diff --git a/DesktopClock/Properties/Settings.cs b/DesktopClock/Properties/Settings.cs
index 6c83d13..cf11630 100644
--- a/DesktopClock/Properties/Settings.cs
+++ b/DesktopClock/Properties/Settings.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 using System.ComponentModel;
 using System.IO;
 using System.Windows.Media;
+using DesktopClock.Utilities;
 using Newtonsoft.Json;
 using WpfWindowPlacement;
 
@@ -25,7 +26,6 @@ public sealed class Settings : INotifyPropertyChanged, IDisposable
     public static readonly double MaxSizeLog = 6.5;
 
     public static readonly double MinSizeLog = 2.7;
-
     static Settings()
     {
         // Settings file path from the same directory as the executable.
@@ -349,6 +349,11 @@ private static Settings LoadAndAttemptSave()
     {
         var settings = LoadFromFile();
 
+        if (!File.Exists(FilePath))
+        {
+            settings.ApplySystemThemeDefaultsIfAvailable();
+        }
+
         CanBeSaved = settings.Save();
 
         return settings;
@@ -382,6 +387,15 @@ public void ScaleHeight(double steps)
         Height = (int)exp;
     }
 
+    private void ApplySystemThemeDefaultsIfAvailable()
+    {
+        if (!SystemThemeService.TryGetThemeDefaults(out var textColor, out var outerColor))
+            return;
+
+        TextColor = textColor;
+        OuterColor = outerColor;
+    }
+
     public void Dispose()
     {
         // We don't dispose of the watcher anymore because it would actually hang indefinitely if you had multiple instances of the same clock open.
diff --git a/DesktopClock/Utilities/SystemThemeService.cs b/DesktopClock/Utilities/SystemThemeService.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26203da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DesktopClock/Utilities/SystemThemeService.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Windows;
+using System.Windows.Media;
+using Microsoft.Win32;
+
+namespace DesktopClock.Utilities;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Reads Windows theme and accent color values to seed default UI colors.
+/// </summary>
+public static class SystemThemeService
+{
+    // Fallbacks match the app's existing default colors.
+    private static readonly Color DefaultAccentColor = Color.FromRgb(0, 120, 215);
+    private static readonly Color LightThemeOuterColor = Color.FromRgb(247, 247, 247);
+    private static readonly Color DarkThemeOuterColor = Color.FromRgb(32, 32, 32);
+
+    // Theme and colorization values stored under HKCU.
+    private const string PersonalizeKeyPath = @"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize";
+    private const string DwmKeyPath = @"Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM";
+    private const string AppsUseLightThemeValueName = "AppsUseLightTheme";
+    private const string SystemUsesLightThemeValueName = "SystemUsesLightTheme";
+    private const string ColorizationColorValueName = "ColorizationColor";
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Tries to build default text/outer colors from the system theme and accent color.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <remarks>
+    /// Returns <c>false</c> when the system theme cannot be read (older Windows or missing keys).
+    /// </remarks>
+    public static bool TryGetThemeDefaults(out Color textColor, out Color outerColor)
+    {
+        textColor = default;
+        outerColor = default;
+
+        if (!TryGetSystemThemeIsLight(out var isLightTheme))
+            return false;
+
+        textColor = GetSystemAccentColor();
+        outerColor = isLightTheme ? LightThemeOuterColor : DarkThemeOuterColor;
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Reads the light/dark preference from the Windows personalize key.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static bool TryGetSystemThemeIsLight(out bool isLightTheme)
+    {
+        // AppsUseLightTheme is the primary indicator for Win10+ app theme.
+        if (TryGetRegistryDword(PersonalizeKeyPath, AppsUseLightThemeValueName, out var appsUseLightTheme))
+        {
+            isLightTheme = appsUseLightTheme > 0;
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        // SystemUsesLightTheme is a fallback when AppsUseLightTheme is absent.
+        if (TryGetRegistryDword(PersonalizeKeyPath, SystemUsesLightThemeValueName, out var systemUsesLightTheme))
+        {
+            isLightTheme = systemUsesLightTheme > 0;
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        // Unknown; caller treats this as "no system theme available".
+        isLightTheme = true;
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Resolves the current accent color using DWM, registry, then system parameters.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static Color GetSystemAccentColor()
+    {
+        // Prefer DWM because it tracks the active colorization value.
+        if (TryGetAccentColorFromDwm(out var accent) || TryGetAccentColorFromRegistry(out accent))
+            return accent;
+
+        // SystemParameters is a safe fallback when DWM/registry are unavailable.
+        accent = SystemParameters.WindowGlassColor;
+        if (accent.A != 0)
+            return Color.FromArgb(255, accent.R, accent.G, accent.B);
+
+        return DefaultAccentColor;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Reads a DWORD value from HKCU, if present.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static bool TryGetRegistryDword(string keyPath, string valueName, out int value)
+    {
+        value = default;
+
+        try
+        {
+            using var key = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(keyPath);
+            if (key?.GetValue(valueName) is int intValue)
+            {
+                value = intValue;
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            if (key?.GetValue(valueName) is byte byteValue)
+            {
+                value = byteValue;
+                return true;
+            }
+
+            if (key?.GetValue(valueName) is uint uintValue)
+            {
+                value = unchecked((int)uintValue);
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+        }
+
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Uses DWM to fetch the current colorization color.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static bool TryGetAccentColorFromDwm(out Color color)
+    {
+        color = default;
+
+        try
+        {
+            var result = DwmGetColorizationColor(out var colorizationColor, out _);
+            if (result != 0)
+                return false;
+
+            color = ColorFromArgbUint(colorizationColor);
+            return true;
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Reads the colorization color from the DWM registry key.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static bool TryGetAccentColorFromRegistry(out Color color)
+    {
+        color = default;
+
+        if (!TryGetRegistryDword(DwmKeyPath, ColorizationColorValueName, out var colorization))
+            return false;
+
+        color = ColorFromArgbUint(unchecked((uint)colorization));
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Converts a DWM colorization ARGB value into an opaque WPF color.
+    /// </summary>
+    private static Color ColorFromArgbUint(uint color)
+    {
+        var r = (byte)((color >> 16) & 0xFF);
+        var g = (byte)((color >> 8) & 0xFF);
+        var b = (byte)(color & 0xFF);
+        return Color.FromArgb(255, r, g, b);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Win32 API for reading the current DWM colorization color.
+    /// </summary>
+    [DllImport("dwmapi.dll", PreserveSig = true)]
+    private static extern int DwmGetColorizationColor(out uint colorizationColor, out bool opaqueBlend);
+}