How to edit default dark theme for Visual Studio Code?

1. Open Settings

First, open VS Code and click the gear icon in the bottom-left corner to access the settings (shortcut: Ctrl + ,).

2. Select Color Theme

In the settings panel, type "color theme" in the search box to find related settings. You will see "Workspace" and "User" options; click "Color Theme" to select the theme you want to configure. The default dark theme is typically "Dark+ (default dark)".

3. Install Theme Editor Extension

Since VS Code does not allow direct editing of built-in themes by default, you can search for plugins like "Theme Editor" in the Extensions Marketplace to help you customize the theme. After installing the extension, you can use it to adjust colors and styles.

4. Manually Edit Color Settings

If you prefer not to install additional plugins, you can adjust the theme colors by modifying user settings. In user settings, add or modify the following configuration:

json
"workbench.colorCustomizations": {
    "[Dark+ (default dark)]": {
        "editor.background": "#1F1F1F",
        "editor.foreground": "#D4D4D4",
        // Other custom colors you wish to set
    }
}

5. Save and Apply

After modifying the settings, save the configuration file and close the settings page. VS Code will automatically apply the new color configuration.

Example

Suppose you want to change the editor background color in the default dark theme to a slightly lighter gray; add the following configuration in user settings:

json
"workbench.colorCustomizations": {
    "[Dark+ (default dark)]": {
        "editor.background": "#2D2D2D",
    }
}

This way, whenever you use the "Dark+ (default dark)" theme, the editor background color will reflect your custom setting.

By following these steps, you can customize and configure the default dark theme of VS Code according to your preferences, creating a more comfortable and personalized programming environment.