diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/palette.py b/src/calibre/gui2/palette.py
index 6e303fe58b..a0e477ff16 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/palette.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/palette.py
@@ -108,6 +108,14 @@ QPalette.unserialize_from_bytes = unserialize_palette
 
 
 def fix_palette_colors(p):
+    if iswindows:
+        # On Windows the highlighted colors for inactive widgets are the
+        # same as non highlighted colors. This is a regression from Qt 4.
+        # Possibly fixed in Qt 6.5 need to test
+        # https://bugreports.qt-project.org/browse/QTBUG-41060
+        for role in (QPalette.ColorRole.Highlight, QPalette.ColorRole.HighlightedText, QPalette.ColorRole.Base, QPalette.ColorRole.AlternateBase):
+            p.setColor(QPalette.ColorGroup.Inactive, role, p.color(QPalette.ColorGroup.Active, role))
+        return True
     return False