This problem seems to affect primarily Haswell-based notebooks with Intel HD Graphics drivers in use. Â I have not yet seen it affect Broadwell chipsets, but it may.
The issue is that the Start Menu text is too dark — and in fact, it becomes gradually darker — and illegible, fading into the background of the Start Menu.  While it seems likely that a Windows 10 setting (or theme) should be to blame, it actually is neither.
The problem is the Intel Graphics driver, which includes a setting that purports to implement application-specific fixes.  To correct the problem, all you have to do is disable the setting and reboot the PC:
- Right-click the Desktop and choose Graphics Properties…
- Choose 3D.
- Under Application Optimal Mode, click Disable.
- Reboot the PC.
The problem is solved!
It’s likely in the future that Intel will correct their driver optimization presets for the Windows 10 desktop windows manager / Explorer.exe, but until that day, this is the correct workaround.
Sorry, but “Graphics Properties” is not an option when I right-click the Windows 10 desktop. All I have is “Display Settings” and “Personalize.” Any other ideas? I have the Intel Q33 Express chipset.
It sounds like your Intel graphics driver is not completely installed, or the shell extension has failed to load for some reason. I would suggest downloading the latest version of the Intel graphics driver, then following the steps as listed above and see if it works.
I have been tearing my hair out for months trying to work out why the text on the start menu was becoming unreadable. Only by chance that I stumbled across this article after searching all different manner of other pages. Must of been luck that I changed the way I searched for the issue. Perfect solution! I cant thank you enough for such a simple fix.
It’s happening to me, too, and I don’t have Intel Graphics at all. In fact, this computer uses an AMD APU (combination CPU and GPU) and has Intel nothing Inside.
Thank you so much! I had this problem for more than a year and tried diferent things without results.