How to fix Windows cannot find one of the files in this theme error.

Microsoft offers several default themes for your Windows 10 and Windows 11 computer. Additionally, you can browse the Microsoft Store if you want more options. Although applying a theme allows you to change the appearance of your PC, sometimes these themes can also cause problems.

One such case is when Windows gives you the error “Windows cannot find one of the files in this topic”. If you are also facing it, here are some solutions you can try to get rid of it.

1. Use a different theme

Switching to a different theme is probably the easiest way to fix the Windows cannot find one of the files in this theme error. If the error is solely related to the current theme on your computer, choosing a different theme will help.

Here are the steps you can use to change themes on Windows.

1. open that start menu and click the gear icon to launch the Settings app.
2. In the window, select Settings personalization from the left pane.
3. Click on subjects.
4. Select a different theme to apply.

2. Delete the theme and reinstall it

The Windows cannot find one of the files in this theme error can occur if your current theme is incompatible or corrupt. If you don’t want to use a different theme, you can delete and reinstall the problematic theme. Here’s how to do it.

1. Click on the magnifying glass icon in the taskbar or press victory + S to open the search menu.
2. Type Theme in the search box and select the first result that appears.
3. Since Windows won’t let you remove an active theme, apply a different theme for a while. Then right-click on the problematic topic and select it Extinguish.
4. press the browse topic Button to download theme from Microsoft Store.

   

You don’t have to settle for the default themes provided by Microsoft. With Windows, you can create custom themes for your computer in a few simple steps. If you want to know more, read our guide on creating custom themes in Windows 10 and 11.

3. Prevent Windows from syncing theme settings

Problems with the theme sync feature of Windows can also trigger the Windows cannot find one of the files in this theme error. Several users on the forum reported that they fixed this error simply by disabling the theme sync feature. You can also try this method.

Follow the steps below to prevent Windows from syncing your theme settings.

1. Press victory + me to open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to accounts.
3. Choose Sync your settings from the left pane.
4. Turn off the switch for Theme.

   

After completing the above steps, restart your PC and check if the error appears again.

Alternatively, check out our guide on how to fix a Windows theme that won’t sync and see if that helps.

4. Disable the custom screen saver

If the error only appears after a period of inactivity, it is likely that your custom screensaver is to blame. You can temporarily disable your screensaver on Windows to see if that fixes the error.

1. Right-click an empty spot on the desktop and select Personalize from the context menu.
2. Select in the settings window that opens lock screen.
3. Among Related settingsclick on screensaver.
4. in the Screensaver Settings use the drop down menu to select none.
5. click Use followed by OK to save the changes.

   

After that, restart your PC and check if the error is resolved.

5. Disable background image slideshow

Setting up a background slideshow on Windows 10 is a great way to show off a collection of your favorite photos. Sometimes this feature can conflict with your current Windows theme and lead to Windows cannot find one of the files in this theme error. To check this possibility, try disabling the wallpaper slideshow by following the steps below.

1. Right-click the start icon or press Victory + X to open the power user menu.
2. Choose settings from the list.
3. Navigate to personalization tab and click background.
4. Use the drop down menu next to Personalize your background and select picture.

   

6. Run the SFC and DISM scans

Corrupted system files on your computer can interfere with various Windows functions and cause problems. Luckily, Windows includes a handy SFC (System File Checker) tool that can automatically detect and repair corrupted system files on your PC. This is how you can run the tool.

1. Open the search menu and type command prompt In the box.
2. Choose Execute as administrator from the right pane.
3. Choose Yes when the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.
4. Enter in the console sfc /scan and press Input.

   

Wait for the scan to finish and then restart your PC. If the problem persists, we recommend that you run the DISM (or Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scan by running the following command. It will scan the system image for common issues and try to fix them.

 DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth 

When necessary, DISM connects to Windows Update to download and replace corrupted files. So make sure you are connected to the internet. Also, it is normal for the scanning process to get stuck in between. Do not close the terminal window until the process is complete.

After that, restart your PC and check if the error is resolved.

7. Check for Windows updates

This doesn’t seem to be related to the error, but it’s important to keep your Windows PC up to date. We’ve extensively discussed why you should update Windows when a new version arrives, as updates usually come with bug fixes.

It’s possible that the error just occurs due to a bug in the current Windows build you’re using. If this is the case, installing pending Windows updates should help.

Follow the steps below to check for pending updates on Windows.

1. open that settings app on your pc.
2. Choose windows update from the left sidebar.
3. press the Check for updates Button.

   

Download and install any pending Windows updates. After that, the error shouldn’t bother you.

Customize your Windows computer again

Themes are a great way to customize your Windows computer. Occasionally you may encounter such errors that ruin your experience, but it’s nothing you can’t fix with the solutions listed above.

However, changing your computer’s default theme isn’t the only way to update its appearance. There are numerous third-party tools that you can use to easily tweak and customize your Windows computer.