# Dark theme for Ubuntu **URL:** \ **Category:** IDE 1.x\ **Created:** [November 21, 2025, 6:26am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487 "2025-11-21T06:26:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mikedb](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/mikedb/32/1098613_2.png) [@mikedb](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/mikedb)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 6:26am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487/1 "2025-11-21T06:26:48Z")
Hi Everyone. Arduino 1.8.19 In the file path /Arduino 1.8.19 / lib / theme / syntax / there is two themes "Default.xml" and "Dark.xml" but I cannot select "Dark" in the Arduino preferences. The options I Googled so far is to download the Dark theme from Github but it is already installed. I did rename "Default" to "Default1" and "Dark" to "Default" start Arduino ide , nothing to select in preferences and theme is still not Dark. How do I change to the Dark theme? ---
**Author:** ![ptillisch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@ptillisch](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ptillisch)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 7:38am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487/2 "2025-11-21T07:38:52Z")
Hi @mikedb. I think that file was the result of someone starting on creating an official dark theme for the IDE, but they never actually followed through to finish the project. However, the Arduino community has created several themes. Maybe one of those will be to your liking. I'll share the list of all the themes I know of: - [How to change the theme (colors) in Arduino IDE 1.x](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/how-to-change-the-theme-colors-in-arduino-ide-1-x/672413) - [Solarized Theme for Arduino IDE](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/solarized-theme-for-arduino-ide/131286) - [Arduino-Themes/hilukasz-Arduino\_Theme/THEME\_RES/Black & Red at master · AbhishekGhosh/Arduino-Themes · GitHub](https://github.com/AbhishekGhosh/Arduino-Themes/tree/master/hilukasz-Arduino_Theme/THEME_RES/Black%20%26%20Red) - [Arduino-Themes/hilukasz-Arduino\_Theme/THEME\_RES/Black & White at master · AbhishekGhosh/Arduino-Themes · GitHub](https://github.com/AbhishekGhosh/Arduino-Themes/tree/master/hilukasz-Arduino_Theme/THEME_RES/Black%20%26%20White) - [Arduino-Themes/hilukasz-Arduino\_Theme/THEME\_RES/Original at master · AbhishekGhosh/Arduino-Themes · GitHub](https://github.com/AbhishekGhosh/Arduino-Themes/tree/master/hilukasz-Arduino_Theme/THEME_RES/Original) - [Arduino-Themes/hilukasz-Arduino\_Theme/THEME\_RES/Solarized at master · AbhishekGhosh/Arduino-Themes · GitHub](https://github.com/AbhishekGhosh/Arduino-Themes/tree/master/hilukasz-Arduino_Theme/THEME_RES/Solarized) - [GitHub - dracula/arduino-ide: 🧛🏻‍♂️ Dark theme for Arduino IDE](https://github.com/dracula/arduino-ide) - [GitHub - JairajJangle/Arduino-Black-Theme: Total Black theme for Arduino IDE](https://github.com/JairajJangle/Arduino-Black-Theme) - [GitHub - jeffThompson/DarkArduinoTheme: A dark theme for the Arduino IDE – no longer maintained :(](https://github.com/jeffThompson/DarkArduinoTheme) - [GitHub - konrad91/OneDarkArduino: Dark theme for the Arduino IDE, inspired by One Dark Pro for VSCode by binaryify](https://github.com/konrad91/OneDarkArduino) - [GitHub - PanGalacticTech/arduinoDarkTheme: Personalised Dark theme for Arduino IDE](https://github.com/PanGalacticTech/arduinoDarkTheme) - [GitHub - per1234/ino-themes at Arduino-retro](https://github.com/per1234/ino-themes/tree/Arduino-retro) - [GitHub - per1234/ino-themes at processing-theme](https://github.com/per1234/ino-themes/tree/processing-theme) - [GitHub - per1234/ino-themes at themeDark-Jerware](https://github.com/per1234/ino-themes/tree/themeDark-Jerware) - [GitHub - per1234/ino-themes at themeDark-smilem](https://github.com/per1234/ino-themes/tree/themeDark-smilem) - [GitHub - per1234/ino-themes at Wiring-theme](https://github.com/per1234/ino-themes/tree/Wiring-theme) - [GitHub - revolt-randy/Arduino-Gray-Theme: A gray theme for the arduino IDE](https://github.com/revolt-randy/Arduino-Gray-Theme) - [GitHub - taunoe/arduino-dark-theme: Arduino dark theme!](https://github.com/taunoe/arduino-dark-theme) - [GitHub - technobly/MonokaiArduinoTheme](https://github.com/technobly/MonokaiArduinoTheme) - [GitHub - TridentTD/TridentArduinoTheme: Sublime-like Theme for ArduinoIDE](https://github.com/TridentTD/TridentArduinoTheme) ## Custom Theme If you decide you want to modify an existing theme, or make your own from scratch, you can find documentation of the theme system and a dummy library and sketch to facilitate testing here: > **[GitHub - per1234/ThemeTest: Documentation and a testing sketch for modifying...](https://github.com/per1234/ThemeTest#themetest)** > > Documentation and a testing sketch for modifying Arduino IDE themes ## Installation You have two options for installing themes to the sketchbook: direct installation or installation as "ZIP" files. I'll provide instructions for both options below: * * * ### Direct installation This installation option is best if you are going to use a single custom theme. 1. Select **File \> Preferences...** (or **Arduino \> Settings...** for macOS users) from the Arduino IDE menus. The " **Preferences**" dialog will open. 2. Take note of the path shown in the " **Sketchbook location**" field in the " **Preferences**" dialog. This is the path to your "sketchbook folder". 3. Click the " **Cancel**" button. 4. Select **File \> Quit** (or **Arduino \> Quit Arduino** for macOS users) from the Arduino IDE menus. All Arduino IDE windows will close. 5. Open the sketchbook folder in your file manager. If you are using Windows, this would be [**File Explorer**](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/find-and-open-file-explorer-ef370130-1cca-9dc5-e0df-2f7416fe1cb1). 6. Create a subfolder in your sketchbook folder named `theme`. 7. Put the theme directly into the `theme` folder you created. The folder structure must look like this: ```plaintext |_ theme |_ syntax | |_ etc... |_ theme.txt |_ etc... ``` * * * ### "ZIP" file installation This installation option is best if you want to switch between multiple custom themes, or if you are using a pre-made theme that supports this installation method. The second option is to put the theme in a "ZIP" file, then put that in the `theme` subfolder of the sketchbook folder. 1. Select **File \> Preferences...** (or **Arduino \> Settings...** for macOS users) from the Arduino IDE menus. The " **Preferences**" dialog will open. 2. Take note of the path shown in the " **Sketchbook location**" field in the " **Preferences**" dialog. This is the location of your "sketchbook folder". 3. Click the " **Cancel**" button. 4. Select **File \> Quit** (or **Arduino \> Quit Arduino** for macOS users) from the Arduino IDE menus. 5. Open the sketchbook folder in your file manager. If you are using Windows, this would be [**File Explorer**](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/find-and-open-file-explorer-ef370130-1cca-9dc5-e0df-2f7416fe1cb1). 6. Create a subfolder in your sketchbook folder named `theme`. 7. Put the theme "ZIP" file directly into the `theme` folder you created. 8. Start Arduino IDE. 9. Select **File \> Preferences...** (or **Arduino \> Settings...** for macOS users) from the Arduino IDE menus. 10. Select the theme from the **File \> Preferences \> Theme** menu. 11. Select **File \> Quit** (or **Arduino \> Quit Arduino** for macOS users) from the Arduino IDE menus. All Arduino IDE windows will close. 12. Start Arduino IDE. The theme you selected from the menu will now be active. The folder and "ZIP" file structure must look like this: ```plaintext |_ theme |_ MyCoolTheme.zip |_ syntax | |_ etc... |_ theme.txt |_ etc... ``` There is a sort of tricky thing about this installation option. The theme must be in the root of the "ZIP" file, **NOT** in a subfolder. Some "ZIP" utilities make that difficult or even impossible (especially the macOS one), but a Windows user won't have any difficulty: 1. Select all the files of the theme in Windows **File Explorer**. 2. Right click on the selected files. 3. Select **Send to \> Compressed (zipped) folder** from the menu. The awesome thing about this option is it allows you to have multiple themes installed (each in its own "ZIP" file). You can chose which one you prefer via the " **Theme**" menu of Arduino IDE's " **Preferences**" dialog. This menu will include the option to select the " **Default theme**", which is the one installed with the IDE. Let's say you had two themes, one you wanted to show up in the **Theme** menu as "MyCoolTheme" and another you wanted to show up as "MyOtherCoolTheme", the folder structure should look like this: ```plaintext |_ theme |_ MyCoolTheme.zip | |_ syntax | | |_ etc... | |_ theme.txt | |_ etc... |_ MyOtherCoolTheme.zip |_ syntax | |_ etc... |_ theme.txt |_ etc... ``` ---
**Author:** ![mikedb](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/mikedb/32/1098613_2.png) [@mikedb](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/mikedb)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 8:15am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487/3 "2025-11-21T08:15:07Z")
Thanks got it to work in Windows ide 1.8.19. I did not test it on Ubuntu yet. I pick a theme from the middle of the list \>conrad91 this is the comparison. Can I copy the the theme from 2.3.6 to 1.8.19? 1.8.19 Left and 2.3.6 Right , need to find a theme that looks the same. ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/1/3/5/135e3d0c4acd489e5e569e3eb9b63e18a95f2938.png) ---
**Author:** ![ptillisch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@ptillisch](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ptillisch)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 8:28am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487/4 "2025-11-21T08:28:49Z")
> [@mikedb](#): > > Can I copy the the theme from 2.3.6 to 1.8.19? No. The two applications use completely different theming systems. ---
**Author:** ![mikedb](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/mikedb/32/1098613_2.png) [@mikedb](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/mikedb)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 9:48am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487/5 "2025-11-21T09:48:43Z")
Thanks. Where is the "theme" folder in Windows for Arduino 2.3.6. I did test a few of the themes in your list but it seem to not look the same as in 2.3.6. So my idea is to change the colors of a theme that is almost the same as in 2.3.6 using the theme colors from 2.3.6. ---
**Author:** ![ptillisch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@ptillisch](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ptillisch)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 10:13am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487/6 "2025-11-21T10:13:52Z")
For Arduino IDE 2.x, you install themes under a folder you create at the following path on your hard drive: ```plaintext C:\Users\\.arduinoIDE\plugins ``` However, that is only for additional themes you install. It appears you are using the built-in "Dark High Contrast" theme in Arduino IDE 2.x. The source of that theme is here: > A community member shared information on the Arduino IDE 2.x theme system here: > [@Personal themes](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/personal-themes/1024606/2): > > Hi @F6EEQ. Arduino IDE 2.x uses a completely different theme system than Arduino IDE 1.x, so none of the information about [the 1.x theme system](https://github.com/per1234/themetest#editing-the-arduino-ides-theme) is applicable in any way to Arduino IDE 2.x. Arduino IDE 2.x is built on the [Eclipse Theia IDE framework](https://theia-ide.org/), which allows it to use [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) themes. Table of Contents [Install a Pre-Made Theme](#install-a-pre-made-theme)[Find Theme](#find-theme)[Install Theme in Arduino IDE](#install-pre-made-theme-in-arduino-ide)[Make a Custom Theme](#make-a-custom-theme)[Generate VS Code Extension Template](#generate-vs-code-extension-template)[Design Theme](#design-theme)[Manually](#manually)[VS Code Theme Studio](#vs-code-theme-studio)[Install Theme in A…](#install-custom-theme-in-arduino-ide-1) ---
**Author:** ![mikedb](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/mikedb/32/1098613_2.png) [@mikedb](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/mikedb)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2025, 8:11am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487/7 "2025-11-22T08:11:27Z")
Thanks a lot , I manage to change Ubuntu to a Dark theme. ---
**Author:** ![ptillisch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@ptillisch](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ptillisch)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487/8 "2025-11-22T19:35:14Z")
You are welcome. I'm glad you were able to get the theming to your liking. Out of curiosity, which specific theme did you end up using? Did you use one of the ones the community created, or did you make your own custom theme? ---
**Author:** ![mikedb](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/mikedb/32/1098613_2.png) [@mikedb](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/mikedb)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 8:02am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487/9 "2025-11-23T08:02:31Z")
> [@ptillisch](#): > > Out of curiosity, which specific theme did you end up using? Way to complicated to start my own theme , I just edit the theme. I tested a few themes and ended up with the "conrad91"theme. I manage to change the back ground from grey to black and the comments from white to green. Still need to make the green brighter and change the pinkish to Orange. ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/original/4X/4/7/d/47da1dbe8b5b44f79d91aa7b99f6b07b5097af21.png) ---
**Author:** ![ptillisch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@ptillisch](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/ptillisch)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 11:20am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487/10 "2025-11-23T11:20:36Z")
> [@mikedb](#): > > Still need to make the green brighter Very much needed. The current comment color is a bit depressing to look at against the black background! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/arduino/user_avatar/forum.arduino.cc/system/32/1140315_2.png) [@system](https://forum.arduino.cc/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 11:20am UTC](https://forum.arduino.cc/t/dark-theme-for-ubuntu/1415487/11 "2026-05-22T11:20:45Z")
This topic was automatically closed 180 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.