Personalizing your Windows computer setup can make a big difference in how you feel while working or browsing. Imagine your Windows desktop automatically switching from a bright, energizing look during the day to a calm, dark mode at night. That’s where Auto Theme comes in. This clever PowerShell script helps Windows users automate theme changes based on the time of day or a custom schedule.
What is Auto Theme?
Auto Theme is a simple yet powerful script designed for Windows 10 and 11. Its main goal is to change your active Windows theme and desktop background automatically. It can detect sunrise and sunset times to decide when to switch between light and dark modes, or you can set fixed hours if you prefer not to rely on online data. This means no more squinting at a bright screen in the evening or dealing with a gloomy interface during sunny hours.
The script runs quietly in the background as a scheduled task, so you don’t have to think about it. It supports native Windows theme files, which let you customize everything from colors to sounds. Plus, it can handle separate wallpaper slideshows for each theme, adding a personal touch to your setup. If you’re offline, it falls back to predefined schedules, making it reliable in any situation.
Key Features
One of the best things about Auto Theme is its flexibility. Here are some highlights:
- Daylight-Based Switching: It uses free online APIs to get your location and calculate sunrise/sunset times. This way, your theme changes naturally with the day.
- Custom Schedules: Don’t want to use real-time data? Set specific times for theme switches, like light mode from 7 AM to 7 PM.
- Theme File Support: Work with official .theme files from Windows. You can create and save your own themes through the Personalize settings.
- Wallpaper Management: Assign different backgrounds or slideshows to light and dark modes for a complete visual overhaul.
- Manual Override: Need to switch themes right away? Just run the script from the command line for instant changes.
- Hidden Operation: As a background task, it doesn’t interrupt your work. It even creates temporary sub-tasks for the next switch.
Additionally, there’s a verbose mode for troubleshooting, and it includes fixes for apps that don’t handle theme changes smoothly. All these features make Auto Theme a must-have for anyone who values a seamless user experience.
Step-by-Step Installation Guide
Getting Auto Theme up and running is straightforward, even if you’re not a tech expert. Start by downloading the latest version from the GitHub (link at the bottom). Extract the files to a folder on your computer, like C:\AutoTheme.
Next, open the Config.ps1 file in a plain text editor like Notepad. This is where you customize everything – from your location (for daylight detection) to the paths of your theme files. The file has clear comments explaining each setting, so it’s easy to follow.
Easiest way to get started is by giving the name of themes for day and night use and changing $useFixedHours variable to $true.
If you want to use full theme files, enable that option in the config and save your custom themes from Windows settings. For automatic setup, run Setup.ps1 as an administrator to create the scheduled task. If you prefer manual control, use Task Scheduler to add a new task that points to PowerShell with the right arguments.
Don’t forget to adjust your PowerShell execution policy to allow scripts – a quick command in an admin prompt does the trick. Once installed, test it by running at.ps1 manually to see the theme switch in action.
Conclusion
Auto Theme proves that small scripts can make a big impact on your daily computing life. By automating theme and background changes, it brings harmony between your digital environment and the real world. Easy to install and use, it’s perfect for anyone seeking a smarter Windows experience. Give it a try, and you’ll wonder how you managed without it.
You can download Auto Theme Powershell script from https://github.com/unalignedcoder/auto-theme.