According to Digital Trends, Microsoft is launching a new Themes section directly within the Microsoft Store for Windows 11. This section will house hundreds of curated themes, bundling wallpapers, colors, and sounds into packs you can apply with one click. The library launches with over 400 themes, over 35 of which are brand new. Microsoft is highlighting specific packs like Luminous Flow, Mountain Dwellings, and official licensed themes for games like Sea of Thieves. The immediate goal is to streamline discovery and installation, addressing long-standing user complaints that Windows personalization is too fragmented and difficult compared to smartphones.
The “Store-First” Strategy Is The Real Story
Here’s the thing: the themes themselves aren’t revolutionary. Windows has had themes forever. The big shift is the where. By moving theme discovery and distribution into the Microsoft Store, Microsoft is continuing its years-long effort to make that store a central hub for everything. Think about it. First it was for apps, then for games, and now for your PC’s entire look and feel. It’s a clear play for control and centralization. Basically, they want you to stop Googling for .theme files on random forums and start browsing their curated, presumably safer, digital shelf.
What’s Still Missing? The Fun.
But let’s be honest. Does this really make theming as fun as it is on, say, an Android phone? I’m skeptical. The article notes that managing these themes still happens in the old Settings app. So you discover in the Store, but you tweak and organize somewhere else. That’s not seamless. And while over 400 packs sounds like a lot, how many are just slightly different variations of nature photos? True customization fun comes from deep control, mixing and matching, and maybe even a community marketplace—something Windows has never really nailed. This feels like a big step in convenience, but maybe only a half-step toward genuine creative expression.
A Nod to the Past, A Glimpse of the Future
Microsoft’s blog post even includes a telling note for power users: archive your favorites from the old web gallery before it vanishes. That’s the sound of a legacy system being officially sunsetted. Looking ahead, the trajectory is obvious. We’ll see more curated collections, algorithm-driven recommendations in the Themes section, and probably more high-profile licensed content. It’s all about making the Store stickier. For the average user who just wants a cool Halo or Forza wallpaper pack easily, this is a win. For the tinkerer who loved the wild west of desktop customization? This might feel like the walls of the garden getting a bit higher.
