How to fix color contrast on Shopify

Steps for Shopify

1. Go to Online Store → Themes → click Customize on your active theme.
2. Open Theme settings (the paint-palette icon) → Colors. Most Shopify themes expose global color pickers here — adjust the relevant swatch (e.g. 'Body text', 'Link color', 'Accent') to a darker shade that passes 4.5:1.
3. If the color isn't exposed as a theme setting, go to Online Store → Themes → ⋯ (Actions) → Edit code, open assets/base.css (or theme.css / application.css), find the CSS rule containing the failing hex value, and replace it with a passing shade.
4. For themes that use CSS custom properties, search for the hex value in theme.css and update the --color-* variable so the change applies globally.
5. Save and preview; run Lighthouse (Chrome DevTools → Lighthouse → Accessibility) to confirm the issue is resolved.

/* BEFORE — fails WCAG 4.5:1 on white background */
a, .link-color {
  color: #007fbf; /* contrast ratio ~4.38:1 on #ffffff */
}

/* AFTER — passes WCAG 4.5:1 on white background */
a, .link-color {
  color: #006699; /* contrast ratio ~5.06:1 on #ffffff ✓ */
}

/* Tip: use a CSS custom property so one change fixes every instance */
:root {
  --color-link: #006699;
}
a, .link-color {
  color: var(--color-link);
}

What is color contrast?

Color contrast is the difference in brightness between the color of your text and the color of the background behind it. Web accessibility guidelines (WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.4.3) require that normal-sized text achieve a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1, and large text (18pt/24px or 14pt/18.67px bold) at least 3:1. A ratio of 4.38:1 — like a medium blue (#007fbf) on white (#ffffff) — falls just short of the normal-text threshold. The fix is simply choosing a slightly darker (or lighter) version of the color so the ratio clears 4.5:1.

Roughly 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color vision deficiency, and millions more have low vision or read in poor lighting conditions. Text that fails the contrast threshold is genuinely hard to read for these shoppers, directly reducing conversions and increasing bounce rates. Legally, WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the standard referenced in ADA, Section 508 (US), EN 301 549 (EU), and equivalent laws worldwide — failing it exposes your store to demand letters, complaints, and lawsuits. Search engines also reward accessible, readable pages, so fixing contrast can have a small positive effect on rankings.

See the complete Color contrast guide for every platform and the full background.