Hey there! Let’s break down your options for bringing that Material Theme vibe you loved in VS Code over to Visual Studio 2019.

Can you convert Material Theme using Extension Manager tools? #

First off, a quick reality check: Visual Studio Code and Visual Studio (2019 included) use completely different theme systems. VS Code relies on JSON-based color definitions, while VS uses .vstheme files or custom themes built with tools like the VS Color Theme Editor.

The Extension Manager mentioned in Use your favorite extensions with Visual Studio 2019 is designed to migrate Visual Studio-specific extensions (like those built for VS2017) to VS2019—it can’t convert a VS Code theme directly. Even if you tried to adapt it, you’d run into compatibility issues because the two IDEs structure their UI and syntax coloring differently.

That said, you could manually recreate Material Theme in VS2019:

• Grab the color values from VS Code’s Material Theme (you can find these in the theme’s JSON file).
• Use the VS Color Theme Editor (if you can find a version compatible with VS2019) to map those colors to VS2019’s UI elements and syntax categories.
• Export the finished theme as a .vstheme file for VS2019.

It’s a bit tedious, but it’s doable if you want an exact match. Just note that migrating old VS2017 theme extensions via Extension Manager might cause crashes or broken UI—proceed with caution if you test that route.

Alternative Material-like themes for VS2019 #

If you don’t want to build a theme from scratch, here are some pre-made options that capture Material’s sleek, dark, color-balanced feel:

• Community-built Material Themes: Head to the Visual Studio Marketplace and search for "Material Theme"—you’ll find several community versions explicitly labeled for VS2019. These are usually close matches to the original VS Code theme, adjusted for VS’s UI.
• One Dark Pro: A super popular VS Code theme that has a VS2019 port. Its muted, warm dark palette is very similar to Material’s vibe, and it’s optimized for long coding sessions.
• Dracula Theme: While not a strict Material clone, this dark theme uses soft, high-contrast colors that feel modern and easy on the eyes—perfect if you want something similar but with its own flair.
• Updated Solarized Dark: If you’re fond of your old Solarized Dark setup, look for updated versions that add Material-inspired flat design tweaks for VS2019’s UI.

You can also tweak VS2019’s built-in Dark theme using the Color Theme Editor to match Material’s core colors (like the signature blue accent or soft syntax hues) if you prefer a custom middle ground.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Murat Yıldız