How to change and customize a theme on Windows 11
Windows has always had themes but in Windows 10, these themes have become conservative in what they allow users to change. The title bar changes color to match the wallpaper but little else happens.
Windows 11 has a much more customizable theme feature. You start out with four pre-set themes however, users are free to customize different aspects of them.
Theme in Windows 11
Windows 11 has four new preset themes. The high contrast theme is still there for users who have a visual impairment but now it can be custoimzed.
Change theme on Windows 11
Windows 11 comes with some preset themes including a very nice, green-gray variation of its default theme complete with matching wallpaper. You can download more themes from the Microsoft Store (though they may not be many to choose from at present).
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Select Personalization from the left.
- Click Themes.
- Select a theme and it will be applied.
Customize theme in Windows 11
When you customize a theme in Windows 11, you start out with one of the themes in the Accessibility feature.
- Open the Settings app with the Win+I keyboard shortcut.
- Go to Accessibility from the column on the left.
- Click Contrast themes.
- Open the Contrast Themes dropdown and select one of the preset themes (Aquatic, Desert, Dusk, and Night Sky).
- Click Apply.
- Once the theme as been applied click the Edit button.
- Click a color box and pick which color you’d like to use in its place.
- Repeat for all the colors you want to change in the theme.
- Click the Save and Apply button.
- Give the theme a name that does not have any spaces in it.
- The theme will be applied.
Theme support
When you customize a theme, make sure you check how the new colors look in UWP apps and desktop apps. Use the Settings app and File Explorer as a litmus test. Most apps on Windows 11 support themes but there will be exceptions. The theme applies to menus as well.
Windows 11 is still in its early stages so if you’re trying this out, you should know it takes a few tries to apply the theme.
Conclusion
Customizable accessibility themes may not be what users think of when they want to create a custom theme for Windows 11 but the feature fits the bill. More importantly, for users who found the default high contrast themes to be inadequate, there is now a simple way to change the colors that are difficult for you to see but still keep the high contrast theme.
