How to Customize Accent Colors and Themes in Windows 11

Personalizing your Windows 11 desktop allows you to create a workspace that matches your aesthetic preferences and improves visual comfort. This guide provides a straightforward walkthrough on how to change your system’s accent colors, enable dark or light modes, apply built-in theme packages, and download new custom themes directly from the Microsoft Store.

How to Customize Accent Colors

Windows 11 allows you to choose an accent color that highlights buttons, links, taskbar elements, and window borders.

  1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. In the left sidebar, click on Personalization.
  3. Select the Colors tile.
  4. Locate the Accent color dropdown menu:
    • Select Automatic to let Windows match the accent color to your current desktop background.
    • Select Manual to choose a specific color.
  5. If Manual is selected, click a color from the grid, or select View colors next to Custom colors to enter an exact RGB or HEX color code.
  6. Scroll down to enable or disable the following display toggles:
    • Show accent color on Start and taskbar (available in Dark mode only).
    • Show accent color on title bars and windows borders.

How to Switch Between Light, Dark, and Custom Modes

You can adjust the base color palette for system menus and applications in the same menu:

  1. Open Settings > Personalization > Colors.
  2. Click the dropdown menu next to Choose your mode.
  3. Select Light, Dark, or Custom (which lets you set your default Windows mode and default app mode independently).

How to Apply and Customize Theme Packages

Themes change your background, accent color, system sounds, and mouse cursor all at once.

  1. Open Settings > Personalization.
  2. Select the Themes tile.
  3. Under Current theme, click any of the available pre-installed themes to apply it instantly.
  4. To modify specific elements of your active theme, use the four shortcut buttons located at the top of the Themes menu:
    • Background: Change image rotation, solid colors, or slideshow settings.
    • Color: Adjust your base mode and accent shade.
    • Sounds: Change or disable system notification sounds.
    • Mouse cursor: Customize cursor size, style, and pointers.

How to Download New Themes from the Microsoft Store

If you want more visual variety, you can install free and premium theme packages from the Microsoft Store.

  1. Open Settings > Personalization > Themes.
  2. Scroll down and click the Browse themes button next to Get more themes from Microsoft Store.
  3. Browse the collection and select a theme package you want.
  4. Click Get (or Install) to download the package.
  5. Once downloaded, click Open or return to the Themes section in Settings and click the new theme to apply it to your desktop.