Solved Creating My Own Themes In Win 11

needlenoses · Apr 22, 2022

I need some direction in my quest to create my own themes using photos that I have on my hard drive. Like from various trips etc. I don't quite know where to start. I go into personalizing, themes but don't see how to proceed. Help to get going on this would be appreciated. Latest updated version of 11.

glasskuter · Apr 22, 2022

How To Create Themes in Windows 11 - DevsJournal

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devsjournal.com

You can then tweak even further how Windows looks by using Win Tools Classic Color Panel Customize Colors in Windows 10 - WinTools.Info

That first article should tell you what Windows 11 will allow you to change. Personally, I like to control every aspect of the way Windows looks like back in the Windows 7 days where we could fine tune every aspect of both our desktop and a window. What I have done is install Windows 7 as a virtual machine for no purpose other than theme building.
I build my themes, export them to a file, and then use the themes in Windows 11. It works great.

needlenoses · Apr 22, 2022

I don't think this is what I am after. I guess what I want to do is have my desktop background act like a delayed slideshow like the themes that I have already downloaded for win 10 and 11 from Microsoft, but with my selected images, not someone else's.

glasskuter · Apr 22, 2022

That's easy.

Settings
Select Personalization > Background
Select Slideshow and then click on the Browse button
Select the folder where you have placed all your preferred wallpaper pictures
Change other settings like:
- Change picture every
- Shuffle the picture order
- Choose a fit for your desktop image

Bree · Apr 22, 2022

needlenoses said:
I guess what I want to do is have my desktop background act like a delayed slideshow like the themes that I have already downloaded for win 10 and 11 from Microsoft, but with my selected images, not someone else's.

glasskuter said:
That's easy.

Settings

Select Personalization > Background

Select Slideshow and then click on the Browse button

Select the folder where you have placed all your preferred wallpaper pictures

Change other settings like:

Change picture every

Shuffle the picture order

Choose a fit for your desktop image

Glasscutter is correct, in fact I have done exactly that on all my machines. See my post #598 here:

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/show-us-your-desktop.58/post-114958

needlenoses · Apr 23, 2022

I'm back; busy week here; I will give these steps a go this afternoon when I get a break. Much appreciated.

I am guessing that this process might even work on altering existing themes!!

glasskuter · Apr 23, 2022

needlenoses said:
altering existing themes!!

Actually, no. The folder for default themes is C:\Windows\Resources\Themes. When you use one of the default themes as the base of your new theme, alter it, and save it, it goes to %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes. The existing default theme still exists in the original folder.

needlenoses · Apr 23, 2022

Ok, got that about altering themes; so I managed to create a theme using a folder with some pics in just for testing; worked fine but how to I save it and give the file a name etc.

needlenoses · Apr 23, 2022

Sorry; found where to save the files; no problem now; thanks to all for the help.

Bree · Apr 23, 2022

needlenoses said:
Sorry; found where to save the files; no problem now; thanks to all for the help.

Glad you found that for yourself.

For the benefit of others reading this thread, there are two stages in saving your custom theme. The first is to save its setting to your PC so that you can give the theme a name and select it again whenever you need. To do that click the Save button in Personalisation > Themes. That will add it to the list of available themes to select from.

The second stage is optional, useful if you want to save your theme to a deskthemepack file (including the files of any custom images, sounds or cursors it may use). This can then be used to import your theme to another PC, or reinstall it on this PC should you ever need to do a clean install of Windows. To do that right-click on your (now) saved them and select 'Save theme for sharing'.

needlenoses · Apr 23, 2022

Good addition to the thread; for my use at this time I am good the way it is; no need to play with icons or colours. tks.

Nimbi · Sep 15, 2025

Hello. I'm aware this is an old thread, but I have a question regarding some settings in .theme files. This is something I've wanted to do for a while but never figured out a way to do so. My question is, does anyone know if it is possible to set a custom system font via a .theme file? Naturally without using custom .msstyles ofc. I know it can be done with custom .msstyles, but I would like a way to do it without using custom visual styles or registry tweaks if possible.

Solved Creating My Own Themes In Win 11

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