Changing the themes on your Windows 11 PC may not seem like a serious thing, but it may be energizing. It can grow monotonous to see the same colours every time you turn on your computer.
The good news is that you have a variety of themes, so if you get tired of one, you can always switch to another. This post has outlined techniques on how to change themes on Windows 11 that you may already be familiar with, but there may be others you have never used.
The personalization settings in Windows already include support for themes by default and Microsoft no longer formally releases any new themes, although the Microsoft Store still offers a wide variety of themes. You can also test third-party themes if you are not happy with them.
Why you should not Change the Themes on your Windows 11 Manually
Customizing all of these components independently to create a good-looking theme is a time-consuming operation that may leave you unsatisfied. Finally, you will be perplexed because your taskbar will have different colours depending on whether your system is in light or dark mode. To avoid this and save time, choose simple alternatives with minimal customizations.
A Windows theme includes the following components:
- Background or wallpaper
- Colour profile
- The sound profile
- The appearance of the Mouse cursor
How to Change Themes on Windows 11
There are several ways through which you can change themes on Windows 11, they include:
Using Settings
The simplest approach to change the themes on Windows 11 is by going into Settings if you don’t feel comfortable typing codes or using the Run box.
- The quickest way to reach Settings is by pressing Win + I.
- Alternatively, you can click on the Windows Start symbol and select the Settings option.
- Once in Settings, select Personalization and then choose Themes.
- If you are dissatisfied with what’s available, click on the Browse Themes option to the right.
- It will take you to the Microsoft Store’s Theme section, where you can select from a wide range of themes.
- The free ones will be branded as such, while those that are not will have a price tag.
- Don’t worry about remembering which themes you downloaded because they will be labeled Installed.
- Once you’ve installed a theme, return to the Themes section of Settings and click on the theme to apply it.
That is one approach to change the themes on Windows 11 computers, but if you are having trouble with this method, there are other methods, check them out below.
Using the Desktop Context Menu
In Windows OS, changing the desktop wallpaper and themes is best done via the desktop context menu. We hope that Windows 11 keeps that option available in the context menu. The Desktop context menu can be used to change the theme as seen below:
- Start your Windows computer and right-click on the desktop.
- Now, from the context menu, select Personalization.
- Scroll to the bottom and select Themes.
- To apply one of the various themes to your system, simply click on it under the Current Theme section.
- Close the Settings application.
That’s it!
Using the Run Box on Windows 11
There is a code you can enter to access those themes if you are comfortable using the Run box. Follow the steps below:
- Press the Windows + R keys to bring up the Run box.
- After opening the box, type shell::ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921-Microsoft.Personalization.
- When you launch the Personalization application, you will get a list of your available themes.
- When you click on the theme, it will be applied immediately.
You may also enter ms-settings:themes in the Run box to access Themes in Settings.
Using the Command Prompt
Another method for applying themes is the Command Prompt, however, there is one thing to keep in mind. To use the theme, you must first know what it is called. It differs from the other alternatives in that you can browse among them and select the one you want without knowing the name.
You might wish to try the alternative methods if you like to browse the available themes. However, if you know the name, here’s how to enter it:
- Search for the Command Prompt in the search bar, but do it as an Administrator.
- Once it’s open, type the following command: C:\Windows\resources\Themes\aero.theme.
- Without requiring a computer restart, the theme will be applied.
- If you entered the command but nothing happened, you might get better results by installing any pending updates.
- To check for updates, press the Windows + I keys to go to Settings, followed by Windows Updates at the bottom left.
- If there are any pending updates, Windows will let you know.
This method should help you change the themes on Windows 11.
Using a Shortcut
You can use your preferred theme by making a shortcut to it on your desktop. You won’t have to launch the File Explorer or Settings app to change the theme this way. Here’s how to go about it:
- To open the File Explorer software, press Windows + E.
- Go to the address bar and input the following: C:\Windows\resources\Themes\
- To open the Themes folder, use the enter key.
- Right-click on a theme and select Show More Options.
- Then select the Desktop (create shortcut) option from the Send to the menu.
- To return to the desktop, press Windows + D.
- Before running the shortcut, make sure you close the Settings app.
- To apply the theme to your computer, double-click on the newly created theme shortcut.
Using the File Explorer
If you are already using File Explorer, the ability to change the themes on Windows 11 from here will be useful. It may already be on your taskbar, follow the steps below:
- You can search for it or use the Windows + E keys to find it.
- Paste %LocalAppData%MicrosoftWindowsThemes into the address bar.
- You should now be able to see the themes that you can use.
- They will be applied once you double-click on them.
Using Power Shell to change the themes on Windows 11
If you have the names of the themes remembered or saved somewhere, this is where you will need them. PowerShell can be used to change themes, but you must give the theme name. However, you must first launch PowerShell by right-clicking the Windows Start button and selecting Terminal (Admin).
- Enter the start-process -filepath “C:WindowsResourcesThemesaero.theme” command in the PowerShell window once it has opened.
- You can add one theme, however, you can also substitute aero with dark, and the dark theme will be used.
- Your computer will not need to be restarted.
You can choose from a variety of themes you think your computer could use a new look. The number of times you can switch the theme is unlimited. You can see that there are several ways to change it. Try the other options if you see an error with one approach because it may be due to an upgrade.
Which method do you like best? Please drop your comments in the section provided below.