diff --git a/codespell_lib/_codespell.py b/codespell_lib/_codespell.py
index 6e3662a8b7..62c09a14dd 100644
--- a/codespell_lib/_codespell.py
+++ b/codespell_lib/_codespell.py
@@ -18,11 +18,13 @@
 
 import argparse
 import configparser
+import ctypes
 import fnmatch
 import os
 import re
 import sys
 import textwrap
+from ctypes import wintypes
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Match, Optional, Pattern, Sequence, Set, Tuple
 
 # autogenerated by setuptools_scm
@@ -120,6 +122,10 @@
 EX_DATAERR = 65
 EX_CONFIG = 78
 
+# Windows specific constants
+ENABLE_VIRTUAL_TERMINAL_PROCESSING = 0x0004
+STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE = wintypes.HANDLE(-11)
+
 # OPTIONS:
 #
 # ARGUMENTS:
@@ -308,12 +314,44 @@ def _toml_to_parseconfig(toml_dict: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     return {k: "" if v is True else v for k, v in toml_dict.items() if v is not False}
 
 
+def _supports_ansi_colors() -> bool:
+    if sys.platform == "win32":
+        # Windows Terminal enables ANSI escape codes by default. In other cases
+        # it is disabled.
+        # See https://ss64.com/nt/syntax-ansi.html for more information.
+        kernel32 = ctypes.WinDLL("kernel32")
+
+        # fmt: off
+        kernel32.GetConsoleMode.argtypes = (
+            wintypes.HANDLE,   # _In_  hConsoleHandle
+            wintypes.LPDWORD,  # _Out_ lpMode
+        )
+        # fmt: on
+        kernel32.GetConsoleMode.restype = wintypes.BOOL
+
+        mode = wintypes.DWORD()
+        handle = kernel32.GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE)
+        if not kernel32.GetConsoleMode(handle, ctypes.byref(mode)):
+            # TODO: print a warning with the error message on stderr?
+            return False
+
+        return (mode.value & ENABLE_VIRTUAL_TERMINAL_PROCESSING) != 0
+    elif sys.platform == "wasi":
+        # WASI disables ANSI escape codes for security reasons.
+        # See https://github.com/WebAssembly/WASI/issues/162.
+        return False
+    elif sys.stdout.isatty():
+        return True
+
+    return False
+
+
 def parse_options(
     args: Sequence[str],
 ) -> Tuple[argparse.Namespace, argparse.ArgumentParser, List[str]]:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(formatter_class=NewlineHelpFormatter)
 
-    parser.set_defaults(colors=sys.stdout.isatty())
+    parser.set_defaults(colors=_supports_ansi_colors())
     parser.add_argument("--version", action="version", version=VERSION)
 
     parser.add_argument(
@@ -321,8 +359,7 @@ def parse_options(
         "--disable-colors",
         action="store_false",
         dest="colors",
-        help="disable colors, even when printing to terminal "
-        "(always set for Windows)",
+        help="disable colors, even when printing to terminal",
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "-c",
@@ -1130,7 +1167,7 @@ def main(*args: str) -> int:
     for dictionary in use_dictionaries:
         build_dict(dictionary, misspellings, ignore_words)
     colors = TermColors()
-    if not options.colors or sys.platform == "win32":
+    if not options.colors:
         colors.disable()
 
     if options.summary: