Edge’s theme situation has gotten better since they moved to the Chromium base. The add-on store has more options than it used to, and some of the built-in customization options are genuinely good. Here’s what I’d recommend if you’re trying to make Edge look less like a default installation.
Built-In vs Add-On Themes
Edge has a theme section right in the settings under “Appearance.” You can pick from a handful of built-in color presets, or install themes from the Edge Add-ons store. The built-in options are limited but clean. For anything beyond that, the add-on store is the right place.
The Built-In Options Worth Enabling
The dark mode system theme integration is probably the most useful built-in setting. If you’re on Windows 11 with dark mode enabled, Edge will match it by default now. No extra steps.
Vertical tabs paired with a dark theme actually looks really clean. It’s not a theme itself but it changes the visual feel significantly.
Add-On Themes Worth Installing
Dark Space – High quality background imagery in the toolbar. Doesn’t feel cheap like some of the free ones.
Slate – Minimal, muted tones. Good if you want something professional-looking without a big visual statement.
Pink Marshmallow – Lighter aesthetic, well-rated. Mentioned because a lot of the popular Edge themes are dark-only and there should be good light options.
Abstract Dark – Geometric header design, subtle. Works well with a lot of tab counts.
Camo Dark – Military pattern, surprisingly clean execution. More popular than you’d expect.
One Setting People Miss
Under Appearance > Customize toolbar, you can also change the new tab page theme separately from the browser chrome theme. They can be different. Most people don’t realize this.
If you want vertical tabs + dark theme + a custom new tab page, it’s all possible in Edge without any extensions.
Image prompt: Edge browser window showing the Appearance settings panel alongside a themed browser instance with dark toolbar and custom tab styling