Solved Creating My Own Themes In Win 11


needlenoses

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windows 11
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built on ASUS board
    CPU
    Intel I5 8600
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime B360-Plus
    Memory
    16 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    NVIDIA
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S27D590
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 1 T SSD/ WD 1T secondary
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    Logitech
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    Internet Speed
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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.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built on ASUS board
    CPU
    Intel I5 8600
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime B360-Plus
    Memory
    16 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    NVIDIA
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S27D590
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 1 T SSD/ WD 1T secondary
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    82.7 down/21.1 up 5 ms ping
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
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
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
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.
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:

desktop_-gif.27434

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Lattitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
I'm back; busy week here; I will give these steps a go this afternoon when I get a break. Much appreciated.:geek:

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

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built on ASUS board
    CPU
    Intel I5 8600
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime B360-Plus
    Memory
    16 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    NVIDIA
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S27D590
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 1 T SSD/ WD 1T secondary
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    82.7 down/21.1 up 5 ms ping
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
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.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built on ASUS board
    CPU
    Intel I5 8600
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime B360-Plus
    Memory
    16 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    NVIDIA
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S27D590
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 1 T SSD/ WD 1T secondary
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    82.7 down/21.1 up 5 ms ping
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
Sorry; found where to save the files; no problem now; thanks to all for the help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built on ASUS board
    CPU
    Intel I5 8600
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime B360-Plus
    Memory
    16 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    NVIDIA
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S27D590
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 1 T SSD/ WD 1T secondary
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    82.7 down/21.1 up 5 ms ping
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
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.

Themes - Save.png


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'.

Themes - save for sharing.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Lattitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
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.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built on ASUS board
    CPU
    Intel I5 8600
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime B360-Plus
    Memory
    16 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    NVIDIA
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S27D590
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 1 T SSD/ WD 1T secondary
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    82.7 down/21.1 up 5 ms ping
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender

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