How to Add the Classic Windows 2000 Blue Background to Windows 10

Longtime Windows users will remember the classic blue background color that you’d see by default on your desktop if you weren’t using a wallpaper image in Windows 2000 or XP. Windows Vista and newer removed that exact color choice from the default palette, but you can still bring that original blue color back, even in Windows 10.

Background Color Choices in Windows 10

First, make sure you’re running at least the Fall Creators Update version of Windows 10 or newer in order to customize your desktop background color. Versions of Windows 10 prior to the Fall Creators Update only offered a select number of color options, while the latest versions allow the user to select any color via RGB or Hexadecimal values.

Using the Classic Windows Blue Background in Windows 10

Once you’re running a compatible version of Windows 10, click on the Start Menu and launch the Settings app (the gear icon in the Start Menu sidebar). Head to Settings > Personalization > Background.

From the Background drop-down menu on the right side of the window, choose Solid color. Then, scroll down to find a list of color options. Click Custom color at the bottom of the list.

In the new Pick a background color window that appears, enter either the RGB values or the hexadecimal value (just pick one; for our purposes they’re two methods of doing the same thing).

RGB
Red: 59
Green: 110
Blue: 165

Hexadecimal
#3B6EA5

Click Done to save your change and then close the Settings window. You’ll now see that your Windows 10 desktop is showcasing that warm, nostalgic blue background that we all remember.

Classic Windows Blue Background Wallpaper

If you’re running an older version of Windows 10 that doesn’t offer the custom color option, or if you want to add the classic Windows XP/2000 blue background to a device that doesn’t allow for custom colors, we’ve prepared a 5K wallpaper image for your convenience.