This tutorial will show you how to delete a theme in Windows 11.
A theme is a combination of the desktop background, lock screen background, colors, sounds, and mouse pointers.
You can delete a saved custom .theme, saved .deskthemepack, theme from Microsoft, theme from Microsoft Store, Windows default theme, or high contrast theme you no longer want.
- Option One: Delete Theme for Current User in Settings
- Option Two: Delete Theme for Current User in Control Panel
- Option Three: Delete Theme for Current User in File Explorer
- Option Four: Delete Windows Default Theme in File Explorer for All Users
- Option Five: Delete High Contrast Theme in File Explorer for All Users
1 Open Settings (Win+I).
2 Click/tap on Personalization on the left side, and click/tap on Themes on the right side. (see screenshot below)
3 Right click on a theme you want, and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below)
You will only be able to delete a theme not currently being used as your theme.
You will not be able to delete a Windows default theme, but you can using Option Four if wanted.
4 You can now close Settings if you like.
1 Open Run (Win+R).
2 Copy and paste the
shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921} command into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Personalization in the Control Panel.3 In My Themes, right click on a theme you want, and click/tap on Delete. (see screenshot below)
You will only be able to delete a theme not currently being used as your theme.
You will not be able to delete a Windows default theme, but you can using Option Four if wanted.
You will not be able to delete a High Contrast theme, but you can using Option Five if wanted.
4 You can now close the Personalization Control Panel if you like.
1 Open File Explorer (Win+E). (see screenshot below)
2 Copy and paste the location below into the address bar of File Explorer, and press Enter to open the Themes folder for your account (aka: current user).
%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes3 Delete any saved theme(s) you no longer want.
Individual .theme files are your saved custom themes.
Themes installed from Microsoft and the Microsoft Store will be saved in a folder here with the same name as the theme. You would delete the theme's folder to delete an installed theme.
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
1 Open File Explorer (Win+E). (see screenshot below)
2 Copy and paste the location below into the address bar of File Explorer, and press Enter to open the Themes folder for Windows default themes.
C:\Windows\Resources\ThemesTheme Name | .theme file |
|---|---|
| Windows (light) | aero.theme |
| Windows (dark) | dark..theme |
| Windows Spotlight | spotlight.theme |
| Glow | themeA.theme |
| Captured Motion | themeB.theme |
| Sunrise | themeC.theme |
| Flow | themeD.theme |
3 Change the owner of the .theme file you want to delete to Administrators.
4 Change the permissions of the .theme file you want to delete to "Allow" Administrators "Full Control".
5 You will now be able to delete the .theme file.
You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.
1 Open File Explorer (Win+E). (see screenshot below)
2 Copy and paste the location below into the address bar of File Explorer, and press Enter to open the Ease of Access Themes folder for High Contrast themes.
C:\Windows\Resources\Ease of Access ThemesTheme Name | .theme file |
|---|---|
| High Contrast #1 | hc1.theme |
| High Contrast #2 | hc2..theme |
| High Contrast Black | hcblack.theme |
| High Contrast White | hcwhite.theme |
3 Change the owner of the .theme file you want to delete to Administrators.
4 Change the permissions of the .theme file you want to delete to "Allow" Administrators "Full Control".
5 You will now be able to delete the .theme file.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
