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Fix Webpage Display Issues in Internet Explorer and Firefox

· 2 min read
Luke Murray
Luke Murray
Author

If web pages are displaying with missing buttons, broken layouts, or unusual colours in both Internet Explorer and Firefox, the issue is likely not with the browsers themselves. Instead, it is usually caused by Windows High Contrast mode being enabled.

High Contrast mode overrides the colours and styles used by websites to improve readability for users with visual impairments. However, it can make normal web browsing look broken — buttons may disappear, backgrounds may turn black, and text colours may change unexpectedly.

How to disable High Contrast mode​

  1. Click Start.
  2. Click All Programs (or Programs).
  3. Click Accessibility.
  4. Click Display Settings.
  5. Look for the High Contrast setting and disable it.

Alternatively, you can toggle High Contrast mode quickly by pressing Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen on your keyboard. A dialog will appear asking if you want to turn High Contrast on or off.

Why does this affect web pages?​

When High Contrast mode is active, Windows tells browsers to ignore website-defined colours and styles, replacing them with the system's high contrast colour scheme. This is by design, but it means CSS-styled buttons, icons, and backgrounds may not render as the web developer intended. Disabling the mode restores normal rendering.