How to Disable Transparency Effects in macOS Mojave

[MacRumors]

In macOS, transparency - or more properly, translucency - is a visual effect many apps use to create a sense of depth by hinting at content residing in the background.

An example of transparency is when content behind a window shows through in interface elements like menus and sidebars. It's evident in the screenshot above, for example, in which the colors of the desktop wallpaper bleed through the sidebar in the Photos app.

A similar effect is sometimes used within app interface elements that are windowed, allowing window content to show through other elements like toolbars. An instance of this can be seen below, where the folders are visible through Finder's toolbar as if through frosted glass.

Transparency enabled (left); transparency disabled​

The effect can look cool, but it can also be distracting if you're trying to focus on content, especially if you're editing photos. Fortunately, macOS lets you turn off transparency, but the way to do it isn't immediately obvious. The following steps show you how.

How to Disable Transparency in macOS Mojave

1. Launch System Preferences from your Mac's Dock, from the Applications folder, or from the Apple menu bar (? -> System Preferences...).
   
   
   
   Select the Accessibility preference pane.
2. In the sidebar, under Vision, click Display.
   
   
   
   Check the box next to Reduce transparency.

Article Link: How to Disable Transparency Effects in macOS Mojave

 

[BigMcGuire]

Does this save resources at all? I used to do this on my iphones back in the day thinking I saved CPU cycles and ram.

 

[martyjmclean]

Setting your Accent Colour to Greyscale also turns off wallpaper window tinting. Another tip to increase legibility.
[doublepost=1544791052][/doublepost]

Does this save resources at all? I used to do this on my iphones back in the day thinking I saved CPU cycles and ram.

None of this makes any difference on modern computers.

 

[Bugsi]

So. . .exactly the same way you disable it for the last several MacOS operating systems?

 

[edrozenberg]

Setting your Accent Colour to Greyscale also turns off wallpaper window tinting. Another tip to increase legibility.
[doublepost=1544791052][/doublepost]

Recent betas remove the window tinting when using any accent color with reduce transparency enabled (I'm on 10.14.3 Beta (18D21c)). This is great. Tinting still remains in the dock, notification center, and alerts - no big deal, window tinting was the one that was really annoying.

 

[autrefois]

Setting your Accent Colour to Greyscale also turns off wallpaper window tinting. Another tip to increase legibility.
[doublepost=1544791052][/doublepost]
None of this makes any difference on modern computers.

Can you please define “modern” computers? Do you mean anything that supports Mojave — for example, would a MacBook Pro or Air from Mid-2012 be considered modern?

 

[n-evo]

Setting your Accent Colour to Greyscale also turns off wallpaper window tinting. Another tip to increase legibility.

There's no accent color called "Greyscale". It's called "Graphite".

Can you please define “modern” computers? Do you mean anything that supports Mojave — for example, would a MacBook Pro or Air from Mid-2012 be considered modern?

These fancy effects are handled by your Mac's GPU so disabling them won't save your CPU.

 

[2499723]

Does this save resources at all? I used to do this on my iphones back in the day thinking I saved CPU cycles and ram.

I still do this on my iPhone XR (started with the iPhone 5 and iOS 7). It’s less about resources at this stage, and more that I’ve come to prefer low transparency and reduced motion.

 

[opeter]

@mac1984user:
If I remember correctly, with TinkerTool you can disable most of the animations.

Or if you know the commands for Terminal.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I still do this on my iPhone XR (started with the iPhone 5 and iOS 7). It’s less about resources at this stage, and more that I’ve come to prefer low transparency and reduced motion.

Same here! I thought I was the only one that did this. I am so happy to have found Reduced Motion for my MacBook thanks to this article, all these years I had no clue it existed (same for transparency for Mac OS). I've used both since my 6+ iPhone and prefer it.

 

[fairuz]

None of this makes any difference on modern computers.

These effects might be GPU-intensive, which matters if you don't have a dGPU. IDK about transparency, but I've seen other effects lag on weaker Macs.

Anyway, I'm glad they have this option (along with high contrast mode) because it makes things easier to see for me. I don't have a disability, but when I'm using a computer all day at work, this stuff matters.

 

[killr_b]

The transparency works backwards of how it should. The active window should be opaque, and the ones not in use should be semi transparent to fade into the background. I don’t understand the point of the way it is right now.

 

[puma1552]

What I don't like about it is how when reduce transparency is on, for some reason all of your function control popup windows like brightness, volume, etc., are basically gray now instead of bright white...seems opposite of how it should be.

 

[jbarley]

Really wish I could get rid of this dropdown menu transparency, it's almost a deal breaker for me.

 

[n-evo]

Really wish I could get rid of this dropdown menu transparency, it's almost a deal breaker for me.

View attachment 811268

I hope you realize that's an issue with whatever third-party browser and/or theme you're using and not an actual macOS bug.

 

[martyjmclean]

There's no accent color called "Greyscale". It's called "Graphite".

You still knew which colour I was talking about.

I hope you realize that's an issue with whatever third-party browser and/or theme you're using.

I hope you realise they were being sarcastic.

Stop being obtusely fastidious.

 

[MacGizmo]

You still knew which colour I was talking about.

I hope you realise they were being sarcastic.

Stop being obtusely fastidious.

LOL! Dontcha just hate when people do that?!!!

 

[n-evo]

You still knew which colour I was talking about.

Yeah, I did. However your instructions are meant for someone with less knowledge than me. "Greyscale" and "Graphite" are simply two wildly different things in the macOS landscape. If someone actually starts looking for "Greyscale" chances are they'll end up in Accessibility turning their entire screen black and white. Try to accept a well-meant correction with a little bit more grace. Especially when a fairly small textual difference makes a world of difference in practice.

I hope you realise they were being sarcastic.

Hah, I actually didn't catch it so I'll give you that. Truth be told it wouldn't be the first time around here someone doesn't know where the bug is actually coming from and thinks it's a macOS bug.

 

[stevenjwallach]

perhaps someone can help with this situation. after upgrading to mojave, the fonts displayed in the "save as" window, for all apps is greyed out. i tried using the "show options" to correct this, but no luck. the fonts for the files and directories using FINDER work and are clear. only the files displayed when using the "save as" command (also export file). any suggestions? i tried transparency setting, but that did not help. running on mac laptop. same problem on my mac mini server.

 

[StellarVixen]

Recent betas remove the window tinting when using any accent color with reduce transparency enabled (I'm on 10.14.3 Beta (18D21c)). This is great. Tinting still remains in the dock, notification center, and alerts - no big deal, window tinting was the one that was really annoying.

There is also tinting in Safari address bar drop down list. Tinting shall be gone from everything when "Reduce Transparency" is turned on.