Don’t settle for Windows 11’s default design. The Microsoft Store is your unlikely savior for customization

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Not a fan of Windows 11’s look? You’re not stuck with it. The Microsoft Store has customization tools that let you reshape your desktop aesthetic, giving you control over how Windows feels and looks.

Microsoft Store themes
Themes will be easier to find on Windows 11 thanks to a new section in the Microsoft Store. (Image credit: Microsoft | Edited with Gemini)
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Customizing your Windows 11 PC is about to get easier. A new section in the Microsoft Store will feature a large collection of themes.

"We are beginning to rollout a new Themes department in the Microsoft Store on Windows, where visitors can quickly find curated and trending themes to customize their Windows devices with a single click," shared Microsoft Store Vice President Giorgio Sardo in a blog post.

"We’ve heard from so many of you that you want your PC to feel like your own. Maybe you’re a gamer who wants to celebrate the latest release, a fan who finds joy in seeing beloved characters each morning, a designer searching for an artfully composed background that sparks creativity every time you log in, or someone who simply wants their desktop to feel fresh and uplifting."

The new Themes department will roll out gradually, so you may not see it yet. Even if it hasn't shipped to your PC, you can download and apply themes from Microsoft. The tech giant shared shortcuts, including the Sea of Thieves Official Theme and the Dreamscapes Theme.

Themes section of the Microsoft Store on Windows 11

Until recently, the Microsoft Store lacked categories for themes, resulting in a giant library of items sorted alphabetically. (Image credit: Future)

The Themes department is the latest part of a saga I've covered throughout the year. Back in January, Microsoft announced that it would retire its dedicated theme download webpage. For months, the old website and themes within the Microsoft Store lived side-by-side, both acting as a tool to customize your PC.

Eventually, Microsoft kept its word and retired that page, pointing people instead to the Microsoft Store. But the Microsoft Store was not ready to receive an influx of users seeking themes. It did include hundreds of themes, but they were poorly organized.

The Themes department in the Microsoft Store hosts over 400 themes, including 35 recent additions. You'll access those themes by clicking a paintbrush icon that appears below the AI Hub shortcut.

Sardo also highlighted that there are several apps to customize Windows 11 in the Microsoft Store, giving a shout-out to TranslucentTB, Lively Wallpaper and Seelen UI.

I'd also recommend checking out FluentFlyout, Auto Dark Mode, and Start11.

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Sean Endicott
Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.

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