Smart Contrast aims to make text easier to distinguish from its background. It checks supported page text and adjusts text colour where the calculated contrast is too low.
This can be useful when a page contains pale text on a light background or other combinations that are difficult to read.
Turn Smart Contrast on
- Open the widget.
- Expand Settings.
- Select Smart Contrast.
- Wait for the page analysis and compare the text with the original presentation.
The feature may also be activated by the Poor Eyesight or Smart Screen profile when the required capability is available.
What changes
Smart Contrast works on supported text elements. It can change a text colour while keeping the surrounding page structure in place.
For example, pale grey paragraph text on a light background may become darker. Text that already meets the tool's contrast target may remain unchanged. An unchanged element does not necessarily mean the feature failed.
The tool uses a calculated contrast target, but this is not a whole-page accessibility assessment. Complex backgrounds, images, embedded content, and elements outside the supported analysis may not receive the same treatment.
How it differs from Contrast
The ordinary Contrast setting changes the visual presentation more broadly. Smart Contrast responds to text and background combinations identified by the tool.
To compare them:
- Start with the original presentation.
- Enable Smart Contrast and read the passage that was difficult.
- Turn it off.
- Try the manual Contrast setting on the same passage.
Choose the result that is easier to use. If you combine several visual settings, check the result again because their effects can interact.
Turn it off
Select Smart Contrast again to disable the feature and restore the text colours it changed. Other active visual adjustments may still affect the appearance.
If the control is missing or the result is limited
The website owner must enable the corresponding capability and visitor setting. Allow the page to finish loading before trying it. Text in an image or an embedded third-party area may not be available to the widget.
Website owners should test representative pages, including text over images, links, and buttons. See Opening and Navigating Widget Settings and Adjusting Contrast and Colour.