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The best Windows 11 themes

Tyler Lacoma
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If you’ve just upgraded to the latest version of the Windows operating system, Windows 11, you’re probably ready to dive in and customize its appearance. One easy way to customize Windows 11 is by adding a theme. And if you’re in need of some Windows 11 theme inspiration, have a look at our list of the best Windows 11 themes.

Below, you will find some of our current favorite themes for the Windows 11 OS and why we enjoy them.

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Explore native Windows 11 themes first

The Windows 11 sunrise theme.
Via: Reddit/u/archimedeancrystal

Windows 11 itself represents a significant change in design, exchanging the Windows 10 look for more rounded edges, less-crowded menu screens, and a streamlined, friendly appearance. Part of this design includes new themes specifically made for Windows 11, and we suggest starting your theme search here. These themes are expertly designed, don’t require any additional downloads, and look great.

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The default theme you may have seen in early Windows 11 screenshots is called Flow. Our favorites are Glow, an eclipse-like package that cycles through various hues, and Sunrise, which offers a selection of tundra-based sunrise photographs. You can find them by going to Settings > Personalization, then Themes in Windows 11. Take a look at all of them to see which ones you click with the most.

Keep in mind that Windows 11 also has a separate dark mode that you can enable if you prefer, in addition to choosing your visual theme. You can also set your own wallpapers with the Background and Colors options, which allow you to choose a background picture and customize highlight colors to match, strong choices for those who want to put some work into a specialized theme.

The macOS Monterey SkinPack

The MacOS Monterey SkinPack for Windows.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Windows fans have already commented that Windows 11 seems to embrace some of the interface design cues from macOS. If you really enjoy Apple’s approach to a simplified user interface and wish Windows was even more like that, this SkinPack is the way to go. It’s specifically made with colors and highlights to imitate macOS Monterey and even includes overhauls of the taskbar and icons to resemble macOS content.

The pack may go a little too far for some Windows users, but if you enjoy the file and folder system of macOS or you are working on switching from macOS to a Windows operating system, there’s a lot to appreciate here.

Ubuntu Light SkinPack

The Ubuntu Light SkinPack for Windows.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

On the other hand, maybe you prefer the Linux-based looks of Ubuntu and would feel right at home if Windows 11 could look more like that open-source framework. In that case, this Ubuntu Light SkinPack is just the pick for you. The traditional menu design, left-side vertical taskbar, and classic icons are all here, letting Ubuntu users adopt Windows 11 with ease while improving navigation for those who are already speedy on Ubuntu.

Animals in Autumn theme

Microsoft's Animals in Autumn Theme for Windows.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft Store does have its own collection of themes, generally a set of themed pictures that you can use as a rotating wallpaper theme (also handy for creating a custom theme in Windows 11). They may have been made for Windows 10 but are entirely compatible with Windows 11 and allow you to pick your favorite background subjects. This Animals in Autumn set is one of our favorites to celebrate the season — even if it isn’t fall — with appropriate imagery, from elk and chipmunks to happy doggos playing in the leaves.

Polar Animals theme

Microsoft's Polar Animals Theme for Windows.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This animals-in-the-snow theme is an ideal choice for celebrating the cold and beautiful side of nature. If you’re a fan of snow leopards, polar bears, snowshoe hares, and other animals that love to live in icy biomes, you’ll instantly appreciate this well-crafted theme. This theme can also be found in the Microsoft Store.

Take a Moment theme

Microsoft's Take a Moment Theme for Windows.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Take a Moment theme includes serene images of humans interacting with nature, providing a Zen-like respite for your home screen. Whether it’s a cyclist on a forest road, a hand running through a stream, or a tent perched in Patagonia, every image is designed to invoke the same kind of connection to the beauty of the world. You can get this theme in the Microsoft Store app.

Color Explosion theme

The Color Explosion Windows theme.
Microsoft/Microsoft Store / Microsoft

Looking for something a bit more abstract, but still eye-catching and colorful? Look no further than Microsoft’s Color Explosion theme. It’s a free theme that comes with a variety of images of exploding color pigments. These images are wonderfully bright and vivid, but will still fit right in with your desktop’s usual icons, so as not to be too distracting. We recommend using this theme with Windows 11’s dark mode feature. You’ll find this one in the Microsoft Store app too.

Fields of Flowers theme

The Fields of Flowers Windows theme.
Microsoft/Microsoft Store / Microsoft

Adorn your Windows 11 PC with intensely colorful flowers with this free theme from Microsoft. This theme is an easy way to cheer up any PC. It comes with 18 gorgeous photos. Don’t forget to adjust your Background settings if you want this theme to cycle through its images faster, so you can view all sorts of flowers quicker, without having to wait 30 minutes or even a day for your desktop image to change to the next image in the theme. This theme can be found in the Microsoft Store app.

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Tyler Lacoma
Tyler Lacoma
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If it can be streamed, voice-activated, made better with an app, or beaten by mashing buttons, Tyler's into it. When he's not…
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