Batocera makes it easy to change how your system looks without touching the command line. Themes control the layout, artwork, animations, and overall presentation of the interface.
In this blog post, we will walk through how to download new themes, switch between them, and customize theme options directly from the Batocera menu.
- Downloading New Themes
- Changing the Active Theme
- Theme Configuration Options
- Additional Interface Settings
- Finding More Help
- Final Thoughts
Downloading New Themes
Batocera includes a built-in theme downloader.
To download themes:
- Press Start on your controller
- Go to Updates & Downloads
- Select Themes
You will see a list of available themes. To download one:
- Highlight the theme
- Select it
- The download will begin automatically
Once completed, the theme becomes available immediately.
Changing the Active Theme
After downloading themes, you can switch between them at any time.
To change your theme:
- Press Start
- Go to User Interface Settings
- Locate the Theme option
You can:
- Press Left or Right on your controller to cycle through themes
- Or select the theme list and choose one directly
Once selected, press B to go back and the theme will apply.
Theme Configuration Options
Many Batocera themes include additional configuration options.
To access them:
- Press Start
- Go to User Interface Settings
- Select Theme Configuration
Here you may find options such as:
- Layout styles
- Background behavior
- Artwork visibility
- Menu presentation
If you experiment with settings and do not like the result, you can always reset them to defaults.
Additional Interface Settings
Beyond themes, Batocera offers other interface customization options:
- Screensaver behavior
- Showing or hiding folders
- Displaying specific menu items
These settings allow you to simplify the interface or tailor it to your preferences.
Finding More Help
If you want to go deeper:
- Search for Batocera guides online
- Watch tutorial videos
- Reference the official Batocera Wiki
The Batocera community documents most features thoroughly, and nearly every option is explained somewhere.
Final Thoughts
Changing themes in Batocera is quick, reversible, and safe. Whether you prefer a clean default look like the Carbon theme or want something more stylized, Batocera gives you the flexibility to customize your system without risk.
Experiment freely — you can always switch back or reset settings if something does not feel right.
