diff --git a/sddmauthhelper.cpp b/sddmauthhelper.cpp
--- a/sddmauthhelper.cpp
+++ b/sddmauthhelper.cpp
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@
     // initial check for sddm user; abort if user not present
     // we have to check with QString and isEmpty() instead of QDir and exists() because
     // QDir returns "." and true for exists() in the case of a non-existent user;
-    QString sddmHomeDirPath = KUser("sddm").homeDir();
+    KUser sddmUser(QStringLiteral("sddm"));
+    QString sddmHomeDirPath = sddmUser.homeDir();
     if (sddmHomeDirPath.isEmpty()) {
         qDebug() << "Cannot proceed, user 'sddm' does not exist. Please check your SDDM install.";
         return ActionReply::HelperErrorReply();
@@ -130,11 +131,13 @@
         copyFile(kdeglobalsSource.path(), kdeglobalsDestination.path());
     }
 
-    // copy plasmarc (icons, UI style)
-    if (!args[QStringLiteral("plasmarc")].isNull()) {
-        QDir plasmarcSource(args[QStringLiteral("plasmarc")].toString());
-        QDir plasmarcDestination(sddmConfigLocation.path() + QStringLiteral("/plasmarc"));
-        copyFile(plasmarcSource.path(), plasmarcDestination.path());
+    // sync Plasma theme
+    if (!args[QStringLiteral("plasmaTheme")].isNull()) {
+        QString themeConfigLocation = sddmConfigLocation.path() + QStringLiteral("/plasmarc");
+        QSharedPointer<KConfig> themeConfig = openConfig(themeConfigLocation);
+        themeConfig->group(QStringLiteral("Theme")).writeEntry(QStringLiteral("name"), args[QStringLiteral("plasmaTheme")].toString());
+        const char* themeConfigLocationConverted = themeConfigLocation.toLocal8Bit().data();
+        chown(themeConfigLocationConverted, sddmUser.userId().nativeId(), sddmUser.groupId().nativeId());
     }
 
     // write cursor theme, NumLock preference, and scaling DPI to config file
diff --git a/src/advancedconfig.cpp b/src/advancedconfig.cpp
--- a/src/advancedconfig.cpp
+++ b/src/advancedconfig.cpp
@@ -171,10 +171,13 @@
     KConfigGroup numLockConfigGroup(&numLockConfig, "Keyboard");
     QString numLock = numLockConfigGroup.readEntry("NumLock");
 
+    KConfig themeConfig(QStringLiteral("plasmarc"));
+    KConfigGroup themeConfigGroup(&themeConfig, "Theme");
+    QString theme = themeConfigGroup.readEntry("name");
+
     // define paths
     const QString fontconfigPath = QStandardPaths::locate(QStandardPaths::GenericConfigLocation, QStringLiteral("fontconfig"), QStandardPaths::LocateDirectory);
     const QString kdeglobalsPath = QStandardPaths::locate(QStandardPaths::GenericConfigLocation, QStringLiteral("kdeglobals"));
-    const QString plasmarcPath = QStandardPaths::locate(QStandardPaths::GenericConfigLocation, QStringLiteral("plasmarc"));
 
     // send values and paths to helper, debug if it fails
     QVariantMap args;
@@ -212,6 +215,13 @@
         qDebug() << "Cannot find NumLock value.";
     }
 
+    if (!theme.isEmpty()) {
+        args[QStringLiteral("plasmaTheme")] = theme;
+    }
+    else {
+        qDebug() << "Cannot find Plasma theme name.";
+    }
+
     if (!fontconfigPath.isEmpty()) {
         args[QStringLiteral("fontconfig")] = fontconfigPath;
     }
@@ -226,13 +236,6 @@
         qDebug() << "Cannot find kdeglobals file.";
     }
 
-    if (!plasmarcPath.isEmpty()) {
-        args[QStringLiteral("plasmarc")] = plasmarcPath;
-    }
-    else {
-        qDebug() << "Cannot find plasmarc file.";
-    }
-
     KAuth::Action syncAction(QStringLiteral("org.kde.kcontrol.kcmsddm.sync"));
     syncAction.setHelperId(QStringLiteral("org.kde.kcontrol.kcmsddm"));
     syncAction.setArguments(args);