> Markdown version of [Custom Theme](https://vaadin.com/docs/v23/tools/dspublisher/custom-theme). Section index: [llms.txt](https://vaadin.com/docs/v23/tools/llms.txt)

# Applying a Custom Application Theme

An application theme is used from a Maven repository, such as Maven Central or a local repository. Once you have [created a custom theme](https://vaadin.com/docs/v23/styling/custom-theme/creating-custom-theme.md) and [packaged it as a JAR file](https://vaadin.com/docs/v23/styling/custom-theme/custom-theme-packaging.md), you can install it to a repository.

Once the theme is installed in the repository, you can use it by adding a dependency for it to the `pom.xml` in the project’s root folder:

`pom.xml`

```xml
<dependencies>
  ...
  <dependency>
    <groupId>com.example</groupId>
    <artifactId>exampletheme</artifactId>
    <version>1.0</version>
  </dependency>
</dependencies>
```

Next, the theme needs to be applied to the component samples. Change the [`@Theme` annotation](https://vaadin.com/docs/v23/styling/custom-theme/creating-custom-theme.md#applying-a-custom-theme) in `src/main/java/com/vaadin/demo/DemoExporter.java` as shown in the following:

`src/main/java/com/vaadin/demo/DemoExporter.java`

```java
@Theme("exampletheme")
public abstract class DemoExporter<T extends Component> extends WebComponentExporter<T> {
  ...
}
```

The website needs to be rebuilt, or restarted in development mode, in order for the change to take effect.

> **Note: Application theme vs website styling**
>
> This article is about the theme used for rendered UI samples, which is distinct from the documentation website’s styles covered in the [Site Customization](https://vaadin.com/docs/v23/tools/dspublisher/customization.md) documentation.

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