Modifying a workbook theme means changing the overall look of your worksheet by updating fonts, colors, and the general appearance of objects across all worksheets in the workbook.
To quickly change the fonts, colors, or overall style of objects throughout your workbook, try switching to a different theme or customizing one to suit your needs. If you prefer a specific theme, you can set it as the default for all new workbooks.
Switch to Another Theme
To switch to a different theme, click Page Layout > Themes, then choose the one you want.
Customize a Theme
You can customize a theme by modifying its colors, fonts, and effects to suit your preferences, then save it with the current theme and set it as the default for all new workbooks if desired.
Change Theme Colors
Choosing a different theme color palette or modifying its colors will affect the colors available in the color picker and those already used in your workbook.
-
Click Page Layout > Colors, then select your preferred color set.
The first color set is the one used by the current theme.
-
To create your own color set, click Customize Colors.
-
For each theme color to be modified, click the button beneath the color and select one under Theme Colors.
To add your own custom color, click More Colors, then select one from the Standard tab or input values under the Custom tab.
NOTE:
In the Sample area, you get a preview of the changes you have made.
-
In the Name field, enter a name for your new color set, then click Save.
NOTE:
You can click Reset before clicking Save if you want to restore the original colors.
-
To save these new theme colors with the current theme, go to Page Layout > Themes > Save Current Theme.
Change Theme Fonts
NOTE:
The Preview area shows a preview of your changes.
NOTE:
You can click Reset before clicking Save to restore the original colors.
Selecting a different theme font lets you update all text at once. For this to work, ensure you’ve used “Headings” and “Body” styles in your formatting.
-
Click Page Layout and select the desired font set.
The first set is used by the current theme.
-
To create your own font set, click Customize Fonts.
-
In the Create New Theme Fonts dialog, use the Heading Font and Body Font drop-downs to choose your fonts.
-
In the Name box, enter a name for your custom font set, then click Save.
-
To save these new theme fonts with the current theme, go to Page Layout > Themes > Save Current Theme.
Change Theme Effects
Choosing a different effects set changes the appearance of shapes and objects in your worksheet by applying new borders, shadows, and other visual styles.
-
Click Page Layout and choose your preferred effects set.
The first effects set is used in the current theme.
Note: You cannot customize an effects set.
-
To save the selected effects with the current theme, go to Page Layout > Themes > Save Current Theme.
Save a Custom Theme for Reuse
After modifying your theme, you can save it for future use.
-
Go to Page Layout > Themes > Save Current Theme.
-
In the File Name field, enter a name for your theme, then click Save.
NOTE:
The theme is saved as a theme file (.thmx) in the Document Themes folder on your local drive and is automatically added to the list of custom themes that appear when you click on Themes.
Use a Custom Theme as the Default for New Workbooks
To use your custom theme as the default for all new workbooks, apply it to a blank workbook and save it as a template named Book.xltx in the XLStart folder
(typically located at: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Excel\XLStart).
NOTE:
The theme is saved as a .thmx file in the Document Themes folder on your local drive and is automatically added to the list of custom themes displayed under Themes.
Open a Default Theme Automatically
To configure Excel to automatically open a new workbook using Book.xltx:
-
Click File > Options.
-
Under the General tab, in the Startup Options section, uncheck Show the Start screen when this application starts.
Next time you open Excel, it will launch with the Book.xltx template.
NOTE:
Pressing Ctrl+N also creates a new workbook that uses Book.xltx.