How to set up a dark theme for Visual Studio 2010

There are two types of themes for Visual Studio 2010. One affects only the colors of window borders and buttons. The other affects only the colors of the code editor and syntax highlighting. The two must be combined to create an overall dark theme.

Install the Visual Studio color theme editor

  • In Visual Studio, go to Tools | Extension Manager.
  • Click Online Gallery.
  • In the Search Online Gallery box, type visual studio color theme editor.
  • Click Visual Studio Color Theme Editor and click Download.
  • Click Install.
  • Restart Visual Studio.

Download and install the Expression theme

The Expression theme is a Visual Studio color theme. Visual Studio color themes only affect the colors of the window borders and buttons, not the code editor windows.

Download and install the Metroline theme

The Metroline theme is a Visual Studio settings file that only contains color information. It only affects the editor windows, not the window borders and buttons.

  • Go to http://winterdom.com/2010/04/metroline-a-vs2010-color-scheme, right click Download on Download the most up to date .vssettings file for Metroline. and Save As.
  • In Visual Studio, go to Tools | Import and Export Settings.
  • Click Import selected environment settings.
  • Click Yes, save my current settings.
  • In Choose a Collection of Settings to Import, click Browse.
  • Browse to and select the metroline.vssettings file.
  • Leave All Settings | Options | Environment | Fonts and Colors checked.
  • Click Finish

Fix the colors of the Solution Explorer

Many other windows, such as the Solution Explorer are not affected by these themes, and remain with a white background. There is a quick hack available that allows setting the foreground and background color of the Solution Explorer but it may cause issues in Visual Studio. YMMV.

  • In Visual Studio, go to Tools | Extension Manager.
  • Click Online Gallery.
  • In the Search Online Gallery box, type sexcolor.
  • Click SExColor and click Download.
  • Click Install.
  • Restart Visual Studio.
  • In Visual Studio, go to Tools | Options | SExColor.
  • Click on Foreground and Define Custom Colors. Then type 180, 180, 180, for Red, Green and Blue.
  • Click on Background and Define Custom Colors. Then type 30, 30, 30, for Red, Green and Blue.