How to Import and Export a Theme in Windows 10

To move a custom Windows 10 theme to another PC, export it as a .deskthemepack file. In Settings, open Personalization > Themes, right-click the saved custom theme, and choose Save theme for sharing. Copy the resulting package to the other computer and open it there. A standalone .theme file can point to pictures or other assets that are not included, so it is not the best file to transfer by itself.

This guide covers the built-in export and import process, where Windows keeps installed theme files, and what to check if a background does not carry over.

What a Windows theme package includes

A Windows theme can combine desktop backgrounds, colors, sounds, and mouse cursor settings. Windows saves theme settings in a .theme file, while a shareable theme pack includes the theme file and the assets needed to use it on another PC. Microsoft’s current Windows personalization guide identifies .deskthemepack as the file created by Save theme for sharing; its developer documentation explains why a theme file alone may need separate background images or other files.

Use a theme you have saved under your own name. The default Windows themes are already included with Windows and are not the same as a custom theme you created. The labels in Settings may vary slightly with the Windows 10 build, but the Personalization and Themes pages remain the route to the sharing command.

Export a custom theme from Windows 10

1. Open Themes settings. Press Windows+I to open Settings, then select Personalization and Themes. You can also right-click an empty area of the desktop, choose Personalize, and open Themes.

   

2. Save your custom theme first if needed. If you have just changed its background, color, sounds, or cursor, save those settings as a named theme on the Themes page. This makes the configuration easier to recognize in the list before you export it.

3. Open the theme’s sharing command. Right-click the saved custom theme tile and select Save theme for sharing. If the command is missing, confirm that you are opening the menu for a saved custom theme rather than a blank area or a default theme.

   

4. Name the package and save it. In the Save Theme dialog, choose a location you can find again, such as the Desktop, enter a name, and select Save. Windows creates a file with the .deskthemepack extension.

   

5. Check that the package was created. In File Explorer, open the folder you selected and confirm that the theme pack is there. Keep the .deskthemepack extension; do not rename it to .theme or add a second extension such as .zip.

   

Import the theme on another PC

6. Copy the package to the other computer. Transfer the .deskthemepack file with a USB drive, a shared folder, or a cloud service you trust. You can keep it in Downloads or another convenient folder. If the theme came from someone else, only open the file if you trust its source.

   

7. Open the theme pack. On the receiving PC, locate the file in File Explorer and double-click it. Windows processes the package and applies or adds the theme to the available themes. If Windows asks whether to open the file, confirm only when you trust where it came from.

   

8. Check the Themes page. Open Settings > Personalization > Themes. The imported theme should appear in the theme gallery. If it is not immediately visible, close and reopen Settings and check that the package finished opening.

   

9. Select the imported theme to use it. Click its tile in the gallery. Windows applies the package’s available personalization settings; you can then select Background, Color, Sounds, or Mouse cursor to adjust individual parts.

   

Where Windows stores imported themes

Windows keeps user theme files and related assets under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes. To open the folder, press Windows+R, enter %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes, and press Enter. An imported theme may have its own folder containing a .theme file and a DesktopBackground folder.

Copying that installed folder to a different PC is not a reliable import method: the theme file can reference local paths, and copying files alone does not necessarily register the theme in Settings. Keep and transfer the original .deskthemepack instead. If a wallpaper is missing after import, export the theme again from its source PC using Save theme for sharing; a plain .theme file may refer to an image that was never packaged.

Windows 10 support note

These personalization steps apply to PCs that still run Windows 10. Microsoft ended support for most Windows 10 editions on October 14, 2025, so this local theme workflow does not change the device’s support or security-update status. Check Microsoft’s lifecycle information for edition-specific details.

For details, see Microsoft’s Windows themes and personalization guide, Theme File Format documentation, and Windows 10 lifecycle page.