How to install themes in Windows 10

Customisation is the key to enjoying computer operations. Windows 10 comes with a multitude of options for the user to fine-tune the device into something that is visually appealing and doesn’t literally put you to sleep. Themes are definitely on the top of the list when it comes to customisation. This goes from general appeal to actual interface ease. The Windows 10 themes enable the customisation of features such as the wallpapers, colour tones, alert sounds and of course the wallpaper.

See also: How to change Windows 10 default font

Microsoft Themes

There has lately been the addition of a very cool selection of themes on the Microsoft website. This is a welcome relief because the old ones were pretty much boring, to say the least. The themes on the site are sorted into different categories which are pretty logical. Each one will have a sample display to give a preview of what to expect if you do decide to use it. For users with multiple monitors, the perfect category would be the panoramic one which gives an impressive display.

  • Download the desired theme from the official Microsoft website. They’re not that big so there’s no need to worry much about data consumption.
  • Once the download is complete, click to open the file. This will unpack the theme for installation.
  • Close the tabs and make a right-click on an empty spot on the desktop. This will reveal a small set of desktop operations, click on the ‘personalise’ tab.
  • This will launch the settings panel. On the right side, select the ‘Go to Themes’ option
  • Once open, select the theme that you have downloaded and unpacked. If done correctly, it will be part of the available themes, just make sure you remember its reference title in case there’s already a lot of themes available on the device.
  • Once selected, click on the ’Use Custom Theme’ option to apply it and it will instantly become active.

This method of going on the Microsoft website provides the best selection of themes but it’s not the easiest or the quickest way. New themes can be selected and installed through the short method listed below but funny enough, it does not provide a wide selection so it’s not really recommendable.

  • Navigate to settings from the Windows 10 start menu then select ‘themes’
  • There’s an option to get more themes which can be found below the option to apply a different theme.
  • Clicking on it will launch the MS Store to download a different theme. The rest of the process is similar to the above one.

Third-Party Themes

There are only a few third-party theme developers available. The mark of safety for these is a digital signature by Microsoft. However, these third party themes are usually available on the MS Store list and can, therefore, be installed easily using the regular process.

Other unverified sources require the installation of a patch first before installing different themes such as UltraUXThemePatcher. If one decides to take this route, be sure to make a restore point first on the computer in case something goes wrong.

Caution

  • Make sure the themes selected are specifically for Windows 10. Unlike some device software, themes are not versatile across devices and will simply not work if installed in the wrong OS.
  • The design of the Windows 10 OS is, however, a bit restrictive when it comes to customisation and is, therefore, discouraging when it comes to meddling with appearance issues.
  • The themes on disposal usually come with stringent settings that are non-optional. However, these can still suit personal preferences despite the restrictions to additional modifications.
  • Third-party themes from other developers should be avoided regardless of how appealing they may be because they pose a very big malware risk.

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