Free · Ableton Live 12

45 free Ableton Live 12 themes, and an online editor to design your own.

Q: Does installing a theme modify Ableton itself?

No. A .ask file is plain XML that you drop into Ableton's own Themes folder. Live reads it like any other theme. Nothing is patched or auto-installed; delete the file and the theme is gone.

An online Ableton theme editor that runs in your browser, no install. Pick colours on a live mock-up of Ableton, see whether the text stays readable, and export a ready .ask file. Or skip the editor and grab one of the 45 ready-made themes.

Open the online editor Browse the pack

The online editor needs a mouse and a wide screen, so it is desktop only. Open this page on a computer to use it. The 45 ready made themes below download and install fine from any device.

Every one of the 276 theme entries set Colour changes keep text readable Every theme checked for readable text (WCAG AA)

The editor

How the editor works

Three steps, entirely in the browser.

Design live

Pick colours against a working mock-up of Ableton's interface, not a swatch grid.

Check contrast

Every text and background pair is graded for readability as you edit, so you catch hard-to-read text before you export.

Export the .ask file

Download a ready-to-install .ask file and drop it into Ableton's Themes folder.

Live preview, pick a family

Dark Pro: low-fatigue studio darks, built for the sessions that run past midnight.

Session View

138.00 4/4

KICK BASS LEAD PAD PERC FX 1 2 3 4

KCK

BAS

PAD

PRC

MSTR

What's under the hood

Why it's different

An Ableton theme file has 276 entries. This pack sets every one of them, and checks that the text stays readable.

All 276 entries

A theme file holds 236 colours and 40 numeric values. Every theme here sets all of them, including the small details you only spot while working.

Hue changes that keep text readable

The editor changes colours in OKLCH, a colour space that matches how people see brightness. Shift a theme's hue and its brightness stays put, so text and controls stay readable.

Checked for readable text

Every theme in the pack is tested against WCAG, the standard for readable text contrast (level AA).

Real clip colours

Ableton's built-in themes share one set of clip colours (Clip1 to Clip16) and only change the rest of the interface. Each theme here has its own clip and track colours too, and you see them as soon as you open Session View.

45 themes, five families

The pack

45 .ask themes across Dark Pro, Neon, Retro, Light and Cyberpunk. All free. Each one is checked for readable text and has its own clip and track colours.

Dark Pro

Low-fatigue studio darks, built for the sessions that run past midnight.

Browse all 10 themes

Neon

Vivid accents on near-black, for psytrance and synthwave at full saturation.

Browse all 10 themes

Retro

Cream, olive and oxblood, the colours of vintage hardware.

Browse all 10 themes

Light

Bright themes that stay easy to read in daylight.

Browse all 10 themes

Cyberpunk

Deep indigo and near-black under neon spring green, scarlet and electric blue.

Browse all 5 themes

Download the pack (.zip) Browse on GitHub No email. No account.

One-time setup

Install in under a minute

Drop the file in, point Ableton at it.

Download the .ask file

Grab one theme from the pack, or the whole zip.

Drop it in your Themes folder

The folder is in a different place on macOS and Windows. Paths are below.

Select it in Preferences

Relaunch Live, then Preferences → Look/Feel → Theme.

macOS

Quit Live. In Finder open Applications, right-click your Ableton Live app, choose Show Package Contents, then open the folder below and drop the .ask files in.

Contents/App-Resources/Themes

This folder is inside the app, so a Live update wipes it. Keep your .ask files somewhere safe and copy them back after updating.

Windows

C:\ProgramData\Ableton\Live 12\Resources\Themes\

If that folder isn't there, look for Resources\Themes inside your Ableton Live install directory.

Or let a script find Ableton for you

A web page can't see your disk, but a script can. Put one in the same folder as your .ask files and run it. It finds Ableton, copies the themes across, and won't run while Live is open. Both scripts are plain text, so you can read them first.

macOS installer Windows installer

macOS: a script downloaded on its own can't be run directly, so use the copy inside the theme pack zip instead. The first time, right click the script and choose Open rather than double clicking, because macOS blocks scripts from the web.
Windows: if SmartScreen warns you, choose More info then Run anyway. If files fail to copy, right click the script and choose Run as administrator.

Before you ask

FAQ

Is this affiliated with Ableton?

No. PixeLabs is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Ableton. These are themes for Ableton Live, made independently.

Does it cost anything?

No. The editor and all 45 themes are free, full stop. No email wall, no trial timer, no upsell buried in the install. It's free because it introduces producers to PixeLabs. There is no paid version.

What version of Ableton do I need?

Live 12. The editor and every theme in the pack target Live 12's theme format specifically.

Does installing a theme modify Ableton itself?

No. A .ask file is plain XML that you drop into Ableton's own Themes folder. Live reads it like any other theme. Nothing is patched or auto-installed; delete the file and the theme is gone.

Does the editor work on mobile or tablet?

No, not right now. The editor needs a desktop sized browser window and a mouse or trackpad to work properly, so it won't open on phones and tablets. The theme pack and install guide on this page work fine on any device; only the editor itself needs a desktop browser.

What is the difference between an Ableton skin and a theme?

Nothing. Ableton called this feature a skin in Live 9 and earlier; since Live 10 the same feature is called a theme. Both words point at the same .ask file, so “ableton skins” and “ableton themes” are just two ways people search for the same thing.

Will these themes work in Ableton Live 11 or older?

No. Both the editor and every theme in the pack target Live 12's theme format specifically, which changed from earlier versions. If you are on Live 11 or older, look for a pack built for that version instead.

Where does Ableton Live 12 keep its Themes folder?

On macOS it is inside the app itself: right click Ableton Live in Applications, choose Show Package Contents, then open Contents/App-Resources/Themes. On Windows it is usually C:\ProgramData\Ableton\Live 12\Resources\Themes. Full copyable paths and a step by step guide are in the install section above.

Can I edit one of the 45 themes instead of starting blank?

Yes. Open the editor and pick any of the 45 themes from the Start from menu, then adjust it with the sliders or the full 186 role list. Starting from a preset works exactly like starting from scratch, it just saves you the first few decisions.

Does the editor upload my colours or theme anywhere?

No. Every colour choice, preview, and exported file stays in your browser. The editor makes no network requests at all, so nothing about designing or exporting a theme touches a server.

Can I use or sell these themes commercially?

Yes. Every theme and the editor's own code are released into the public domain under the Unlicense, so you can use, modify, or redistribute them for any purpose, commercial included. Crediting PixeLabs is appreciated, not required.