How to Download and Install Themes in Windows 11

What is a Theme?

A Windows 11 theme bundles wallpapers, colors, sounds, and mouse pointers into a single visual package. Microsoft includes several pre-installed options, and over 100 additional packages wait for download in the Microsoft Store. The Store is the official place to get Windows 11 themes from Microsoft.

Themes work the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro. Applying one does not need a restart, and you can switch back at any time. Nothing you do with a theme changes your files or installed apps.

How to Change Themes on 🪟 Windows 11

All theme controls are in one place: Settings › Personalization › Themes. These steps take you there.

1. Open Settings. Click the Start button (the Windows icon on the taskbar 🖥️), then click Settings. Pressing Win+I opens it faster. The Settings ⚙️ window appears with a menu down the left side.
2. Click Personalization in the left side menu. The right side now shows a preview of your current look and a list of options.
3. Click Themes on the right side. You should see a “Current theme” area at the top, a row of theme thumbnails below it, and a Browse themes button.

That’s it. You are on the Themes page, which is the starting point for everything else in this guide.

Activate Windows first (Settings › System › Activation), then come back. Once activation is done, the options become usable without a restart.

Windows 11 comes with several default themes from Microsoft. They appear as thumbnails in the list on the Themes page. Use these steps to try one.

1. Open the Themes page. Go to Settings › Personalization › Themes, as described above.
2. Find a theme thumbnail in the list. Each thumbnail is a small preview of that theme’s wallpaper and colors.
3. Click the thumbnail. The theme applies immediately, so the desktop changes right away. For instance, clicking the “Sunrise” theme shifts the background and accent colors at once.
4. Click another thumbnail to go back. Pick the default Windows (light) theme, for example, and the old look returns.

That’s it. You have applied a built-in theme and know how to undo it. Nothing is permanent here, and there is no Apply or OK button to hunt for, because the change happens on the click.

How to Download New Themes from Microsoft Store

Downloading new Windows 11 themes from the Microsoft Store gives you many more choices than the built-in options. The Browse themes button on the Themes page opens the Microsoft Store directly at the theme gallery.

These steps install themes on Windows 11 by downloading them from the Microsoft Store and applying them.

1. Open Settings ⚙️. Click Start ⊞, then click Settings, or press Win+I. The Settings ⚙️ window opens with a menu down the left side.
2. Click Personalization in the left side menu. The right side shows a preview of your current look and a list of options.
3. Click Themes on the right side. You should see the “Current theme” area, a row of thumbnails, and a Browse themes button.
4. Click Browse themes. The Microsoft Store opens and shows a gallery of themes.
5. Click a theme you like. Look through the gallery first. The theme’s page opens with screenshots and a description.
6. Click Get or Download. You need to be signed in with a Microsoft account to download themes. If you don’t have one, you can create one for free here.
7. Wait for the download to finish. Themes are small, so this usually takes a few seconds.
8. Click Launch. Settings opens on the Themes page, with the new theme added to the list.
9. Click the new theme in the list. The wallpaper, colors, and any included sounds change straight away.

That’s it. The theme is now installed and active on your desktop, and it stays in the Themes list so you can switch back to it later.

If the Store won’t open or the download fails, check your internet connection and make sure you are signed in to the Store. Then try again. If you change your mind about a downloaded theme, you can switch to another one at any time or delete it, as described at the end of this guide.

Extra Tip: Customize Parts of Your Theme

You can customize individual parts of a Windows 11 theme instead of changing everything at once. Within the Personalization settings, adjust the wallpaper, accent colors (the color used for buttons and menus), system sounds, and mouse cursor appearance. These manual changes let you fine-tune the desktop.

Explore these options within the Personalization settings:

• BackgroundChange only your wallpaper. Find it at Settings › Personalization › Background.
• ColorsPick your favorite color for buttons and menus. Find it at Settings › Personalization › Colors.
• SoundsChange system sounds like notifications. This tile is on the Themes page.
• Mouse CursorChange how your mouse pointer looks. This tile is also on the Themes page.

Once you change one of these, the current theme shows as modified (unsaved). To keep your combination, follow these steps.

1. Open the Themes page. Go to Settings › Personalization › Themes.
2. Click Save on the theme preview. Your combination is stored as its own theme in the list.

If you skip this, your tweaks are lost the next time you pick a different theme.

To remove a theme you no longer want, use these steps.

1. Switch to a different theme. Click any other thumbnail on the Themes page. You can't delete the theme that is currently in use, which is why the switch comes first.
2. Right-click the unwanted theme in the Themes list. A short menu appears.
3. Choose Delete. The theme disappears from the list.

That's it. The unwanted theme is gone, and you can download it again from the Microsoft Store whenever you like.

Summary

• Windows 11 lets you change how your desktop looks by using themes.
• You can use the built-in themes or download new ones from the Microsoft Store.
• Downloading themes is easy and helps make your computer feel like your own.
• There are many themes to choose from, so find one that fits your style.
• You can also customize individual parts like background and colors if you prefer.
• Enjoy making your Windows 11 computer look just the way you want!