How To Install a Theme

People are asking me regularly how to install a theme, so in this tutorial I’ll explain the process as detailed as I can. It’s not really as complicated as it might look here, I just try to cover every step so you learn how to do it

The installation process may differ a bit depending on what device you are using, but the basic procedure is still the same. In this example I’m using S60 5th edition device, but If you are using S60 3rd edition and need some further guidance, just ask

I will install the theme to phone’s mass memory, but you can also use the memory card. It’s always better to install any apps or themes to the memory card/ mass memory so you don’t fill up the phone memory. And if you are using memory card and something goes wrong, you can always just remove the memory card (which is useful sometimes if you are using e.g. some beta state apps that might crash you phone).

I’ve always thought that Nokia PC Suite/ Ovi Suite is too heavy to use and it’s easier to install themes manually, so lets take a look how it’s done:

Download the theme file from Internet to your computer and save it to some location that is easy to remember, e.g. to the Desktop (I’m using Windows, so the next steps may be different with Mac).

If the theme is packed to Zip-file, extract the package first and locate the sis-file in it (if you don’t have a program to do so, you can download one from here)

If you were browsing the net with you phone and you already downloaded the sis-file directly to your phone, you can skip this and move to step 4

Connect the phone to your computer by using the USB cable. There will be a pop-up window asking which USB mode you like to use:

select Mass Storage (called Data Transfer on some phones) and the computer will now treat the phone like any other mass storage device

If the phone selects automatically some other mode, you can change it manually from Menu > Settings > Connectivity > USB >

USB connection mode > Mass storage

Ask on connection > Yes

If this is the first time you connect the phone to the computer, the computer might automatically install some necessary drivers. This won’t take long.

The computer should now open a pop-up window (AutoRun/AutoPlay) asking what you wanna do next, choose: Open folder to view files.

If the the automated pop-up window doesn’t appear, you can also navigate to the folder by going to ‘Computer’ (‘My computer’ on Windows XP) > Removable Disk

Locate the sis-file and copy it to some folder on the Removable Disk that you can easily remember. I usually use the ‘Installs’ folder.

Close the Removable Disk window and unplug the USB by using the ‘Safely Remove Hardware’ option on Taskbar.

Many themes are signed by theme author, so you have to give the phone a permission to install self-signed themes. To do so, go

Menu > Settings > Application mgr. > Installation sett. >

Software installation > All

Online certificate check > Off

Go to Menu > Applications > Office > File mgr. > Memory Card/ Mass memory (depending which method you are using)

Locate the right folder. If you transferred the file to the ‘Installs’ folder, you can find it under ‘Installed files’

Click the sis-file you like to install

The pop-up window will open, choose ‘OK’ to install the theme

Security warning will pop-up (because the theme is self-signed), click ‘Continue’

Pop-up window will ask where to install the theme. Choose ‘Memory card/ Mass memory (depending which method you are using)

Wait until the installation process is completed