Windows 11, the latest operating system from Microsoft, offers a fresh and modern look, but that doesn’t mean you can’t personalize it according to your needs. One of the best ways to personalize your Windows 11 experience is by customizing the themes. Themes allow you to change the overall appearance, colors, wallpapers, and more to suit your style and preferences. You can choose from predefined themes, download third-party themes from Microsoft, or create your own.
In this blog, we’ll explore how you can personalize Windows 11 with themes to make your computer truly yours. Additionally, we’ll discuss how you can apply and customize the high-contrast theme for more distinct colors, making the text and apps easier to see.
Personalize Your Windows 11 with Themes
There are different ways to personalize the look and feel of your Windows 11 user experience. One such feature is the option to change and download themes.
Here are various methods to do so:
1. Change Themes on Windows
The latest version of the Windows operating system comes with a few preinstalled themes that you can choose from.
Here’s how you can access the theme settings and change the themes:
1. Click on Start Menu, look for Settings, and open it. Or, use the Windows + I key shortcut.
2. Next, click on the Personalization tab in the left panel of the Settings window.
3. Then, select the Themes option located on the right side of your screen.
4. Here, on the current theme panel, you will find all the default themes available in Windows 11.
5. Select any of the themes you like to change in Windows 11.
6. After selecting the theme, you can now change the theme background, color, sounds, and mouse cursor from the settings panel.
That’s it; this is how you can change the default theme on Windows 11. If you prefer not to use the current default themes, you can download new themes for Windows 11.
2. Install New Desktop Themes
On Windows 11, there are plenty of theme options if you don’t like the pre-installed default themes. You can download new themes from the Microsoft Store. Additionally, if you want to customize your desktop wallpaper, you can set a live wallpaper on Windows 11.
To install a new desktop theme on Windows 11, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows + I key to open Settings.
2. Next, click on the Personalization tab and select the Themes options.
3. Here, you will find an option to download more themes from the Microsoft Store. To download and install new desktop themes from the Microsoft Store, click on the Browse themes option.
4. It will open the themes page on the Microsoft Store.
5. Now, browse through the store to find the themes you like. There are thousands of themes to choose from.
6. To download the theme, select the theme you’d like to use, and click the Get button. Wait until the theme is downloaded and installed on the Windows system.
7. After that, you will find the downloaded theme in the Windows Theme settings. Navigate to the theme settings and select the download to apply the theme.
3. Apply High Contrast Themes
Windows 11 has a high-contrast theme mode to make the experience more usable for people with low vision. Text with low contrast can be difficult to read for individuals with low vision, even though the default color scheme across the Windows 11 desktop is suitable for most users.
As part of the accessibility experience, the system also includes high-contrast color themes with rich colors and highlights.
Here’s how you can apply high-contrast themes on Windows 11:
1. Open Settings.
2. Next, click on the Accessibility tab in the left panel of the Settings window.
3. Then select the Contrast Themes option located on the right side of your screen.
4. Here, you will find a list of Contrast Themes you can apply to your Windows device.
5. To turn on high-contrast themes, select the theme you want from the Contrast themes drop-down menu and then click the Apply button. Windows may display a ‘Please wait’ screen for a few seconds, after which the colors on the screen will change.
Note
On the theme previews panel, you can preview the high-contrast themes on Windows 11.
6. To turn off high-contrast themes, select the None option from the Contrast themes drop-down menu.
7. Then, click the Apply button to restore the default theme.
That’s it. This is how you can apply a contrasting theme on Windows 11 using the default theme options. Did you know you can also create your own contrast themes? Just follow the article to the end to find ou
4. Create a Custom High Contrast Theme
If you are not satisfied with the default high-contrast theme color selection, you can create your own high-contrast theme.
Here are the steps to create a high-contrast theme on Windows 11.
1. Open Settings and navigate to Accessibility settings
2. Then click on the Contrat Themes options present to the right of your screen.
3. Under the Contrast themes setting, select one of the available themes from the drop-down menu.
4. To create a custom high-contrast theme, click the Edit button.
5. It will open the Edit contrast theme panel.
6. Here, you can change the background, text, hyperlink, inactive text, and selected text colors. Adjust the settings according to your needs.
7. After that, name your new theme and click on the Save button.
8. If you want to apply the new custom theme, then click on Save and Apply to apply the custom high-contrast theme.
When you create your custom high-contrast theme, its details will be stored on the PC, while the original contrast theme you initially edited remains unaltered. So, you can apply these customization options to multiple contrast themes.
How to Turn High Contrast Theme On or Off on Windows 11
You can turn on and off the High Contrast theme on Windows 11 using the theme settings page. However, for quicker access to turning on and off the High Contrast theme, you can use a keyboard shortcut.
To do so, press Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen and then click Yes in the dialog box. The dedicated shortcut will also turn off high contrast mode when it’s enabled.
Note
If your computer keyboard has a function key (Fn), then you have to use Left Alt + Left Shift + Fn key + Print Screen.
Conclusion
Personalizing Windows 11 with themes is an enjoyable and exciting way to make your computer feel uniquely yours. Whether you lean towards a minimalist design, vibrant colors, or your own custom creation, Windows 11 themes provide endless opportunities for personalization.
Explore the various options, mix and match elements, and craft a theme that perfectly aligns with your distinct style and preferences. Your computer won’t just be a powerful tool but also a reflection of your personality and taste. If you’re also interested in enabling Dark Mode on your Windows 11, you can refer to our linked guide.
