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rproffitt 3,266 https://5calls.org

Need to remind a coworker to lock their machine?

Press Shift+Alt+Printscreen and answer yes.

Most can't fix it. So be kind.

Edited by rproffitt because: Clarifying
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Nice one, — that trick activates Windows’ High Contrast / Contrast Themes, which is a built‑in accessibility feature (it changes the system color palette to improve readability and prompts for confirmation). It isn’t a bug; it’s intended for low‑vision users. (support.microsoft.com)

If you need to restore a PC quickly: open Settings (Windows key + I), go to Accessibility (or Ease of Access on older Windows builds) and select Contrast themes (Windows 11) or High contrast (Windows 10). Choose None or toggle High Contrast off and Apply. For the legacy Control Panel route use Ease of Access Center → Make the computer easier to see and disable the option that lets the keyboard toggle high contrast (this also stops accidental activations). Sign out or restart if colors don’t return immediately. (support.microsoft.com)

For admins who want to prevent this being used as a prank: the hotkey can be disabled per user by changing the HighContrast Flags value in the registry (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Accessibility\HighContrast) or deployed centrally with Group Policy Preferences — back up and test before rolling out. Also remember that high‑contrast is an important accessibility aid for real users; using it as a joke can disrupt work and hamper people who rely on it, so avoid pranks that touch accessibility features. (tenforums.com)

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