Change the forecolor setting to the backcolor setting and then back to black e.g.
Private Sub CheckBox1_Change() With Me If .CheckBox1.Value = True Then .TextBox1.Enabled = True .TextBox1.BackColor = &H80000005 .TextBox1.Forecolor = &H80000012 Else .TextBox1.Enabled = False .TextBox1.BackColor = &HE0E0E0 .TextBox1.Forecolor = &HE0E0E0 End If End With End Sub