# Customize theme (colors) **Available in version 3.6 or later.** You can change the colors of the SumatraPDF UI by creating a custom theme with the [`Themes` advanced setting](Advanced-options-settings.md). To create a theme: - Navigate to the `Settings` / `Advanced Options...` menu (or open the Command Palette with `Ctrl + K`, type `adv` to narrow the results, and select the `Advanced Options...` command) - This opens the `SumatraPDF-settings.txt` file in your default text editor - Scroll to the bottom, find the `Themes` array, and add new theme definitions Example of customization: ``` Themes [ [ Name = My Dark Theme TextColor = #bac9d0 BackgroundColor = #263238 ControlBackgroundColor = #263238 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #263238 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #4d3a56 LinkColor = #8aa3b0 DisabledTextColor = #6b7c85 DarkerTextColor = #8aa3b0 HotBackgroundColor = #324047 EdgeColor = #37474f HotEdgeColor = #546e7a DisabledEdgeColor = #1e272c ErrorBackgroundColor = #5c2b2b NotificationBackgroundColor = #2e3c43 NotificationHighlightColor = #455a64 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #eceff1 ColorizeControls = true ] ] ``` The above will provide you with a custom theme named `My Dark Theme`. Built-in themes already ship with these colors filled in; their definitions are listed below. To customize an existing theme, copy its definition from `src/Theme.cpp` into your `Themes` setting, give it a new `Name`, and change the colors you want. For example, copy `Dracula`, rename it `My Dracula`, and set `ActiveTabBackgroundColor` and `InactiveTabBackgroundColor` to your preferred tab colors. Select `My Dracula` in Settings / Theme after saving. Meaning of the parameters: **Required / base colors** - `TextColor` and `BackgroundColor` set the main window's text and background colors. - `ControlBackgroundColor` sets the background of Windows controls (buttons, window frame, menus, list controls, etc.). - `ActiveTabBackgroundColor` and `InactiveTabBackgroundColor` set the backgrounds of active and inactive tabs. If empty, they use the control background and its derived inactive shade. - `LinkColor` sets the color of links. It is typically blue. - `ColorizeControls` should be `true`. If it is `false`, we won't try to change the colors of standard Windows controls (menus, toolbars, buttons, etc.), so much of the UI will not respect the theme colors. ## Document page colors (`DocumentColorsFollowTheme`) UI themes only recolor chrome (menus, tabs, toolbars). Separately, **document pages** (PDF, XPS, DjVu, EPUB, MOBI, FB2, comics, images, and other MuPDF-rendered formats) can follow the theme via the advanced setting **`DocumentColorsFollowTheme`**: | Value | Effect | | ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **`off`** (default) | Keep the document’s own page colors. | | **`smart`** | Recolor text and page background using `FixedPageUI.TextColor` / `FixedPageUI.BackgroundColor` when set, otherwise the current theme’s text/background. **Photos and other images stay as in the file** — preferred for dark reading. Reflowable MuPDF formats (EPUB, HTML, FB2, MOBI) do this with CSS rather than by recoloring the page bitmap. | | **`legacy`** | Also recolor images on PDF, XPS, and DjVu (older invert / colorize behavior). Reflowable MuPDF formats still use CSS, so images stay original. | How to change it: - **Settings → Theme…** or **Settings → Make Document Colors Follow Theme** (command palette / `CmdSetDocumentColorsFollowTheme`) for a drop-down including **`legacy`**. - Advanced settings: `DocumentColorsFollowTheme = off` / `smart` / `legacy`. `Shift + I` (`CmdInvertColors`) is a different thing: it swaps the page colors for the rest of the session, whatever `DocumentColorsFollowTheme` and `FixedPageUI` are set to, and is not saved to the settings file. This is independent of `Theme = ...`. You can use a dark UI theme with `DocumentColorsFollowTheme = off` (original white PDF pages) or a light UI with `smart` page recoloring. **Optional UI colors** (leave empty to derive from the base colors; set them when a warm or tinted `TextColor` would make derived disabled/hover colors look wrong — e.g. Dracula’s near-white foreground) - `DisabledTextColor` — grayed / disabled labels and buttons - `DarkerTextColor` — secondary / muted text - `HotBackgroundColor` — hovered control background - `EdgeColor` / `HotEdgeColor` / `DisabledEdgeColor` — control borders - `ErrorBackgroundColor` — error surfaces - `NotificationBackgroundColor` / `NotificationHighlightColor` / `NotificationHighlightTextColor` — in-app notification tips - `ActiveTabBackgroundColor` / `InactiveTabBackgroundColor` — active and inactive tab backgrounds After you save the settings file, there are three main ways to choose a theme that you created: 1. Change the value of `Theme = ` in `SumatraPDF-settings.txt` (e.g. `Theme = Solarized Dark`). 2. Open the Command Palette (`Ctrl + K`), type `theme`, and select the desired theme from the list. 3. Navigate to `Settings` / `Theme` and choose a theme. ## Built-in Themes These are the built-in theme definitions. Copy one into your Themes setting and give it a new Name to create a customized theme. ```text Themes [ [ Name = Light TextColor = #000000 BackgroundColor = #f2f2f2 ControlBackgroundColor = #ffffff ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #ffffff InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #e6e6e6 LinkColor = #0020a0 DisabledTextColor = #808080 DarkerTextColor = #404040 HotBackgroundColor = #e8e8e8 EdgeColor = #c0c0c0 HotEdgeColor = #808080 DisabledEdgeColor = #d0d0d0 ErrorBackgroundColor = #ffe0e0 NotificationBackgroundColor = #fafafa NotificationHighlightColor = #ffee70 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #8d0801 ColorizeControls = false ] [ Name = Dark TextColor = #F9FAFB BackgroundColor = #000000 ControlBackgroundColor = #000000 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #000000 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #191919 LinkColor = #6B7280 DisabledTextColor = #6B7280 DarkerTextColor = #9CA3AF HotBackgroundColor = #1F2937 EdgeColor = #374151 HotEdgeColor = #6B7280 DisabledEdgeColor = #1F2937 ErrorBackgroundColor = #7F1D1D NotificationBackgroundColor = #111827 NotificationHighlightColor = #422006 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #fde68a ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Light Warm TextColor = #333333 BackgroundColor = #ebe6da ControlBackgroundColor = #f5f1e8 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #f5f1e8 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #e6dcc5 LinkColor = #0020a0 DisabledTextColor = #8a8578 DarkerTextColor = #5c574c HotBackgroundColor = #e8e2d4 EdgeColor = #c9c2b0 HotEdgeColor = #8a8578 DisabledEdgeColor = #ddd6c6 ErrorBackgroundColor = #f5d6d0 NotificationBackgroundColor = #f8f4ea NotificationHighlightColor = #e8d48b NotificationHighlightTextColor = #5c3a0a ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Dark from 3.5 TextColor = #bac9d0 BackgroundColor = #263238 ControlBackgroundColor = #263238 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #263238 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #4d3a56 LinkColor = #8aa3b0 DisabledTextColor = #6b7c85 DarkerTextColor = #8aa3b0 HotBackgroundColor = #324047 EdgeColor = #37474f HotEdgeColor = #546e7a DisabledEdgeColor = #1e272c ErrorBackgroundColor = #5c2b2b NotificationBackgroundColor = #2e3c43 NotificationHighlightColor = #4a3a12 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #ffdf9e ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Charcoal TextColor = #ffffff BackgroundColor = #2d2d30 ControlBackgroundColor = #2d2d30 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #2d2d30 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #45454a LinkColor = #9999a0 DisabledTextColor = #808088 DarkerTextColor = #b0b0b8 HotBackgroundColor = #3e3e42 EdgeColor = #505058 HotEdgeColor = #808088 DisabledEdgeColor = #252528 ErrorBackgroundColor = #5a1d1d NotificationBackgroundColor = #38383c NotificationHighlightColor = #4a3c16 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #ffe2a0 ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Solarized Light TextColor = #212323 BackgroundColor = #fdf6e3 ControlBackgroundColor = #eee8d5 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #eee8d5 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #e0d5b1 LinkColor = #268bd2 DisabledTextColor = #93a1a1 DarkerTextColor = #586e75 HotBackgroundColor = #e6dfc8 EdgeColor = #93a1a1 HotEdgeColor = #657b83 DisabledEdgeColor = #eee8d5 ErrorBackgroundColor = #f8d0c8 NotificationBackgroundColor = #f5efdc NotificationHighlightColor = #f3e2b3 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #5c4405 ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Solarized Dark TextColor = #839496 BackgroundColor = #002b36 ControlBackgroundColor = #073642 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #073642 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #5b0c6f LinkColor = #268bd2 DisabledTextColor = #586e75 DarkerTextColor = #657b83 HotBackgroundColor = #0a4a58 EdgeColor = #586e75 HotEdgeColor = #839496 DisabledEdgeColor = #002b36 ErrorBackgroundColor = #5c1a1a NotificationBackgroundColor = #003543 NotificationHighlightColor = #3d3208 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #eec97a ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Dracula TextColor = #f8f8f2 BackgroundColor = #282a36 ControlBackgroundColor = #44475a ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #44475a InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #5d5a76 LinkColor = #8be9fd DisabledTextColor = #6272a4 DarkerTextColor = #6272a4 HotBackgroundColor = #565a73 EdgeColor = #6272a4 HotEdgeColor = #bd93f9 DisabledEdgeColor = #343746 ErrorBackgroundColor = #ff5555 NotificationBackgroundColor = #343746 NotificationHighlightColor = #4a3c14 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #f1fa8c ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Nebula TextColor = #CBE3E7 BackgroundColor = #100E23 ControlBackgroundColor = #1E1C31 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #1E1C31 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #312e51 LinkColor = #91DDFF DisabledTextColor = #6b6b8a DarkerTextColor = #a0a0c0 HotBackgroundColor = #2a2745 EdgeColor = #3e3a5c HotEdgeColor = #91DDFF DisabledEdgeColor = #15132a ErrorBackgroundColor = #5c1a2e NotificationBackgroundColor = #1a1830 NotificationHighlightColor = #3d2f12 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #f0d9a0 ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Greeny TextColor = #FDD085 BackgroundColor = #4F6232 ControlBackgroundColor = #1E3304 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #1E3304 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #086139 LinkColor = #A2E53B DisabledTextColor = #8a9a60 DarkerTextColor = #c0c878 HotBackgroundColor = #2a4210 EdgeColor = #6a7a40 HotEdgeColor = #A2E53B DisabledEdgeColor = #152808 ErrorBackgroundColor = #5c2810 NotificationBackgroundColor = #3a4a28 NotificationHighlightColor = #5c4a18 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #fde7b0 ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Choco TextColor = #D7AD62 BackgroundColor = #2A1104 ControlBackgroundColor = #172736 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #172736 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #402659 LinkColor = #E8CD12 DisabledTextColor = #8a7040 DarkerTextColor = #b09050 HotBackgroundColor = #243848 EdgeColor = #3a4a58 HotEdgeColor = #E8CD12 DisabledEdgeColor = #0e1820 ErrorBackgroundColor = #5c2010 NotificationBackgroundColor = #1e2e3c NotificationHighlightColor = #4a3208 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #f5d89b ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Purpy TextColor = #E2C3C3 BackgroundColor = #20222A ControlBackgroundColor = #1E0126 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #1E0126 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #440257 LinkColor = #EFF0B8 DisabledTextColor = #8a7088 DarkerTextColor = #b0a0b0 HotBackgroundColor = #2e1838 EdgeColor = #4a3060 HotEdgeColor = #EFF0B8 DisabledEdgeColor = #140018 ErrorBackgroundColor = #5c1a2a NotificationBackgroundColor = #28203a NotificationHighlightColor = #46360f NotificationHighlightTextColor = #f0d9a8 ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = One Dark TextColor = #abb2bf BackgroundColor = #282c34 ControlBackgroundColor = #21252b ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #21252b InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #3d3747 LinkColor = #61afef DisabledTextColor = #5c6370 DarkerTextColor = #7f848e HotBackgroundColor = #2c313c EdgeColor = #181a1f HotEdgeColor = #528bff DisabledEdgeColor = #1b1d23 ErrorBackgroundColor = #be5046 NotificationBackgroundColor = #2c313a NotificationHighlightColor = #40351a NotificationHighlightTextColor = #e5c07b ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Monokai TextColor = #f8f8f2 BackgroundColor = #272822 ControlBackgroundColor = #3e3d32 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #3e3d32 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #5a5848 LinkColor = #66d9ef DisabledTextColor = #75715e DarkerTextColor = #a6a68a HotBackgroundColor = #49483e EdgeColor = #75715e HotEdgeColor = #a6e22e DisabledEdgeColor = #1e1f1c ErrorBackgroundColor = #f92672 NotificationBackgroundColor = #34352f NotificationHighlightColor = #46411c NotificationHighlightTextColor = #e6db74 ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Nord TextColor = #d8dee9 BackgroundColor = #2e3440 ControlBackgroundColor = #3b4252 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #3b4252 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #59506f LinkColor = #88c0d0 DisabledTextColor = #4c566a DarkerTextColor = #81a1c1 HotBackgroundColor = #434c5e EdgeColor = #4c566a HotEdgeColor = #88c0d0 DisabledEdgeColor = #2e3440 ErrorBackgroundColor = #bf616a NotificationBackgroundColor = #3b4252 NotificationHighlightColor = #4a3f26 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #ebcb8b ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = GitHub Dark TextColor = #e6edf3 BackgroundColor = #0d1117 ControlBackgroundColor = #161b22 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #161b22 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #332a40 LinkColor = #2f81f7 DisabledTextColor = #6e7681 DarkerTextColor = #8b949e HotBackgroundColor = #21262d EdgeColor = #30363d HotEdgeColor = #58a6ff DisabledEdgeColor = #21262d ErrorBackgroundColor = #da3633 NotificationBackgroundColor = #161b22 NotificationHighlightColor = #3d2a04 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #e3b341 ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Catppuccin Mocha TextColor = #cdd6f4 BackgroundColor = #1e1e2e ControlBackgroundColor = #181825 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #181825 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #2c2c43 LinkColor = #89b4fa DisabledTextColor = #6c7086 DarkerTextColor = #a6adc8 HotBackgroundColor = #313244 EdgeColor = #45475a HotEdgeColor = #cba6f7 DisabledEdgeColor = #11111b ErrorBackgroundColor = #f38ba8 NotificationBackgroundColor = #181825 NotificationHighlightColor = #45391f NotificationHighlightTextColor = #f9e2af ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Tokyo Night TextColor = #c0caf5 BackgroundColor = #1a1b26 ControlBackgroundColor = #16161e ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #16161e InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #2b2b3b LinkColor = #7aa2f7 DisabledTextColor = #565f89 DarkerTextColor = #a9b1d6 HotBackgroundColor = #292e42 EdgeColor = #3b4261 HotEdgeColor = #7dcfff DisabledEdgeColor = #0f0f14 ErrorBackgroundColor = #f7768e NotificationBackgroundColor = #16161e NotificationHighlightColor = #3d3117 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #e0af68 ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Gruvbox TextColor = #ebdbb2 BackgroundColor = #282828 ControlBackgroundColor = #3c3836 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #3c3836 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #56514e LinkColor = #83a598 DisabledTextColor = #928374 DarkerTextColor = #a89984 HotBackgroundColor = #504945 EdgeColor = #665c54 HotEdgeColor = #fabd2f DisabledEdgeColor = #1d2021 ErrorBackgroundColor = #fb4934 NotificationBackgroundColor = #3c3836 NotificationHighlightColor = #4a3a1a NotificationHighlightTextColor = #fabd2f ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Night Owl TextColor = #d6deeb BackgroundColor = #011627 ControlBackgroundColor = #0b2942 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #0b2942 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #44126d LinkColor = #82aaff DisabledTextColor = #5f7e97 DarkerTextColor = #7fdbca HotBackgroundColor = #1d3b53 EdgeColor = #122d42 HotEdgeColor = #c792ea DisabledEdgeColor = #01111d ErrorBackgroundColor = #ef5350 NotificationBackgroundColor = #0b2942 NotificationHighlightColor = #3a2d16 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #ecc48d ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Ayu TextColor = #bfbdb6 BackgroundColor = #0b0e14 ControlBackgroundColor = #0d1017 ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #0d1017 InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #261f37 LinkColor = #59c2ff DisabledTextColor = #565b66 DarkerTextColor = #acb6bf HotBackgroundColor = #1b2733 EdgeColor = #1b2733 HotEdgeColor = #e6b450 DisabledEdgeColor = #06070a ErrorBackgroundColor = #f07178 NotificationBackgroundColor = #0d1017 NotificationHighlightColor = #362a12 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #e6b450 ColorizeControls = true ] [ Name = Palenight TextColor = #a6accd BackgroundColor = #292d3e ControlBackgroundColor = #1b1e2b ActiveTabBackgroundColor = #1b1e2b InactiveTabBackgroundColor = #332e4a LinkColor = #82aaff DisabledTextColor = #676e95 DarkerTextColor = #8796b0 HotBackgroundColor = #32374d EdgeColor = #3c435e HotEdgeColor = #c792ea DisabledEdgeColor = #151820 ErrorBackgroundColor = #ff5370 NotificationBackgroundColor = #1b1e2b NotificationHighlightColor = #3f3520 NotificationHighlightTextColor = #ffcb6b ColorizeControls = true ] ] ```