WPF Application Themes

• Dec 18, 2023
• 8 minutes to read

The DevExpress WPF Subscription ships with over 30 custom designed application themes. You can use each of these themes without modification or customize them in our free WPF Theme Designer application.

Refer to the Theme List topic to get the available theme list. You can apply each theme to the DevExpress WPF Controls and the supported Standard WPF Controls.

The Lightweight Themes topic contains a list of available lightweight themes. These themes visually replicate regular themes, but offer quicker startup times and consume less memory.

Run Demo: Outlook Inspired Demo

Note

When you reference a DevExpress WPF library in an application, the application applies the Office2019Colorful theme. This theme affects all the DevExpress WPF Controls and the supported Standard WPF Controls. You can reset the DevExpress Theme applied to Standard WPF Controls.

List of Supported Standard Controls

The following Standard WPF Controls support the DevExpress WPF Themes:

Show supported Standard WPF Controls

• System.Windows.Button
• System.Windows.CheckBox
• System.Windows.ComboBox
• System.Windows.ComboBoxItem
• System.Windows.ContextMenu *
• System.Windows.Expander
• System.Windows.GridSplitter
• System.Windows.GroupBox
• System.Windows.Label
• System.Windows.ListBox
• System.Windows.ListBoxItem
• System.Windows.Menu*
• System.Windows.Page
• System.Windows.PasswordBox*
• System.Windows.ProgressBar
• System.Windows.RadioButton
• System.Windows.Controls.Primitives.ScrollBar
• System.Windows.ScrollViewer
• System.Windows.Separator
• System.Windows.Slider
• System.Windows.TabControl
• System.Windows.TabItem
• System.Windows.TextBox
• System.Windows.ToolTip
• System.Windows.TreeView
• System.Windows.TreeViewItem

* These controls are supported only in the Office2016SE, VS2017, Office2019, VS2019, Win10, and Win11 themes.

Apply a DevExpress Theme

To apply a theme, it is necessary to reference the theme assembly or the theme NuGet package in your project.

View Example: Use DevExpress Themes in a WPF Application

Apply a DevExpress Theme to an Application

Approach 1

Open the Window’s or the User Control’s Quick Action or Smart Tag, expand the ApplicationTheme drop-down list, and select a theme. The list only shows the themes that are referenced in your project.

The resulting App.config file appears as follows:

• .NET

  App.config

  ...
  <configuration>
      <configSections>
          <section name="DXThemeManager"
          type="System.Configuration.ClientSettingsSection, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"
          allowExeDefinition="MachineToLocalUser" requirePermission="false" />
      </configSections>
      <DXThemeManager>
          <setting name="ApplicationThemeName" serializeAs="String">
              <value>Office2019Colorful</value>
          </setting>
      </DXThemeManager>
  </configuration>
  ...
  

• .NET Framework

  App.config

  <configuration>
      <configSections>
          <sectionGroup name="userSettings"
          type="System.Configuration.UserSettingsGroup, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089" >
          <section name="DXThemeManager"
          type="System.Configuration.ClientSettingsSection, System, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089"
          allowExeDefinition="MachineToLocalUser" requirePermission="false" />
          </sectionGroup>
      </configSections>
      <startup>
          <supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.7.2" />
      </startup>
      <userSettings>
          <DXThemeManager>
          <setting name="ApplicationThemeName" serializeAs="String">
              <value>Office2019Colorful</value>
          </setting>
          </DXThemeManager>
      </userSettings>
  </configuration>
  

Approach 2

This approach overrides changes to the App.config file made with Approach 1.

1. Reference the DevExpress.Data.Desktop.v24.1 assembly.
2. Set the ApplicationThemeHelper.ApplicationThemeName property to a theme name at application startup.

C#

public partial class App : Application {
    protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e) {
        ApplicationThemeHelper.ApplicationThemeName = Theme.MetropolisLightName;
        base.OnStartup(e);
    }
}

VB.NET

Class Application
    Protected Overrides Sub OnStartup(e As StartupEventArgs)
        ApplicationThemeHelper.ApplicationThemeName = Theme.MetropolisLightName
        MyBase.OnStartup(e)
    End Sub 
End Class

Tip

You can add the Ribbon Gallery Theme Selector to your application.

Apply a DevExpress Theme to a Container

Specify the attached ThemeManager.ThemeName property. You can apply the property to the DevExpress WPF Controls and the Supported WPF Standard Controls. The following code sample applies the Office2016SEWhite theme to the ThemedWindow and the Office2019Black theme to the GridControl:

XAML

<ThemedWindow ...
    xmlns:dx="http://schemas.devexpress.com/winfx/2008/xaml/core" 
    xmlns:dxg="http://schemas.devexpress.com/winfx/2008/xaml/grid"
    dx:ThemeManager.ThemeName="Office2016SEWhite">
    <dxg:GridControl dx:ThemeManager.ThemeName="Office2019Black">
        ...
    </dxg:GridControl>  
</ThemedWindow>

Reset the Applied DevExpress Theme

When you reset a theme, DevExpress WPF Themes no longer affect Standard WPF Controls. DevExpress WPF Controls get their appearance from the DeepBlue theme built into the controls’ assemblies.

Reset the Applied DevExpress Theme to an application

Approach 1

Click the “X” button () in the Window’s Smart Tag:

The resulting App.config file appears as follows:

XAML

...
<DXThemeManager>
    <setting name="ApplicationThemeName" serializeAs="String">
        <value>None</value>
    </setting>
</DXThemeManager>
...

If you use Quick Actions, you need to edit the App.config file manually.

Approach 2

Set the ApplicationThemeHelper.ApplicationThemeName property to Theme.NoneName at application startup. This approach overrides changes to the App.config file made with Approach 1.

C#

using DevExpress.Xpf.Core;
...
    public partial class App : Application {
        protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e) {
            ApplicationThemeHelper.ApplicationThemeName = Theme.NoneName;
            base.OnStartup(e);
        }
    }

VB.NET

Imports DevExpress.Xpf.Core
...
Public Partial Class App
    Inherits Application
    Protected Overrides Sub OnStartup(ByVal e As StartupEventArgs)
        ApplicationThemeHelper.ApplicationThemeName = Theme.NoneName
        MyBase.OnStartup(e)
    End Sub
End Class

Reset a DevExpress Theme Applied to a Container

Set the attached ThemeManager.ThemeName property to None:

XAML

<ThemedWindow ...
    xmlns:dx="http://schemas.devexpress.com/winfx/2008/xaml/core" 
    xmlns:dxg="http://schemas.devexpress.com/winfx/2008/xaml/grid">
    <dxg:GridControl dx:ThemeManager.ThemeName="None">
        ...
    </dxg:GridControl>  
</ThemedWindow>

Reset a DevExpress Theme Only For the Standard WPF Controls

To reset a DevExpress Theme only for a container with Standard WPF Controls:

1. Reset the application theme
2. Apply a theme only to containers that contain the DevExpress WPF Controls.

App.config

...
<DXThemeManager>
    <setting name="ApplicationThemeName" serializeAs="String">
        <value>None</value>
    </setting>
</DXThemeManager>
...

MainWindow.xaml

<ThemedWindow ...
    xmlns:dx="http://schemas.devexpress.com/winfx/2008/xaml/core" 
    xmlns:dxg="http://schemas.devexpress.com/winfx/2008/xaml/grid">
    <dxg:GridControl dx:ThemeManager.ThemeName="Office2019White">
        ...
    </dxg:GridControl>  
    <ComboBox>
        ...
    </ComboBox>
</ThemedWindow>

Save a Theme Applied at Runtime

The application applies a theme specified in the application’s configuration file at its startup. Call the ApplicationThemeHelper.SaveApplicationThemeName method to save the current theme to the application’s configuration file:

C#

ApplicationThemeHelper.ApplicationThemeName = Theme.MetropolisLightName;
ApplicationThemeHelper.SaveApplicationThemeName();

VB.NET

ApplicationThemeHelper.ApplicationThemeName = Theme.MetropolisLightName
ApplicationThemeHelper.SaveApplicationThemeName()

Add a Theme Selector to your App

DevExpress WPF Controls include the following MVVM behaviors that allow you to implement theme selectors in your application:

Selector	GitHub Example
BarSubItemThemeSelectorBehavior	Example
BarSplitItemThemeSelectorBehavior	Example
GalleryThemeSelectorBehavior	Example
RibbonGalleryItemThemeSelectorBehavior	Example
HamburgerSubMenuThemeSelectorBehavior	Example

Use Legacy Default Themes

You can use the CompatibilitySettings.LegacyDefaultTheme property to specify the legacy default theme that the application should use:

C#

using DevExpress.Xpf.Core;
...
    public partial class App : Application {
        protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e) {
            CompatibilitySettings.LegacyDefaultTheme = LegacyDefaultTheme.Office2016White;
            base.OnStartup(e);
        }
    }

VB.NET

Imports DevExpress.Xpf.Core
...
Public Partial Class App
    Inherits Application
    Protected Overrides Sub OnStartup(ByVal e As StartupEventArgs)
        CompatibilitySettings.LegacyDefaultTheme = LegacyDefaultTheme.Office2016White
        MyBase.OnStartup(e)
    End Sub
End Class

Use Windows App Mode

The latest DevExpress WPF Theme families include the *System theme. This theme does not introduce its own new look and feel options. Instead, it reads Windows settings and applies one of the existing themes to match the current OS appearance. You application then looks consistent with other software that a user runs on their machine.

The following table lists *System theme names and the corresponding themes that take effect in dark or light OS modes:

Theme Family	System Theme Name	Light Theme[1]	Dark Theme[2]
Office 2016 SE Themes	Office2016SystemSE	Office2016ColorfulSE	Office2016BlackSE
Office 2019 Themes	Office2019System	Office2019Colorful	Office2019Black
Visual Studio 2017 Themes	VS2017System	VS2017Light	VS2017Dark
Visual Studio 2019 Themes	VS2019System	VS2019Light	VS2019Dark
Windows 10 Themes[3]	Win10System	Win10Light	Win10Dark
Windows 11 Themes	Win11System	Win11Light	Win11Dark

You should reference assemblies/NuGet packages of both (Dark and Light) theme versions. For example, to allow the Win11System theme to switch between Win11Light and Win11Dark themes, you should choose any of the following options:

• Reference the DevExpress.Xpf.Themes.Win11Dark.v22.2.dll and DevExpress.Xpf.Themes.Win11Light.v22.2.dll assemblies.
• Reference the DevExpress.Wpf.Themes.Win11Dark and DevExpress.Wpf.Themes.Win11Light NuGet packages.
• Reference the DevExpress.Wpf.Themes.All NuGet package.

The following code sample applies the VS2019System theme to the application:

C#

public partial class App : Application {
    protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e) {
        ApplicationThemeHelper.ApplicationThemeName = Theme.VS2019SystemName;
        base.OnStartup(e);
    }
}

VB.NET

Class Application
    Protected Overrides Sub OnStartup(e As StartupEventArgs)
        ApplicationThemeHelper.ApplicationThemeName = Theme.VS2019SystemName
        MyBase.OnStartup(e)
    End Sub 
End Class

*System themes are available in the theme selector.

Apply a Touch Theme

The DevExpress WPF Touch Themes affect only an element’s appearance (size, paddings, margins, etc.). Refer to the following topic for more information on DevExpress WPF Controls Touch Support: Touch Support.

Append ;Touch to a theme name to apply the touch-friendly theme version:

Note

The TouchlineDark theme is touch-friendly (the default setting). You do not need to append ;Touch to its theme name.

XAML

<ThemedWindow ...
    xmlns:dx="http://schemas.devexpress.com/winfx/2008/xaml/core"
    dx:ThemeManager.ThemeName="Office2013;Touch">
    ...
</ThemedWindow>

Show touch-friendly theme list

Name	ThemeManager.ThemeName
Office 2019 Black	Office2019Black;Touch
Office 2019 Colorful	Office2019Colorful;Touch
Office 2019 DarkGray	Office2019DarkGray;Touch
Office 2019 HighContrast	Office2019HighContrast;Touch
Office 2019 White	Office2019White;Touch
Office 2016 Black SE	Office2016BlackSE;Touch
Office 2016 Colorful SE	Office2016ColorfulSE;Touch
Office 2016 DarkGray SE	Office2016DarkGraySE;Touch
Office 2016 White SE	Office2016WhiteSE;Touch
Office 2016 Black	Office2016Black;Touch
Office 2016 Colorful	Office2016Colorful;Touch
Office 2016 White	Office2016White;Touch
Office 2013	Office2013;Touch
Office 2013 DarkGray	Office2013DarkGray;Touch
Office 2013 LightGray	Office2013LightGray;Touch
TouchlineDark	TouchlineDark

Preload Themes

Controls load theme resources when you run the application. Use the PreloadThemeResourceAsync method to load and cache all the theme resources asynchronously at the application startup. The method reduces application freezes. You can set the runTypeInitializers method parameter to true to invoke static constructors and speed up control initialization.

Lightweight Templates

Lightweight Templates contain fewer visual elements and reduce the time it takes to load DevExpress WPF Controls. The following themes support Lightweight Templates:

Theme Family	Themes
Windows 11	Dark, Light
Windows 10	Dark, Light
Office 2019	Black, Colorful, Dark Gray, White, HighContrast
Visual Studio 2019	Blue, Dark, Light
Office 2016 SE	Black, Colorful, Dark Gray, White
Visual Studio 2017	Blue, Dark, Light

The following table lists DevExpress WPF Controls that support Lightweight Templates and the properties you should use to enable/disable Lightweight Templates:

Control	Property
BarItem	CompatibilitySettings.UseLightweightBarItems
GridControl	TableView.UseLightweightTemplates
PivotGridControl	PivotGridControl.UseLightweightTemplates
RibbonControl	CompatibilitySettings.UseLightweightBarItems

Tip

Refer to the following topics for more information on Lightweight Templates: GridControl Optimized Mode, Ribbon Lightweight Templates.

Standard WPF Control Properties

You can specify the Background, BorderBrush, and BorderThickness property values to change the appearance of Standard WPF Controls when an application uses one of the following DevExpress WPF Themes:

Theme Family	Themes
Windows 11	Dark, Light
Windows 10	Dark, Light
Office 2019	Black, Colorful, Dark Gray, White, HighContrast
Visual Studio 2019	Blue, Dark, Light
Office 2016 SE	Black, Colorful, Dark Gray, White
Visual Studio 2017	Blue, Dark, Light

The following code sample sets the Standard WPF Button‘s Background property to Red when the Office2016WhiteSE theme is applied:

XAML

<dx:ThemedWindow 
    ...
    xmlns:dx="http://schemas.devexpress.com/winfx/2008/xaml/core"
    dx:ThemeManager.Theme="Office2016WhiteSE">
    <Grid>
        <Button Content="Button" Background="Red" />
    </Grid>
</dx:ThemedWindow>

Footnotes

1. The theme that is applied when the Windows app mode is set to Light.

2. The theme that is applied when the Windows app mode is set to Dark.

3. These themes can adjust their colors based on the Windows accent color setting. Refer to the following link for more information: Windows Accent Color and App Mode Support.