor (Model: 24GL600F)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    I have 4 hard drives currently connect to my system:
    running my current Win11 OS is a 2TB Western Digital Black (7200 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache)
    Western Digital Green 2TB (IntelliPower SATA 6.0Gb/s 64MB Cache)
    Western Digital Caviar Green 500GB
    WD 1TB (can't access specifics on this drive right now)
    (the last 3 came from my old system w/the last one containing my old OS Win7)
    PSU
    SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold (SS-650KM Active PFC F3) 650W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply New 4th Gen CPU Certified Hasw
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 431 Plus
    Cooling
    for my CPU I am currently using the stock cooling fan/system that came with it, and in my case I have 1x COUGAR 14CM CFD Green LED Hydraulic (Liquid) Bearing Ultra Silent Fan, 2x COUGAR CF-V12H Vortex Hydro-Dynamic-Bearing (Fluid) 12CM Silent Cooling Fan, and 1 other 120mm fan that I don't remember the specifics for
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop Pro
    Mouse
    generic Wal Mart ONN optical mouse
    Browser
    Brave
The colors I see match the colors I have set for active and inactive caption in the registry. Whichever window is in focus is the active window (darker color longer line). I use a theme I built myself, and I then altered the colors of the different window aspects using Wintools Colorchanger. This changes the registry entries in [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors]. If you are using a pre-built theme, the colors you see are probably built into the theme. You can prove that is the case by changing themes.

I've used that little standalone app for years because I'm always playing with changing the way things look.
 

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My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.2314
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme+256gb SKHynix m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+1tb Kingston m2.nvme+ 4gb Solidigm nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
All mine are the same color, a light gray.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Skylake Special X299
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 9900X
    Motherboard
    Asus ROG Strix X299-E Gaming II
    Memory
    GSkill Trident Z RGB 32GB 3600 16-16-16-36 (F4-3600C16Q-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 3080 12GB FTW3 Ultra Gaming (12G-P5-4877-KL)
    Sound Card
    Supreme FX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PG279Q
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440 165Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Pro 500GB x2, Seagate Barracuda 4TB x2, Western Digital Black 4TB x1
    PSU
    EVGA 1200 P2, EVGA Black Custom Braided Cables
    Case
    Thermaltake View 31 Tempered Glass Limited Edition
    Cooling
    Corsair H115i, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
    Keyboard
    Logitech G910 Orion Spark
    Mouse
    Logitech G700s, Asus ROG GX860 Buzzard
    Internet Speed
    Verizon Fios Quantum Gateway 75/75
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, Malwarebytes 4.5.2
    Other Info
    Thermaltake Riing Duo 14 x3, Thermaltake Riing Plus 14 x2, Corsair HS70 Pro Wireless Headset
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Skylake Special Z170
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    Asus Sabertooth Z170 Mark 1
    Memory
    GSkill Trident Z RGB 16GB 3600 16-16-16-36 (F4-3600C16D-16GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GTX 980 Ti SC x2, EVGA Pro SLI Bridge
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC G2460PG
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 144Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 870 Evo 500GB, Seagate Barracuda 4TB x2
    PSU
    EVGA 1000 P2, EVGA White Custom Braided Cables
    Case
    Corsair Vengeance C70 Gunmetal Black
    Cooling
    Corsair H100i v2, Corsair ML120 x2, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
    Mouse
    Logitech G500s
    Keyboard
    Logitech G910 Orion Spectrum
    Internet Speed
    Verizon Fios Quantum Gateway 75/75
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, Malwarebytes 4.5.2
    Other Info
    Corsair SP120 x4, LG Blu-ray Drive, Durabrand HT-395 100 Watt Dolby Digital Amp
Thanx for that info glasskuter. I haven't had the time to fully explore the various personalization options for windows 11. I did just now take a look at the various accent color options, which, it turns out, do change the color of the bar under the icons.

I am curious to know why the color under the outlook icon changed to red when I never made a change to the accent color option (until just now), and then, when I closed and reopened outlook, it changed back to the color that was set for it by default when I installed win11, which was blue (I have changed it now to match my background).

I still wonder if it turned red on its own to indicate some sort of issue with outlook (and the red color was present whether or not I was actively using outlook). Anyone have any ideas on that?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win11home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DIY
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
    Motherboard
    MSI MAG B550 Tomahawk
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 2x16GB (32GB total) 3600MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 Super (Mem size: 6GB GDDR6/Mem bus:192-bit)
    Sound Card
    on board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultragear Gaming Monitor (Model: 24GL600F)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    I have 4 hard drives currently connect to my system:
    running my current Win11 OS is a 2TB Western Digital Black (7200 RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache)
    Western Digital Green 2TB (IntelliPower SATA 6.0Gb/s 64MB Cache)
    Western Digital Caviar Green 500GB
    WD 1TB (can't access specifics on this drive right now)
    (the last 3 came from my old system w/the last one containing my old OS Win7)
    PSU
    SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold (SS-650KM Active PFC F3) 650W ATX12V V2.3/EPS 12V V2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply New 4th Gen CPU Certified Hasw
    Case
    Cooler Master Elite 431 Plus
    Cooling
    for my CPU I am currently using the stock cooling fan/system that came with it, and in my case I have 1x COUGAR 14CM CFD Green LED Hydraulic (Liquid) Bearing Ultra Silent Fan, 2x COUGAR CF-V12H Vortex Hydro-Dynamic-Bearing (Fluid) 12CM Silent Cooling Fan, and 1 other 120mm fan that I don't remember the specifics for
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop Pro
    Mouse
    generic Wal Mart ONN optical mouse
    Browser
    Brave
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