How to install and manage Windows 10 themes for personalization

Windows 10 themes are more than just a new wallpaper. They include a variety of aesthetic components that work together to produce a unified and personalized desktop experience. These elements include wallpapers, colors, noises, and cursor designs. Windows 10 themes let you express your personality and create a visually appealing environment that matches your tastes.

This article provides the steps necessary for installing and managing Windows 10 themes. You'll be able to create a personalized and visually appealing Windows 10 environment by the end of this article.

Installing and managing Windows 10 themes made simple

Windows 10 comes preloaded with various themes designed to suit numerous moods and aesthetics, with additional ones available from the Microsoft Store for download.

You can access them easily by right-clicking your desktop screen and selecting "Personalise," then browsing available themes under "Themes." You can test and use these themes with only one click. Experiment with different built-in themes until you find one that you like.

Custom theme download and installation

Windows 10 expands personalization possibilities for users by allowing them to download and install custom themes from various sources, giving you even more ways to customize your desktop. Here's a tutorial on installing custom themes in Windows 10:

Find custom themes: Search online or trusted websites for customized Windows 10 themes to meet your style while ensuring they're compatible with Windows 10.
Download your theme: After choosing a custom theme, download it onto your computer. These files are packaged as.themepacks or zip files. Extract their contents to create folders on your desktop PC or laptop.
Install the theme: Right-click your desktop, select "Personalise," then access the Settings app. On the left, in the "Themes" tab, select "Get more themes from Microsoft Store." Once identified, explore or search for custom themes before selecting "Get" or "Install" to begin the installation, following which Windows 10 will download and apply them automatically.
Apply your installed theme: Navigate to the Themes section in the Settings app and click "Apply a theme," you should find your newly installed custom theme listed alongside preinstalled themes. Click on it to preview, and when ready, click it again to apply it, after which Windows 10 will immediately change its desktop background, colors, sounds, and other components to reflect its design.

Customizing individual theme components

Windows 10 themes offer numerous customization options to make them unique. Below are just a few key customization features available for these themes:

Changing wallpaper: Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select "Personalise," then scroll to the "Background" area to select a unique wallpaper for that theme. Use the 'Browse' feature inside the 'wallpaper' settings to discover and select your own image from your device to make your desktop wallpaper more personalized.
Adjusting colors: Within the Themes settings, the "Colors" section can help you select an accent color of your preference. In addition, transparency effects for specific elements like the taskbar or Start menu can be enabled or disabled here.
Personalizing sounds: You can access preinstalled sound schemes related to your chosen theme under the Themes settings. For added customization during events, visit "Sounds." Here, you can assign individual sounds that make each event feel more personal and distinct.
Changing cursor designs: Windows 10 provides various cursor styles to meet any preference. Open up Themes Settings' "Mouse pointer" section, and choose the one you prefer. Alternatively, if you like creating or downloading custom cursor designs, they can be applied by selecting them within the "Mouse pointer."

Managing installed themes

Managing your installed themes is essential to keep your Windows 10 themes organized and optimized. Here are some key management features:

Deleting themes: As your theme library expands, it becomes necessary to delete unwanted or underutilized themes. To permanently delete a theme from your system, navigate to Themes settings, locate it, and right-click to "Remove/Delete." This will permanently eliminate it from your system.
Creating theme collections: Make accessing and switching between themes easier by creating personalized collections. To do so, navigate to Themes settings, right-click an applicable theme, select "Create Collection," name your collection accordingly and include relevant themes within.
Exporting and importing themes: You can share your personalized themes with others by exporting them as theme pack files. To do so, navigate to your Themes settings, right-click any theme you'd like to export, right-click again, select "Export," share it, then import it onto Windows 10 devices via "Import Theme." Browse for your pack file, and click Import.

Conclusion

Installing and customizing Windows 10 themes allows you to personalize your desktop and create a visually appealing environment that meets your style. You can choose themes that resonate with you from an extensive choice of built-in themes and a comprehensive collection accessible in the Microsoft Store.