How to change the Foreground Color of Text in C# Console?

To change the foreground color of text in C# console applications, use the Console.ForegroundColor property. This property accepts a ConsoleColor enumeration value and affects all subsequent text output until changed again.

Syntax

Following is the syntax for setting console foreground color −

Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.ColorName;

To reset to default colors, use −

Console.ResetColor();

Available Colors

The ConsoleColor enumeration provides the following color options −

Example

Let us see an example demonstrating foreground and background color changes −

using System;

class Demo {
    public static void Main(string[] args) {
        Console.BackgroundColor = ConsoleColor.Blue;
        Console.WriteLine("Background color changed = " + Console.BackgroundColor);
        Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Yellow;
        Console.WriteLine("\nForeground color changed = " + Console.ForegroundColor);
    }
}

The output of the above code displays text with blue background and yellow foreground colors −

Background color changed = Blue

Foreground color changed = Yellow

Using Multiple Colors in One Program

You can change colors multiple times within the same program to create colorful output −

using System;

class ColorDemo {
    public static void Main(string[] args) {
        Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Red;
        Console.WriteLine("This text is RED");
        
        Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Green;
        Console.WriteLine("This text is GREEN");
        
        Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Blue;
        Console.WriteLine("This text is BLUE");
        
        Console.ResetColor();
        Console.WriteLine("This text uses default colors");
    }
}

The output of the above code is −

This text is RED
This text is GREEN
This text is BLUE
This text uses default colors

Resetting Colors

Use Console.ResetColor() to restore the default console colors. This is particularly useful when your program changes colors and you want to ensure the console returns to its original state −

using System;

class ResetDemo {
    public static void Main(string[] args) {
        Console.WriteLine("Default colors");
        
        Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Magenta;
        Console.BackgroundColor = ConsoleColor.White;
        Console.WriteLine("Changed to magenta text on white background");
        
        Console.ResetColor();
        Console.WriteLine("Back to default colors");
    }
}

The output of the above code is −

Default colors
Changed to magenta text on white background
Back to default colors

Conclusion

The Console.ForegroundColor property allows you to customize text colors in console applications using the ConsoleColor enumeration. Always use Console.ResetColor() to restore default colors when your program completes to ensure a clean console state.