How to Download and Install Themes in Windows 11
A theme changes your wallpaper, colors, sounds, and mouse pointers in one click. You manage themes at Settings Personalization Themes, and the Microsoft Store is where you get new ones.
Open Settings, then go to Personalization Themes and click Browse themes to open the Microsoft Store theme gallery. Click a theme, then click Get or Download, and sign in with a Microsoft account if prompted. When the download finishes, click Launch, then click the theme in the Themes list to apply it. No restart is needed, and you can switch back at any time.
What is a Theme?
A theme is a ready-made visual package of wallpapers, colors, sounds, and mouse pointers. Windows 11 includes several themes, and the Microsoft Store offers over 100 more. The Store is the official source for Windows 11 themes from Microsoft.
Themes work the same on Home and Pro editions of a currently supported Windows 11 version (25H2 or 26H2). Applying a theme needs no restart or sign-out, and you can switch back at any time. A theme never changes your files or installed apps.
How to Change Themes on 🪟 Windows 11
Every theme control is on one page. These steps take you to it.
- Open Settings. Click the Start button (the Windows icon on the taskbar), then click Settings. Pressing Win+I is faster. The Settings window opens with a menu down the left side.
Windows 11 Start menu search panel for opening OpenSSH Client settings - Click Personalization in the left menu. The right side shows a preview of your current look and a list of options.
Settings › Personalization - Click Themes. You see a “Current theme” area at the top, a row of theme thumbnails below it, and a Browse themes button.
Settings › Personalization › Themes
The built-in themes appear as thumbnails on the Themes page. Each thumbnail previews that theme’s wallpaper and colors. Use these steps to try one.
- Open the Themes page. Go to Settings Personalization Themes.
- Find a theme thumbnail in the list.
- Click the thumbnail. The theme applies immediately. Clicking “Sunrise”, for example, changes the background and accent colors at once.
- Click another thumbnail to go back. Pick the default Windows (light) theme, for example, and the old look returns.
There is no Apply or OK button. The change happens on the click, and nothing is permanent.
How to Download New Themes from Microsoft Store
The Microsoft Store offers far more themes than the built-in set. The Browse themes button on the Themes page opens the Store directly at the theme gallery. These steps download a theme and apply it.
- Open Settings. Click Start, then click Settings, or press Win+I.
Windows 11 Start menu search panel for opening OpenSSH Client settings - Click Personalization in the left menu.
- Click Themes. You see the “Current theme” area, a row of thumbnails, and a Browse themes button.
Settings › Personalization › Themes - Click Browse themes. The Microsoft Store opens on a gallery of themes.
- Click a theme you like. Its page opens with screenshots and a description.
- 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.
windows 11 browse store for themes - Wait for the download to finish. Themes are small, so this usually takes a few seconds.
- Click Launch. Settings opens on the Themes page with the new theme added to the list.
- Click the new theme in the list. The wallpaper, colors, and any included sounds change straight away.
The theme 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 confirm you are signed in to the Store. Then try again.
Extra Tip: Customize Parts of Your Theme
You can change individual parts of a theme instead of the whole package. The options below cover the wallpaper, accent colors (the color used for buttons and menus), system sounds, and the mouse cursor.
- BackgroundChanges only your wallpaper. Go to Settings Personalization Background.
- ColorsSets the color for buttons and menus. Go to Settings Personalization Colors.
- SoundsChanges system sounds such as notifications. This tile is on the Themes page.
- Mouse CursorChanges how your mouse pointer looks. This tile is also on the Themes page.
- Open the Themes page. Go to Settings Personalization Themes.
- Click Save on the theme preview. Your combination is stored as its own theme in the list.
To remove a theme you no longer want, use these steps.
- Switch to a different theme. Click any other thumbnail on the Themes page. You can’t delete the theme that is in use, so the switch comes first.
- Right-click the unwanted theme in the Themes list. A short menu appears.
- Choose Delete. The theme disappears from the list.
You can download a deleted theme again from the Microsoft Store whenever you like.
What to do next
To return to an earlier look, click its thumbnail on the Themes page. To adjust only one part of your desktop, open Background or Colors under Settings Personalization and save the result as a new theme.
Frequently asked questions
How to change themes in 🪟 Windows 11?
To change a theme, press Win+I to open Settings, then go to Personalization and click Themes. Click any theme in the list to apply it right away. No restart or sign-out is needed, and you can switch back at any time.
How to do get a halloween theme on 🪟 Windows 11?
Open the Microsoft Store and search for 'Halloween theme.' Pick a theme you like, click Get, then go to Settings Personalization Themes and select it. Store listings change often, so if nothing appears, try searching for 'spooky' or 'autumn' instead.
How to install themes on 🪟 Windows 11?
Open the Microsoft Store, find a theme, and click Get to download it. Windows installs it automatically. To apply it, open Settings, click Personalization, then click Themes and select the theme. Store themes never change your files or installed apps.
How to downoal themes to your computer?
Download themes from the Microsoft Store, the official source for Windows 11 themes. Open the Store, search for a theme, and click Get. Avoid theme files from other websites, since they can carry malware. Once downloaded, the theme appears on the Themes page in Settings.
How to get themes for laptop?
Themes work the same on a laptop as on a desktop. Get one from the Microsoft Store, then open Settings, click Personalization, and click Themes to apply it. This works on Home and Pro editions of a currently supported Windows 11 version (25H2 or 26H2). Applying a theme needs no restart.
How do I install a 🪟 Windows 11 desktop theme?
To install a Windows 11 desktop theme, open the Microsoft Store and click Get on the theme you want. Then press Win+I, go to Personalization, click Themes, and click the theme to apply it. The wallpaper, colors, sounds, and mouse pointers all change at once.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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