Yes, it is possible to set your own custom theme on Facebook Messenger. Facebook allows Messenger users to change the look and feel of the app through different color themes. This gives users more options to personalize Messenger to their own taste.
How to Change Messenger Theme
Changing your Messenger theme is easy to do right within the app. Here are the steps:
- Open the Facebook Messenger app on your device
- Tap on your profile icon in the top left
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Theme
- Browse through the different theme options:
- Default – The classic Messenger blue
- Midnight – Dark blue background
- Arctic – Light blue background
- Rose – Pink background
- Ocean – Teal blue background
- Twilight – Purple background
- Tap on a theme to preview and select it
- The chosen theme will be applied immediately
The above steps work on both iOS and Android devices. The process is very quick and easy to change whenever you want a fresh look.
Custom Messenger Themes
In addition to the built-in color themes, you can also set any custom image or photo as your Messenger background. Here is how:
- From Messenger, tap on your profile and go to Settings
- Tap on Theme > Edit next to Custom Theme
- Choose to select a photo from your camera roll or Facebook photos
- Crop and select the part of the image you want
- Adjust brightness and saturation
- Tap Done to apply the custom theme
You can edit or change this custom theme any time. It’s a great way to add a personal touch with your own photos.
Messenger Day Theme
The theme you select in Messenger settings will carry over into your Messenger Day stories as well. When you use creative tools to add effects, filters, text, etc to a Day photo or video, it will pick up the background color from your current theme.
This creates a consistent, seamless look between your Messenger chats and stories. You don’t have to do anything extra to apply the theme to Day.
Messenger Desktop App Theme
In addition to mobile, your Messenger theme preference will also be applied when using the desktop version. Download Messenger for desktop on Mac or Windows and the theme will automatically be reflected.
One caveat is that custom themes using your own photos do not carry over to desktop. Only the default color themes will be applied.
Dark Mode Theme
If your device settings are set to dark mode, this will override any theme colors you pick within Messenger. The app background will turn black or dark gray to match your system preferences.
When you turn off dark mode device-wide, Messenger will go back to displaying your chosen theme. The app dynamically adapts to both light and dark modes.
Sharing Themes
Once you’ve customized your own Messenger theme, you can share it with friends and contacts. To do this:
- Go to Settings > Theme
- Tap the Share button below your current theme
- Choose the friend or group chat you want to share it with
When they receive the shared theme, your contacts just have to tap Apply Theme and it will automatically be set.
Third-Party Themes
There are also third-party apps and sites that offer additional Messenger themes beyond what’s available within Facebook’s official app. Some popular options include:
- Messenger Themes Chat (Android app)
- Messenger Themes Pro (Android)
- Dazzling Themes for Messenger (iOS)
- messengerthemes.com
- bestmessagethemes.com
These third-party sources provide a wider selection of themes to choose from. However, you have to download additional software and the quality may vary.
Troubleshooting Theme Issues
Here are some potential issues and fixes if you’re having trouble with Messenger themes:
Theme Won’t Change
If a theme isn’t changing when selected, try force quitting and reopening the Messenger app. This will reset any caching issues. Also ensure you have the latest version updated.
Theme Reverting Back
If your custom theme keeps reverting back to the default blue, check that you don’t have dark mode enabled. Dark mode will override any custom themes.
Selected Theme Not Showing
Double check that you tapped Apply on the theme you want. If tapping it doesn’t work, try closing the app completely and reopening to reset it.
Can’t Select Custom Photo
Make sure you’ve granted Messenger access to your photos. Go to device Settings > Privacy > Photos and toggle on Messenger access.
Conclusion
Messenger makes it simple to customize themes and make the app your own. Take advantage of the different built-in color options or use your own photos to set a unique theme. Personalizing your chats can make the conversation feel more fun and engaging.
| Messenger Theme Benefits |
|---|
| Lets you customize the look and feel |
| Applies across Messenger for mobile & desktop |
| Dark mode adapts themes dynamically |
| Easy to change back anytime |
| Can share fun themes with friends |
| Third-party theme apps available |
| Messenger Theme Drawbacks |
|---|
| Limited built-in color options |
| Custom images don’t sync to desktop |
| Some third-party themes may not work well |
| Troubleshooting requires resetting app |
| Can’t theme chats individually |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the default Messenger color themes?
The default themes are: Default (blue), Midnight (dark blue), Arctic (light blue), Rose (pink), Ocean (teal blue), and Twilight (purple).
Does the theme apply to group chats?
Yes, the theme you select applies across all your Messenger conversations, including groups. Everyone in the chat sees the same theme.
Can I make my own themes without custom photos?
Unfortunately no, the only way to create your own unique theme is to use your own photos as a background image. You can’t mix and match colors outside the defaults.
What size photo should I use for a custom theme?
Messenger will crop and resize your photo to fit, but using a high resolution image of at least 1024×1024 pixels ensures it won’t appear pixelated.
Why does my theme keep changing back suddenly?
If you have dark mode enabled, it will override any custom Messenger themes. The app reverts to dark mode automatically.