How to make windows, menus and sidebars less see through on a Mac
Sidebars, menus and the Dock show a blur of what is behind them. Reduce transparency makes them solid, and Increase contrast adds clear edges. Where both live.
How do I turn off transparency on a Mac?
- Open System Settings, Accessibility, Display.
- Turn on Reduce transparency.
Menus, sidebars, the Dock, the menu bar and Control Center become solid grey or white. On macOS 27 the same switch also appears in System Settings, Appearance.
What does Increase contrast do?
Increase contrast, in the same place, draws darker borders around buttons, fields and windows, and makes text and edges stand out. It also turns on Reduce transparency. Good for bright rooms and tired eyes.
Does it affect Liquid Glass?
Yes. System Settings notes that adjusting Liquid Glass can turn Reduce Transparency off, and the reverse. See Liquid Glass settings.
Why does a window still look tinted?
Tint window background with wallpaper color, in Appearance, colours windows slightly to match the wallpaper. Turn it off for neutral greys.
The menu bar on its own: menu bar transparency. Less movement as well: reduce motion.
Checked on 22 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) running macOS 27.0.1: Reduce transparency and Increase contrast were read from Accessibility, and Reduce Transparency, the Liquid Glass note and Tint window background with wallpaper color from Appearance.
Questions
How do I turn off transparency on a Mac?
Turn on Reduce transparency in System Settings, Accessibility, Display.
What does Increase contrast do on Mac?
It adds darker borders to buttons and windows and makes the interface solid.
Why are my Mac windows tinted?
Tint window background with wallpaper color is on in System Settings, Appearance.
Read next
- Guide
How to turn off animations on a Mac with Reduce motion
Desktop swipes, Mission Control and full screen all slide and zoom. Reduce motion swaps them for quick fades. What it changes, plus a setting for new windows.
Read › - Guide
How to make text bigger on a Mac without blurring the screen
Text size in Accessibility enlarges text in Finder, Mail, Messages and more, app by app. Plus sidebar size, display scaling, and zooming one window.
Read › - Guide
How to make the menu bar transparent or solid on a Mac
Current macOS draws the menu bar straight over your wallpaper. One setting gives it a solid background again, and a few more change how readable it is.
Read ›