Load a specific theme: registry value ThemeFileUserHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

Policy ID: CPL_Personalization_SetTheme
Scope: Computer Configuration, User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Control Panel › Personalization

Registry

ThemeFile

REG_SZUserComputer

…\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PersonalizationHKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization Current key
HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Path to theme file:
Value type: REG_SZ

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

UserPer-account setting

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization]

; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data
"ThemeFile"="<enter value>"

CMD

:: Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

reg add "HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization" /v "ThemeFile" /t REG_SZ /d "<enter value>" /f

PowerShell

# Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization' -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization' -Name 'ThemeFile' -PropertyType String -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null

ComputerMachine-wide setting

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization]

; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data
"ThemeFile"="<enter value>"

CMD

:: Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization" /v "ThemeFile" /t REG_SZ /d "<enter value>" /f

PowerShell

# Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

New-Item -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization' -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization' -Name 'ThemeFile' -PropertyType String -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null