User interface themes
The interface theme defines the appearance of windows, dialogs, buttons, and all visual elements of the user interface. By default, IntelliJ IDEA uses the Darcula theme, unless you changed it during the first run.
Change the UI theme
In the Settings/Preferences dialog (Ctrl+Alt+S), select Appearance & Behavior | Appearance.
Select the UI theme from the Theme list:
IntelliJ Light: Traditional light theme for IntelliJ-based IDEs
macOS Light or Windows 10 Light: OS-specific light theme available as a bundled plugin
Darcula: Default dark theme
High contrast: Theme designed for users with color vision deficiency
Select Sync with OS to let IntelliJ IDEA detect the current system settings and use the default dark or light theme accordingly.
You can install a custom theme from the JetBrains Plugin Repository as described in Managing plugins.
It is also possible to create your own UI themes for IntelliJ IDEA and customize the built-in themes. For more information, see IntelliJ Platform SDK Documentation.
Productivity tips
Use the quick switcher
Press Ctrl+` to execute the action.
In the Switch popup, select Theme, and then select the required interface theme.
Create shortcuts
You can map the Theme action to your preferred key combination as described in Configure keyboard shortcuts.