Hi Michael. Which Access version and build are you using? You can find that under File > Account > About Access. Also, are you changing a form's background, a control's background, or the text color?

Try the same selection on a new blank form in a new blank database. Then compare it with a fixed gray selected through More Colors > Custom. Does the theme color still need two selections while the fixed color works the first time? That will help narrow down whether this is specific to theme colors or to the original form.

Richard,

I am using the following version and build. (Version 2608 Build 16.0.20326.20072). I am changing the form detail background color.  I just tested the theme colors on a blank unbound form. When I use the white and gray colors for the first time it works fine. When I select another shade of gray from the recent color block that is when the problem occurs. I can fix it by selecting the same color at the far left of the recent color block.