How to Customize or Turn Off the Desktop Selection Rectangle on Windows 11/10?

What do we mean by Rectangle Selection? A Rectangle Selection box appears on the desktop when you left-click on it, hold the mouse, and then drag the pointer over items to select them. Once you left click and hold and then drag the pointer over items to select them, a translucent selection rectangle box opens by default. Things get selected so you can move to the different areas on your computer or delete them if required once you release the left click.

You can change the color of the selection rectangle background and borders on Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. If you no longer need to see the selection area, or if it affects your computer performance, you can easily disable it. You will only see an outline selection rectangle on the desktop once the translucent selection rectangle turns off for the desktop.

This risewindows article will guide how to customize or disable the Desktop Selection Rectangle on Windows 11/10.

How to Change the Background Color of the Desktop Selection Rectangle?

Follow the below-illustrated steps to customize the background color of the selection rectangle if you find the rectangle hard to see or want to personalize your Windows computer:-

Step 1. Start with opening the paint (mspaint.exe) application on your computer.

Now, click on the Start button and type paint. Click on the same name in the search result to open it.

Step 2. After that, click on the Edit colors button once the Paint application appears on your computer.

Step 3. Then, select a primary color of your choice and move the cursor over the color palette to get your desired color.

Step 4. When it is complete, make a note of the RGB (Red Green Blue) numbers (ex: “98 250 236”) for your color. Repeat the above steps to get one more RGB number combination.

Step 5. Next, close the Paint application.

Step 6. Further, open the Registry Editor.

Step 7. Go to the following key from the left pane of the Registry Editor window:-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

Step 8. From the right sidebar, find HotTrackingColor REG_SZ and double-click on it to change its default “Value data.”

Step 9. Now, enter the desired RGB value with spaces.

Step 10. Click on the OK button.

Step 11. Finally, reboot your PC to apply the changes.

How to Edit the Border Color of the Desktop Selection Rectangle?

It is also possible to change or edit the color of the translucent rectangle border. Follow the below-described steps to edit the border color of the desktop selection rectangle:-

Step 1. Start with opening the paint (mspaint.exe) application on your PC.

You can click on the Start button and type paint. To do so, click on the same name in the search result to open it.

Step 2. Now, click on the Edit colors button once the Paint application appears on your computer.

Step 3. Afterward, select a primary color of your choice and move the cursor over the color palette to get your desired color.

Step 4. When it is complete, make a note of the RGB (Red Green Blue) numbers (ex: “98 250 236”) for your color. Repeat the above steps to get one more RGB number combination.

Step 5. Next, close the Paint application.

Step 6. Further, open the Registry Editor.

Step 7. Go to the following key from the left pane of the Registry Editor window:-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

Step 8. Now, double-click on the Hilight REG_SG to modify it from the right side of the Colors folder.

Step 9. Next, enter the RGB numbers (ex: “255 255 255”) for selected text background color from the “Value data” field.

Note: The default RGB value of “Hilight” REG_SZ is 0 120 215.

Step 10. After that, click on the OK button.

Step 11. Reboot your computer to apply the changes.

How to Enable or Disable Translucent Selection Rectangle on Desktop in Visual Effects Performance Options?

Follow the below-mentioned steps to enable or disable the Translucent Selection Rectangle on Desktop using Visual Effects Performance Options:-

Step 1. Start with pressing the Windows + R keys from the keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2. Now to open the Visual Effects tab from the Performance Options, type the SystemPropertiesPerformance into the Run box and click on the OK button.

Step 3. Next, check or uncheck the checkbox “Show translucent selection rectangle” to enable or disable the feature.

Step 4. After that, click on the Apply button.

Step 5. Then, press the OK button.

How to Turn On or Off Translucent Selection Rectangle on Desktop via Registry Editor?

Step 1. Now, open the Registry Editor.

Step 2. Go to the following key from the left pane of the Registry Editor window:-

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Step 3. Next, double-click on the ListviewAlphaSelect REG_DWORD from the right sidebar and set its “Value data” to the following:-

• 0: Turn off the future.
• 1: Turn on the future.

That’s all.

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