[Powershell] Set wallpaper folders for light and dark mode

[johnsolo1]

This script allows you to choose a random image from some folder everytime you switch to light mode, and from a seperate folder when switching to dark mode.

First create a folder for day wallpapers and another for night ones. I called my folders "day" and "night". Similarly, we have two Powershell scripts. I called mine "SetWallpaperDay.ps1" and "SetWallpaperNight.ps1".

Inside of scripts.yaml:

Enabled: true
Component:
  Scripts:
  - Name: powershell wallpaper folder switch
    Command: powershell
    ArgsLight: [C:\Users\your_user\...\SetWallpaperDay.ps1]
    ArgsDark: [C:\Users\your_user\...\SetWallpaperNight.ps1]
    AllowedSources: [Any]

SetWallpaperDay.ps1:

$Folder = "C:\Users\your_user\...\day"
$Wallpaper = Get-ChildItem $Folder -File | Get-Random


Add-Type @"
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public class Wallpaper {
    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    public static extern bool SystemParametersInfo(int uAction, int uParam, string lpvParam, int fuWinIni);
}
"@

[Wallpaper]::SystemParametersInfo(20, 0, $Wallpaper.FullName, 3)

SetWallpaperNight.ps1:

$Folder = "C:\Users\your_user\...\night"
$Wallpaper = Get-ChildItem $Folder -File | Get-Random


Add-Type @"
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public class Wallpaper {
    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    public static extern bool SystemParametersInfo(int uAction, int uParam, string lpvParam, int fuWinIni);
}
"@

[Wallpaper]::SystemParametersInfo(20, 0, $Wallpaper.FullName, 3)

Let me know if this works on your system and any suggestions. Have a great day!

[Spiritreader]

This is a really cool idea. Maybe we'll look into pulling this into the ADM Wallpaper core!

[OttoOrlando]

It doesn't work for stupid me. Where do I have to put the *.ps1 files? In the same folder as the pictures? Or next the .yaml file?...AppData\Roaming\AutoDarkMode?
Do I need the same folder name? Instead of "Day"/"night" I used "hell"/"Dunkel"
Basically I activated the custom scripts option in the app, then copied and pasted your script, and edited the ArgsLight:/Dark locations.
Any ideas why this wouldn't work?
Would love to use your script.

[RafalMierzejewskiIT]

It might not work for some due to PowerShell execution policy being restricted by default, you can change them by running powershell.exe as administrator and running "set-executionpolicy remotesigned", or bypass it in the script file:

Enabled: true
Component:
  Scripts:
    - Name: powershell wallpaper folder switch
      Command: powershell
      ArgsLight:
        - "-ExecutionPolicy"
        - "Bypass"
        - "-File"
        - "C:/.../SetWallpaperDay.ps1"
      ArgsDark:
        - "-ExecutionPolicy"
        - "Bypass"
        - "-File"
        - "C:/.../SetWallpaperNight.ps1"
      AllowedSources:
        - Any

[OttoOrlando]

I tried both versions. Integrating into the script and running "set-executionpolicy remotesigned" doesn't work either.

Thank you for your effort, though. Im too old for fancy stuff like this.

Also, the Chinese gentleman below claims this function is already implemented into windows? I give up

[baifengs]

现在win11 本身就是支持文件夹图片，只是安顺序展示。

[OttoOrlando]

but not different wallpapersets for night and day mode.

[baifengs]

but not different wallpapersets for night and day mode.

是的，我也是才发现这个问题，此插件只支持暗色和浅色模式切换，不支持主题切换。实际按主题名称自定义切换主题名称就可以了，然后在win系统主题那里设置好主题与图片文件夹，也用不到脚本。

[diginfotek]

but not different wallpapersets for night and day mode.

是的，我也是才发现这个问题，此插件只支持暗色和浅色模式切换，不支持主题切换。实际按主题名称自定义切换主题名称就可以了，然后在win系统主题那里设置好主题与图片文件夹，也用不到脚本。

How do you switch themes automatically between dark and light modes without a script?

[baifengs]

Windows 11 itself supports setting wallpaper folders, mouse, and sound for dark and light themes, then naming and saving the theme. Typically, when we manually select the corresponding theme name, it switches to dark or light mode, and the wallpaper folder, mouse, sound, and other settings also switch along with the theme name.

This plugin for Powershell only needs to be able to choose the user-defined and saved theme name, without using the system's built-in dark or light color, so that the theme border and wallpaper can be switched uniformly.

Currently I use the Auto Dark Mode tool.

[diginfotek]

I see, you create a .theme file

I tried that in the past but for some reason my Windows 11 doesn't apply .theme files.

Currently I'm changing values in the registry via powershell scripts. It works but some don't get acknowledged until reboot or explorer.exe restart.