Jan 21 2021 09:00 AM
Browsers are very personal. Much of what we do on a computer happens in a web browser, and like anything you use frequently it’s important to be able to make it your own. We’ve heard your requests to make Edge more personal with themes, and today we’re excited to announce that we’ve added over two dozen themes to the Microsoft Edge Add-ons site.
Themes change the look and feel of your browser to create a beautiful and immersive visual experience. They can also be helpful for distinguishing your different profiles to help you separate home, school or work accounts. When you apply a theme, you’ll notice a new background on your new tab page. Your tabs, address bar, and other parts of the browser will also take on the look of the theme for a more immersive experience. We’ve even added support for vertical tabs, a new feature you Insiders have been helping us test.
You’ll find a wide variety of launch themes in the Add-ons site to help you show off your current mood or interest. We’ve also partnered with Xbox to offer themes from your favorite franchises, including Halo, Gears, Forza, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Sea of Thieves, Grounded, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, and more. All of these themes are available exclusively in Microsoft Edge. And if you don’t find one you want, you can also install themes from other stores, including the Chrome Web Store.
Of course, this is just the beginning. We’ll continue growing our collection of themes, and in the coming months we’ll be adding support for anyone to submit their own themes. Soon, you’ll even be able to select a theme color directly from the Edge Settings as well.
Themes make Microsoft Edge more personal and fun, and we’re so excited to hear what you think. Let us know which theme is your favorite in the comments! And keep an eye on the Microsoft Edge Add-ons site for more themes in the future.
— William Devereux, Senior Program Manager, Microsoft Edge
Jan 25 2021 10:58 AM
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Jan 25 2021 01:48 PM
Thanks for all of the great feedback on themes! I love both the themes and the Bing Image of the Day, so I often alternate between the theme's image and the Image of the Day on the NTP. Pro tip: You can install a theme and switch just the NTP back to the Image of the Day, that way you can still see the theme color alongside Bing's beautiful imagery. We specifically designed the themes with different colors and styles so you can use them alongside the Image of the Day if you want.
Jan 25 2021 02:00 PM
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Jan 25 2021 11:52 PM - edited Jan 25 2021 11:53 PM
@William Devereux there doesn't seem to be an easy way to switch between 2 custom themes that I have installed without 'reinstalling' one of them. I have scoured the UI to find such an option and have been unable to find it.
Edge Installation Information
Version 88.0.705.50 (Official build) (64-bit) running on Windows 10 1909 18363.1256
If I go to Settings > Appearance > Custom Theme I see the following microcopy:
Get themes from the Microsoft Edge Add-On Store or other stores. Currently using: Grounded – Ground War.
I cannot find any option within the Appearance UI to change the currently selected custom theme to the other one that I have installed (Halo - Haven)
The only way I am able to change the custom theme is by clicking on the hyperlinked microcopy Grounded - Ground War and 'installing' the Halo - Haven custom theme again - even though I had previously 'installed' it.
Proposed Solution
(1) Insert a drop-down box into the Appearance Settings UI that enables users to switch between installed custom themes.
(2) List all installed custom themes when a user visits the Extensions UI, with a heading of Installed Custom Themes and 3 sub-headings:
a. Custom themes installed from the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store
b. Custom themes installed from the Google Chrome Webstore
c. Custom themes installed from other webstores
More Context Relating to Confusing UX for Edge Add-ons Theme Page
What makes this experience all the more confusing is the microcopy on the Edge Add-ons theme page. The microcopy displayed after I click the Get Theme button is as follows:
Add-on already installed on your browser
This implies to the user that the theme has been installed and can be recalled or viewed within the browser UI. This implication is true in a limited sense: The user can only view the currently installed custom theme in the browser UI.
If a user 'installs' another custom theme from the Edge Add-ons theme page and returns to the Appearance Settings UI, any themes that were previously 'installed' is no longer visible.
This UX is confusing because the implication behind 'installing' something means it is retained or stored within the software.
Not being able to view previously 'installed' custom themes results in confusion and user friction.
Warmly,
Jay from :sun_with_face::globe_showing_asia_australia:🦘
Jan 26 2021 01:25 AM
Jan 26 2021 09:01 AM
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Jan 26 2021 01:49 PM