A Windows theme is a group of settings, colors, sounds, and similar configurable options that define how the interface appears to the user. A theme is used to personalize the computing environment to make it easy to use.

1. Free Desktop Themes For Windows 10
2. Sounds For Windows 10 Themes

Here are 10 Windows 10 themes for every desktop. Windows 10 Dark Theme: GreyEve Theme. We think it’s fair to say that dark themes look the coolest. And, as an extra benefit, they are also much easier on your eyes than bright themes. In order to install a custom theme or visual style in windows 10, you will have to copy the theme or visual style folder (containing a.theme file and a folder containing.msstyles file) in the windows installation drive. A Windows Theme is a visual pattern that predefines the collection of wallpaper, icons, pointer, screensaver, sounds or any color styles which together form the looks of your PC. You have the options to customize the themes to your likings and modify the standard interface of your Windows PC. There are Windows 10 Themes available on this site.

All smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and even smart TVs come preconfigured with a specific graphical configuration. Designers choose the default font, color scheme, and sleep settings, among other things. A television might turn off after a specific period of inactivity, for instance, or a screensaver could be applied automatically. Users can make changes to these settings to personalize their devices. It’s quite common for a user to select a new background for a phone’s Lock screen or change the brightness on an e-reader. Oftentimes consumers make these changes the first time they use the device.

These settings, as a group, are sometimes referred to as a theme. Computers come with a default theme too, and Windows is no exception.

What Makes Up a Windows Theme?

Like the technologies listed above, Windows computers ship with a theme already in place. Many users opt for the default configuration during installation or setup, and thus, the most common elements are applied automatically. If changes are made during the setup process, those changes become part of the saved, edited theme. This saved theme and all of its settings are available in the Settings window, which we’ll discuss shortly.

Here are a few options as they apply to both the Windows theme and the Windows 10 theme that are applied during set up:

• Desktop image – This is the image that’s shown on the Desktop. The Windows theme offers a blue screen with a white windows icon on the right side. The Windows 10 theme offers a Desktop image of a person running on a beach and includes four additional pictures that rotate every 30 minutes.
• Color scheme/Color of Start menu – The Windows theme offers a blue and black color theme. The Windows 10 theme is gold and black. These colors appear in windows and on the Start menu, among other places. These colors are applied to fonts too.
• Sounds – The Windows and Windows 10 themes use the default Windows sound configurations. It’s possible to make a change in the Sound Properties dialog box.
• Mouse and mouse cursor properties – Both the Windows and Windows 10 themes offer the default mouse properties settings. It’s possible to make changes in the Mouse Properties dialog box.

Note: Themes, even the default themes, are editable. The user can change background images, colors, sounds, and mouse options easily from the Settings window in Personalization options, as well as other places. We’ll discuss this later.

What isn’t Part of a Windows Theme?

A theme offers a set of graphical options that are configurable, as noted earlier. Not every setting that’s configured for a Windows computer is part of the theme, though, and this can be a little confusing. For instance, the placement of the Taskbar is configurable, even though it isn’t part of a theme. By default, it runs across the bottom of the Desktop. When a user changes the theme, the placement of the Taskbar doesn’t change. However, any user can reposition the Taskbar by dragging it to another side of the Desktop and the operating system will remember that setting and apply it at each login.

The look of the Desktop icons are another item not associated with a theme. These icons are preconfigured to be a specific size and shape to make them easy to see but not so big as to take up the entire Desktop area. Although the characteristics of these icons can be changed, those changes aren’t part of the theme options.

Likewise, the Network icon that appears is in the Notification area of the Taskbar makes it simpler to connect to available networks, but is another non-theme related setting. This is a system setting and is changed through the appropriate system properties.

These items, although not part of a theme per se, are applied per the user’s preferences. The settings are stored in the user’s profile. User profiles can be stored on the computer or online. When logging in with a Microsoft Account, the profile is stored online and is applied no matter what computer the user logs in to.

Note: A User Profile includes settings that are unique to the user such as where files are stored by default as well as application settings. User profiles also store information about how and when the system performs updates and how the Windows Firewall is configured.

The Purpose of a Theme

Themes exist for two reasons. First, a computer must come pre-configured and ready to use; any other option isn’t practical. Setup could take several hours to complete if users had to select every setting available before they could use the PC!

Second, the computer needs to meet most users’ needs and be pleasing to the eye, right out of the box. Most users don’t want, say, a Start menu that’s bright yellow or a background picture that’s a dull gray. They also don’t want to spend a lot of time making the computer usable. The graphical settings need to be easy to see and intuitive to use the first time a user turns on the computer.

Explore Available Windows 10 Themes

Although Windows ships with a theme already in place, the operating system does offer additional themes to choose from. What’s available depends on several factors though, including whether or not the user has already downloaded additional themes or made recent upgrades to the operating system, so it’s best to explore those themes already on the computer.

To see the themes available in Windows 10:

1. Click the Windowsicon on the far left side of the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen.
2. Click the Settings cog.
3. If there’s a left-facing arrow in the top left corner of the Settings window, click that arrow.
4. Click Personalization.
5. Click Themes.

The Themes area shows the current theme at the top and offers options to change parts of that theme independently (Background, Color, Sounds, and Mouse Color). Below that is Apply a Theme. As noted earlier, what is available depends on the Windows 10 build that’s installed on the computer. However, there will likely always be a few themes listed no matter the case. Windows 10 and Flowers are popular themes. If a user has made changes to a theme from another computer with their personal Microsoft Account, there will also be a Synced theme.

To apply a new theme now, simply click the theme’s icon under Apply a Theme. This will change some graphical aspects of the interface right away. The most noticeable include the following (although not all themes make changes in all areas):

Free Desktop Themes For Windows 10

• Start menu color
• Desktop background images that likely change every 30 minutes
• Sounds for notifications
• The mouse pointer size and style

If you apply a theme and decide to return to the previous one, click the desired theme under Apply a Theme. The change will be made immediately.

Apply a Theme from the Store

Windows doesn’t ship with as many themes as it used too; in fact, there might only be two. In the past though, there were themes including Dark, Anime, Landscapes, Architecture, Nature, Characters, Scenes and more, all available from the operating system and without going online or to a third party. That’s not the case anymore. Themes are now available in the Store, and there are plenty to choose from.

To apply a theme from the Windows Store:

1. LocateStart > Settings > Personalization, and click Themes, if it isn’t already open on the screen.
2. Click Get More Themes in the Store.
3. If prompted to sign in with your Microsoft account, do so.
4. Look at the available themes. Use the scroll bar on the right side or the scroll wheel on your mouse to access more themes.
5. For this example, click any free theme.
6. Click Get.
7. Wait for the download to complete.
8. Click Launch. The theme is applied and the Themes area opens.
9. If it appears as though nothing has happened, press and hold the Windows key on the keyboard along with the D key to view the Desktop.

Customize a Theme

After applying a theme as shown in the previous example, it’s possible to customize it. From the Themes window (Start > Settings > Personalization) click one of the four links that appear next to the theme at the top of the window to make a few changes (not all options are listed here):

• Background – Change how often the pictures in the theme change and opt to shuffle the images. Click Themes to return to the list.
• Color – Change the theme’s main color and apply that color transparently on the Taskbar or Title bars of windows. Click Themes to return to the list.
• Sounds – Change the sound scheme using the drop-down list. If nothing appears here, there are no sound schemes associated with the theme. Click OK and click Themes to return to the list.
• MouseCursor – From the Pointers tab choose a new pointer size or shape. From the Pointer Options tab choose how fast or slow the cursor moves when you move the mouse. Click OK and click Themes to return to the list.

Feel free to explore and make any changes desired; you can’t mess anything up! However, should you desire, you can click the Windows or Windows 10 theme to return to your previous settings.

Windows 10 Themes provide a quick way to customize your PC that includes a gallery of desktop background pictures, coordinating menu colors and sometimes even unique system sounds.

On its site, Microsoft offers hundreds of gorgeous desktop themes, filled with attractive wallpaper images of landmarks, nature scenes or even cars. You can even find beautiful backgrounds by saving Windows 10's spotlight lock screen images. We've picked out our favorites below with direct download links for each, but it's also easy to create your own theme.

To install a new theme, just go to the folder you downloaded the theme to and click on the file. You can also download themes from the Microsoft Store.

Sounds For Windows 10 Themes

• Cherry Blossoms

  Spring has officially sprung, so get into the mood with these gorgeous cherry blossoms that are spread throughout all of Japan.

• Warm Winter Nights

  Snuggle up to that fire, or radiator, and enjoy a cup of hot coco while you're scrolling through these 18 images of cozy cabins in the middle of the winter night.

• The Adventures of Ninja Cat Beyond

  Do you want 11 pictures of a martial artist kitty performing awesome stunts and feats across the globe and outer space? Because I do.

• Botanical Garden

  Take a trip to the Botanical Garden with these 7 beautiful images of flowers and surrounding wildlife.

• Dogs in Summer

  This theme gives you 10 adorable puppies (yes, they will always be puppies) in colorful summer settings.

• Wild Beauty

  With this theme, embrace 15 vivid images of wildlife around the globe, from frozen tundras to clear blue oceans.

• Spring Blooms

  Does it feel too much like summer already? You won’t miss out on spring with these 18 blooming flowers.

• NASA Spacescapes

  Dive into the cosmos with these 14 beautifully intense images featured in the NASA Spacescapes theme.

• Illusions

  Trippy, disturbing and downright cool. These 19 images showcase creative illusions that will mess with your mind.

• Waterdrops

  This theme contains 11 closeup images of water drops in vibrant natural environments.

• Forza Motorsport 4

  Your mind will fall for these 17 photorealistic images of sports cars in Forza Motorsport 4.

• Year of the Dragon

  Get one step closer to that trip to China you’re always planning with these 12 images of historic dragon statues.

• Caribbean Shores

  Can’t buy your own island? Easy, just put it on your desktop with 12 rich images of the Caribbean Shores.

• Germany: Mountains to Sea

  This theme takes you on a tour of the country life with 12 images of Germany’s most natural settings.

• Salt Lakes and Dead Sea

  With these 15 scenic photos of Salt Lakes and the Dead Sea, you can take in all the salt you need without the risk of high blood pressure.

• Animal Panoramics

  Push your 2 displays to their maximum potential with these 13 breathtaking panoramic images of penguins, bears, cheetahs and more.

• African Wildlife

  This theme features 14 photos that take you on a safari, observing Africa’s majestic wildlife like baby rhinos, elephants, and lions.

• Imagination

  Looking for something more in the creative realm? Tag along with this pair of cute imaginary figures throughout 6 unique artworks.

• Dreamgarden

  Soak in these 18 closeup images of nature’s most colorful details in the Dreamgarden theme.

• Diffusion

  The Diffusion theme has 13 crisp-looking images of ink diffusing in water.

• Monochromatic Moods

  Want something a little darker? This theme provides 20 beautifully creepy monochromatic photos of natural and artificial environments.

• Milky Way

  Explore our own galaxy with 9 fascinating shots taken directly from different landscapes on Earth.

• Rock Formations Panoramic

  Embrace mysterious rock formations around the globe with these 13 panoramic images you can spread across 2 displays.