How do I install Visual Studio themes?

Installing themes in Visual Studio is straightforward, primarily done through the Extension Manager, which gives you access to a wide array of options from the Visual Studio Marketplace.

How Do I Install Visual Studio Themes?

You can install Visual Studio themes by accessing the Extension Manager, navigating to the Visual Studio Marketplace, and then finding themes within the Tools category. After installation, you can easily apply the new theme through the Visual Studio Options.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Themes

The Visual Studio Marketplace offers a vast collection of custom themes created by the community. Follow these steps to browse, install, and apply new themes:

Open the Extension Manager:
- In Visual Studio, go to the top menu bar.
- Click on Extensions > Manage Extensions.
- Alternatively, for older Visual Studio versions, go to Tools > Extensions and Updates.
Navigate to the Visual Studio Marketplace:
- In the Extension Manager window, expand the "Online" section in the left pane.
- This will typically show the "Visual Studio Marketplace".
Find the Themes Category:
- Within the "Visual Studio Marketplace" section, you can either:
  - Use the search bar on the top right to directly look for "themes" or specific theme names (e.g., "Dark Pro", "Dracula").
  - Expand the "Tools" category in the left pane. You'll often find a specific "Themes" subcategory within "Tools" that lists many popular theme extensions.
Select and Install a Theme:
- Browse the available themes. Each theme listing will typically show a preview, ratings, and a description.
- Click the "Download" or "Install" button next to the theme you wish to add.
Restart Visual Studio (If Prompted):
- After the download is complete, Visual Studio might prompt you to restart the IDE to finalize the installation of the extension. Save any open work and restart if necessary.

Applying an Installed Theme

Once a theme extension is installed, you need to activate it within Visual Studio's settings:

Open Visual Studio Options:
- Go to Tools > Options from the top menu bar.
Access Environment Settings:
- In the Options dialog box, expand "Environment" in the left pane.
- Click on "General".
Choose Your Theme:
- On the right side, locate the "Color theme" dropdown menu.
- Click the dropdown and select your newly installed theme from the list. You will also see the default themes like Dark, Light, and Blue here.
Confirm and Apply:
- Click "OK" to apply the changes. Visual Studio's appearance will immediately update to your chosen theme.

Popular Visual Studio Theme Extensions

While Visual Studio comes with built-in themes (Light, Dark, Blue), the marketplace significantly expands your options. Some widely popular theme extensions include:

One Dark Pro: A highly popular dark theme inspired by Atom's One Dark.
Dracula Official: A dark theme with a distinctive color palette for various editors and IDEs.
GitHub Dark Theme: Mirrors the aesthetic of GitHub's dark mode.
Monokai Pro: A refined version of the classic Monokai theme.

These themes not only change the overall window colors but also customize syntax highlighting, making code more readable and visually appealing.

Quick Installation Steps

Step	Action	Description
1	Open Extension Manager	Extensions > Manage Extensions
2	Go to Marketplace	Expand "Online" > "Visual Studio Marketplace"
3	Find Themes	Search for "themes" or navigate to "Tools" category
4	Install Theme	Click "Download" / "Install" on desired theme
5	Restart VS (if prompted)	Save work and restart Visual Studio
6	Apply Theme	Tools > Options > Environment > General > Select from "Color theme"
7	Confirm	Click "OK" to apply changes

Customizing and Creating Your Own Themes

For advanced users, Visual Studio also offers tools to create or further customize themes. The Visual Studio Theme Editor extension allows you to modify existing themes or build entirely new ones from scratch, giving you granular control over every UI element's color.

Visual Studio Themes