Customizing Screen Search Appearance

Fluent Search Window

Fluent Search lets you customize every visual aspect of Screen Search labels to match your preferences and ensure they're easy to read on your specific setup.

Accessing customization settings

  1. Open Fluent Search (Ctrl + Alt) → type settings → press Enter
  2. Navigate to Screen → Customization

Customization options

Label characters

Choose which characters appear in the hint labels that identify clickable areas on screen.

  • Default: ASDWJKLIFHQERNOUMCXVZGBTYP
  • Characters are assigned in order — the labels use combinations of these characters
  • Use characters that are easy to type quickly on your keyboard layout
  • Avoid characters that conflict with Screen Search action keys (like 2, 3, 4, 5)

Label size

Adjust the size of the hint labels. Larger labels are easier to see but may overlap more elements.

  • Range: 1 to 40
  • Default: 14
  • Find the right balance between visibility and screen coverage for your display resolution

Label borders

Toggle thin borders around each label. Borders improve visibility against varied backgrounds, especially on busy screens.

  • Default: On (borders shown)
  • Try both options to see which provides better contrast on your typical workspace

Label positioning

Choose where labels appear relative to the interactive elements they represent:

Position Description
Center Places the label directly over the element
Center Below (default) Positions the label just below the element — prevents the label from obscuring the element
Left Center Aligns the label to the left side of the element
Left Below Places the label to the left and below the element

Adjusting position can prevent labels from overlapping important on-screen content.

Background color

Set a custom background color for labels to ensure they stand out against your applications and desktop wallpaper.

  • Use the color picker to select a color, or enter a specific hex color code
  • Tip: Choose a contrasting color that differs from your most-used applications' color schemes
  • When disabled, labels use the default accent-based coloring

Keep mouse position

By default, Screen Search may return the mouse cursor to its original position after performing a click. Enable Keep mouse position after click to leave the mouse at the clicked element's location.

Tips

  • High-DPI displays: Consider increasing the label size for better readability on high-resolution screens
  • Busy screens: Use "Center Below" positioning to keep labels from covering the elements they represent
  • Dark themes: A lighter label background color improves visibility
  • Presentations: Increase label size and use bold background colors when demonstrating Screen Search to others

For a visual guide on customization: Fluent Search - Customization