Java Swing's look and feel which is similar to WinUI 3

Question

Java Swing's look and feel which is similar to WinUI 3

Tommer Francis 0

Hello everyone, I would like to know that which Java Swing's look and feel is similar to WinUI 3. Thank you very much.

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Answer 1

RevelinoB 3,685

Hi Tommer - As far as I know, there isn’t really a Swing Look and Feel that matches Microsoft’s WinUI 3 one-to-one. WinUI 3 is based on the modern Fluent Design System, which Swing doesn’t natively support.

That said, if you’re after something that looks similar to Windows 10/11, FlatLaf is probably your best option. It has Light and Dark themes with a clean, modern look and is actively maintained. You can also try the FlatLaf IntelliJ or FlatLaf Windows 11 themes — they both have a minimalist style that’s somewhat close to WinUI.

If you really want to get closer to the Fluent look, you can tweak FlatLaf’s colors, corner rounding, and shadows a bit — but that’s probably as close as it gets for now.

Hope that helps!

Tommer Francis 0 Reputation points

2025-11-08T12:38:08.57+00:00

Thank you for your suggestions. Actually, FlatLaf themes are not what I am looking for.
RevelinoB 3,685 Reputation points

2025-11-08T16:03:53.55+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I see — if FlatLaf isn’t what you’re looking for, you might want to check out some other Look and Feel libraries like MaterialUI-Swing, Substance, or WebLaF. They offer different modern styles and might get you closer to the look you have in mind.

If you’re aiming for something that really resembles WinUI 3, you could also try customizing FlatLaf a bit (colors, corner radius, shadows, etc.), since none of the existing L&Fs replicate Fluent Design exactly.

Would you mind sharing a bit more about what kind of look you’re after? (e.g. more “glass” effects, accent colors, rounded corners, etc.) That might help narrow it down.
Tommer Francis 0 Reputation points

2025-11-09T02:18:25.4566667+00:00

I really like WinUI 3, but Java Swing is required for my application.
RevelinoB 3,685 Reputation points

2025-11-09T10:38:56.79+00:00

Got it — that makes sense. If you’re required to stick with Swing, then your best option would probably be to customize FlatLaf to mimic WinUI 3’s Fluent look as closely as possible. You can tweak the theme colors, add softer shadows, and round the component corners to get that clean, modern feel.

Unfortunately, Swing doesn’t have a true Fluent-style Look and Feel out of the box, but with some styling effort, you can get surprisingly close. If you’d like, I can share some examples or tips on how to adjust FlatLaf for a more WinUI-like appearance.
Tommer Francis 0 Reputation points

2025-11-09T10:42:27.39+00:00

Many thanks for your answer, but as I commented above, FlatLaf is not my favourite at all.

Answer 2

Bruce (SqlWork.com) 81,726 Volunteer Moderator

Swing UI is pretty much in maintenance mode. If you want a more modern look you should look at alternatives such as JavaFx, SWT, etc.

Tommer Francis 0 Reputation points

2025-11-09T02:29:17.85+00:00

Why has Java Swing not been updated with any NEW FEATURES anymore (As you mentioned, it is currently in maintenance mode)?
Actually, WinUI 3 is my favourite, but Java Swing is required for my application.
Bruce (SqlWork.com) 81,726 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-11-09T18:13:57.2033333+00:00

Java swing was the second ui library for Java created back in 1997. As an original sdk it’s always included. The closest in windows would be WinForm (2002). It has a look and feel that matches this time period.

as UI technology evolved, just like windows newer ui frameworks were developed. JavaFX is probably closer to what you want, but you say you need to use swing.

you customize swing ui look and feel by overriding the draw routines. This is a lot of work, but 3rd party libraries exist. These libraries typically support customization for different looks.

as suggested you can get a material look and feel much easier than fluent ui. Even on windows the most complete fluent ui library is for react only.
Tommer Francis 0 Reputation points

2025-11-11T02:59:38.4566667+00:00

Many thanks for your sharing! Another question, what do you think about the Nimbus look and feel of Java Swing?
Bruce (SqlWork.com) 81,726 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-11-11T18:04:17.06+00:00

looks like a corporate app. they usually have dated UI's. so it depends on the audience. Myself, I believe the look and feel is very important even for corporate apps.

that said, I don't do desktop anymore, only mobile and web where the toolkits are more modern.

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Java Swing's look and feel which is similar to WinUI 3

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