Black background isn't displayed correctly in PowerShell #12516

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opened 2026-01-31 03:17:42 +00:00 by claunia · 3 comments
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Originally created by @EmilyGraceSeville7cf on GitHub (Feb 11, 2021).

Environment

Windows build number: Win32NT 10.0.19042.0 Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.19042.0
Windows Terminal version (if applicable): 1.5.10271.0

Steps to reproduce

If you execute this code peace than you see yellow text with white background instead of yellow text with black background.

 Write-Host "TextToOutput" -ForegroundColor Yellow -BackgroundColor Black

image

Expected behavior

Yellow text with black background.

Actual behavior

Yellow text with white background.

Originally created by @EmilyGraceSeville7cf on GitHub (Feb 11, 2021). <!-- 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨 I ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING BEFORE PROCEEDING: 1. If I delete this entire template and go my own path, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 2. If I list multiple bugs/concerns in this one issue, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 3. If I write an issue that has many duplicates, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement (and without necessarily spending time to find the exact duplicate ID number). 4. If I leave the title incomplete when filing the issue, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. 5. If I file something completely blank in the body, the core team may close my issue without further explanation or engagement. All good? Then proceed! --> <!-- This bug tracker is monitored by Windows Terminal development team and other technical folks. **Important: When reporting BSODs or security issues, DO NOT attach memory dumps, logs, or traces to Github issues**. Instead, send dumps/traces to secure@microsoft.com, referencing this GitHub issue. If this is an application crash, please also provide a Feedback Hub submission link so we can find your diagnostic data on the backend. Use the category "Apps > Windows Terminal (Preview)" and choose "Share My Feedback" after submission to get the link. Please use this form and describe your issue, concisely but precisely, with as much detail as possible. --> # Environment ```none Windows build number: Win32NT 10.0.19042.0 Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.19042.0 Windows Terminal version (if applicable): 1.5.10271.0 ``` # Steps to reproduce If you execute this code peace than you see yellow text with white background instead of yellow text with black background. ```powershell Write-Host "TextToOutput" -ForegroundColor Yellow -BackgroundColor Black ``` ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/42812113/107644949-d69d7d00-6cc3-11eb-9304-b0560b01f902.png) # Expected behavior Yellow text with black background. # Actual behavior Yellow text with white background.
claunia added the Resolution-Duplicate label 2026-01-31 03:17:42 +00:00
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@DHowett commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2021):

Unfortunately, this is by design. PowerShell erroneously tells us to use a black background so often that it would cause there to be black streaks across the display (even if the terminal background was set to white or acrylic transparency.)

We had to disable black for PowerShell, specifically. #6810. Tracking the "fix" in /dup #6807.

@DHowett commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2021): Unfortunately, this is by design. PowerShell erroneously tells us to use a black background _so often_ that it would cause there to be black streaks across the display (even if the terminal background was set to white or acrylic transparency.) We had to disable black for PowerShell, specifically. #6810. Tracking the "fix" in /dup #6807.
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@ghost commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2021):

Hi! We've identified this issue as a duplicate of another one that already exists on this Issue Tracker. This specific instance is being closed in favor of tracking the concern over on the referenced thread. Thanks for your report!

@ghost commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2021): Hi! We've identified this issue as a duplicate of another one that already exists on this Issue Tracker. This specific instance is being closed in favor of tracking the concern over on the referenced thread. Thanks for your report!
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@KalleOlaviNiemitalo commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2021):

I presume it is caused by https://github.com/microsoft/terminal/pull/6810, i.e. PowerShell asks for a black background when it really wants a default background, and Windows Terminal tries to work around that by recognising the powershell.exe name and giving it the default background when it asks for a black background.

@KalleOlaviNiemitalo commented on GitHub (Feb 11, 2021): I presume it is caused by <https://github.com/microsoft/terminal/pull/6810>, i.e. PowerShell asks for a black background when it really wants a default background, and Windows Terminal tries to work around that by recognising the `powershell.exe` name and giving it the default background when it asks for a black background.
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Reference: starred/terminal#12516