# Load Themes from an External File

> important RadThemeManager cannot load the theme if it is saved as package (tssp file). This is shown in the following article: [Using Custom Themes](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/styling-and-appearance/using-custom-themes)

| RELATED VIDEOS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Changing Themes at Run Time with Telerik UI for WinForms](http://tv.telerik.com/watch/winforms/visualstylebuilder/changing-themes-at-run-time-with-radcontrols-winforms)<br>In this video, you will learn how to give your users the ability to choose between Telerik themes and custom themes at run time. (Runtime: 08:42) | ![tools-visual-style-builder-adding-custom-themes-to-your-application-load-themes-from-an-external-file 003](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/3a8040155fa06a37bc6a88c80e2bdf9d/tools-visual-style-builder-adding-custom-themes-to-your-application-load-themes-from-an-external-file003.png) |

> note Themes can be saved as XML files using the VisualStyleBuilder tool: [Saving and Loading Theme Files](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/tools/visual-style-builder/working-with-visual-style-builder/saving-and-loading-theme-files)
> To load a theme from an external file into a Theme Manager, follow these steps:

1. Add a RadThemeManager control to your form.

2. Select the RadThemeManager control, and then open its **Smart Tag** menu.

   ![tools-visual-style-builder-adding-custom-themes-to-your-application-load-themes-from-an-external-file 001](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/b442ea337034d646ed65b9cd5271e75d/tools-visual-style-builder-adding-custom-themes-to-your-application-load-themes-from-an-external-file001.png)

3. Select **Load Theme From File**.

4. Find your theme in the **Open File** dialog box, and then click **Open**.

   ![tools-visual-style-builder-adding-custom-themes-to-your-application-load-themes-from-an-external-file 002](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/fe6986f550339883d9fb3966ea544a35/tools-visual-style-builder-adding-custom-themes-to-your-application-load-themes-from-an-external-file002.png)

> important If the form with the theme manager will be opened multiple time in the life cycle of the application, the theme manager needs to be diposed explicitly. A suitable place to call its Dispose method is the Closing event of the form.
>
> caution It is up to you to choose a theme that makes sense for the controls on the form that you are customizing. Theme Manager does not check the theme to make sure that its customizations apply to the controls currently on the form.

## See Also

* [Adding RadThemeManager to a Form](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/tools/theme-manager/adding-radthememanager-to-a-form)

* [Applying a Theme to a Control](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/tools/theme-manager/applying-a-theme-to-a-control)

* [Add Remove Theme Files](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/tools/theme-manager/editing-themes)

* [Load Themes from a Resource](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/tools/theme-manager/load-themes-from-a-resource)