Manage AI/BI dashhoard workspace themes
This page explains how to create, update, and delete workspace themes for AI/BI dashboards to maintain consistent branding across your organization. For information about applying workspace themes to dashboards, see Apply a workspace theme.
Workspace theme overview
As a workspace admin, you can define a default theme for AI/BI dashboards in your workspace. When you configure a workspace theme, all new dashboards automatically inherit these settings, while existing dashboards opt in through the theme settings.
A workspace theme includes:
- Canvas background colors (light and dark mode variants)
- Visualization color palette for charts and graphs
- Font styles and sizes
- Widget title alignment preferences
The workspace theme serves as the default for new dashboards, but it is not required. Dashboard authors can select other preset themes, create custom themes, or edit the workspace theme, which converts it to a custom theme for that specific dashboard.
Requirements
To manage the workspace theme, you must be a workspace admin.
Create or update the workspace theme
To create or update the workspace theme:
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In the admin settings, select Appearance > AI/BI > Theme.
- If no theme exists, the button appears as Not configured.
- If a theme exists, the button appears as Configured.
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Click the button to open the full-page theme editor.
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Customize the theme settings:
- Canvas colors: Select background colors for the dashboard canvas in light and dark modes.
- Visualization palette: Choose or customize colors for charts and visualizations. Add or remove colors using
the plus icon or 
the dash icon. - Fonts: Set font styles and sizes for text elements.
- Title alignment: Choose left, center, or right alignment for widget titles.
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Preview your changes using the preview pane, which includes:
- Dashboard background in the selected canvas color
- Multi-series line chart widget
- Stacked bar chart widget
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Preview the theme in light and dark modes by clicking Light mode or Dark mode under the Theme section.
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Click Save to apply the workspace theme.
After you save the theme, all new dashboards automatically inherit these settings.
Delete the workspace theme
When you delete the workspace theme, new dashboards default to the Databricks theme. Existing dashboards that use the workspace theme aren't affected, and they retain the theme as a custom theme.
To delete the workspace theme:
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In the admin settings, select Appearance > AI/BI > Theme.
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Click Configured to open the theme editor.
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Click Delete or the delete option in the editor.
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In the confirmation dialog, click Remove to confirm deletion.
Theme lifecycle and dashboard impact
Understanding how workspace theme changes affect existing dashboards helps you manage theme updates without disrupting published content.
New dashboards
All new dashboards automatically inherit the workspace theme if one is configured. If no workspace theme exists, new dashboards use the default Databricks theme.
Existing dashboards
Existing dashboards can opt in to the workspace theme through the theme settings. When a dashboard author applies the workspace theme, the dashboard receives a snapshot of the current theme configuration.
Theme updates
When you update the workspace theme, existing dashboards that previously applied the workspace theme aren't automatically updated. Instead, they retain the version of the theme they had when it was last applied. This prevents unexpected visual changes to published dashboards.
Dashboard authors manually reapply the updated workspace theme to adopt the new settings.
Theme deletion
When you delete the workspace theme, existing dashboards that use it aren't affected. They automatically retain the theme as a custom theme to ensure published dashboards maintain their appearance.
Manage themes using the Settings API
Manage workspace themes programmatically using the Settings API. The API supports retrieving, updating, and deleting workspace themes.
For more information, see the Settings API reference.