Are you tired of the same old look on your Windows 11 desktop? Do you want to change the theme in Windows 11? You’re not alone!
Apply a Windows theme to boost your mood and productivity. However, the desktop wallpaper of a white-sand beach doesn’t really scream “Get to Work”!
Windows 11 does offer many theme options. Plus, with hundreds to choose from at the Microsoft Store, you will likely find one you like.
Lesson Overview – Change the Theme in Windows 11
In this lesson, we look at how to apply one of the Windows 11 default themes or download one of the hundreds available from the Microsoft Store.
In this quick “How-to” guide, we will walk you through the easy process of changing your theme in Windows 11.
Difficulty Level
BEGINNER
Opening the Themes Settings
Step 1. Open Windows Settings
- First, click on the Windows Start Menu
- Then click on “Settings”
Step 2. Select Windows Themes
- First, select “Personalization”
- Then select “Themes”
Choosing a Theme
Microsoft Windows 11 includes a handful of default themes you can choose from. Let’s take a quick look at the available combinations of desktop backgrounds and accent colors.
Step 1. Choose one of the available themes
- Under the “Current theme” section, select one of the default themes
- Try selecting a few themes to see the changes applied
Download Themes from the Microsoft Store
Okay, we know the selection of default themes is limited. But did you know you can download hundreds of FREE themes from the Microsoft Store?
So, whenever you’re ready to change themes in Windows 11, you’ll have a large selection of theme designs to select from.
Step 1. Open the Microsoft Store
- Click on “Browse themes” to see all the available themes in the Microsoft store
Step 2. Finding a theme
- Scroll through hundreds of popular themes available to download
Step 3. Selecting a theme
- Select a theme to open the details page
Step 4. Downloading a theme
- Click on “Get” to download (download speeds may vary)
Step 5. Opening a Downloaded Theme
- Once the download completes, click on “Open” to return to the “Settings” window
Step 6. Applying the downloaded theme
- Select the new downloaded theme to apply
Deleting a Theme
While themes don’t take up much storage space, you may want to clear out some that you may never use again. So, let’s have a look at how you can remove unwanted theme files.
Step 1. Opening the “Delete” menu
- Right-click on any theme image to open the “Delete” context menu
Step 2. Deleting the selected theme
- Click on “Delete” to remove the theme from Windows.
Note: only downloaded and custom themes can be deleted. System default themes cannot be removed.
Lesson Wrap Up
Many users will change the theme in Microsoft Windows 11 almost immediately after installing or upgrading. Also, with hundreds of pre-made themes in the Microsoft Store, you’re sure to find one you like. Plus, while the settings pages will look different, these same theme options are available in Windows 10.
But if you can’t find that perfect theme, create one of your own. You can start with one and make minor adjustments to the color settings or desktop background to achieve that custom look.
See our lessons on Changing your Desktop Background or Setting Custom Colors in Windows 11 to create your own custom theme.
