Installing a theme for Windows 7 is very simple and does not require any special computer skills from the user. Initial setup It will take about 5-10 minutes, since you need to patch the system and learn how to install new designs. If for the first time you carry out the installation strictly according to the instructions, then subsequent installations will proceed quickly, smoothly and smoothly.

Preparing the system to support third-party themes

If this is your first time installing a theme on your computer, you will need to patch the system.

After installing patches, you must restart your computer to make changes. After this, the system will be ready to install third-party themes.

If you want to change the Start menu icon and navigation buttons in File Explorer, you'll need to have permissions to system files explorer.exe(for the Start menu) andExplorerFrame.dll(for navigation buttons in Explorer).

The above steps only need to be done once. The following theme changes do not require re-installing patches or obtaining rights to system files.

Installing a theme

Step 1

In the downloaded archive we find the theme file in the format .theme(example: theme name.theme) and a folder with the same name. The file and folder must be copied to the system directory C:/Windows/Resources/Themes.

Step 2

Go to the personalization panel and in the section " Installed themes"We find our topic.

Step 3

Double-click on the theme name and observe changes in the interface design.

Demonstration of an unstable Start button and navigation buttons in File Explorer

As you can see in the screenshot, we still have the same Start menu button and navigation buttons in Explorer. To replace these system elements, move on to the next point.

Replacing the start menu button

Find in the archive with the topic an image with a button in the format *.BMP(in our case the image is located in the folder " Orb") and set the button, .

Replacing navigation buttons in Explorer

If the theme archive contains the file ExplorerFrame.dll, copy it to the folder C:/Windows/System32.

1. Go to the directory C:/Windows/System32 and find the file ExplorerFrame.dll.
2. Rename the file ExplorerFrame.dll V ExplorerFrame.dll.old.
3. Transfer a new file from the theme archive ExplorerFrame.dll to a folder C:/Windows/System32.
4. Restart your computer or simply restart File Explorer for the changes to take effect.

If the archive does not contain the file ExplorerFrame.dll, then there are pictures in the format .BMP, which must be installed using the Windows 7 Navigation Buttons Customizer program.

You must have access rights to the ExplorerFrame.dll file. The first paragraph of the article describes how to obtain rights to this file.

1. Install the program

Despite a lot of text and pictures included below, installing third-party themes for Windows 7 is actually very simple operation, which will take you no more than 10 minutes the first time. And after that, if you follow the instructions correctly, installation new topic you will need about 2 minutes.

Keep in mind that all your further actions you do at one's own risk, no one except you is responsible for the possible crash of the OS. Before installing patches and replacing system files, we recommend making a restore point or backup of the OS.

Preparing the system to support third-party themes

1. Download and install the patch (run the program as administrator and follow further prompts).
2. Download and run the second patch as administrator, press 3 buttons in the window that opens Patch(see screenshot).

After completing the above operations, reboot your computer, your system is ready to install third-party themes.

Setting the visual style (theme)

Replacing system files

In our case, we will change the file ExplorerFrame.dll, which comes in the archive with the theme (if there is none, read the notes at the end of the article).

Many different topics for Windows 7 will help you create a unique, stylish, unlike any other shell of your operating system. You can use your favorite wallpapers, color combinations and graphic filters for windows, which, in combination with a set of interesting gadgets, will help create your exclusive Windows 7.

In special sections of our website you can:
See the link to download Universal Theme Patcher at the end of the article.

To work topics in windows 7 you will need to install a patch Universal Theme Patcher.

This small patch is designed to install new styles and themes for Windows 7.
To install this program, do the following:

Step 1. Let's run the program as administrator (included are both for x86, and for x64 bit version of your system).

Figure 1. Run as administrator

Step 2. Let's press the button "OK" to confirm the selected language.

Figure 2. Confirm selected language

Step 3. Next, press the button again "Yes" for confirmation.

Figure 3. Installation information

Step 4. After which a window will open in which, in this case, you need to patch 3 files. To do this, next to each file, click "Patch". After each action you will be notified that the operation was successful.

Figure 4. Patch information for using themes for Windows 7

Step 5. Once you have changed all the files, you will be prompted to restart your computer. Click "Yes" to reboot.

Figure 5. Reboot confirmation window

Step 6. Next, you need to copy the contents of the theme into the folder C:/Windows/Resources/Themes.

Step 7. In chapter "Personalization" (“Start” - “Control Panel” - “Personalization”) you will see a newly installed theme.

Step 8. As a last resort, re-running this patch allows you to restore the changed files. To do this, click next to each file. "Restore" and restart your computer again.

Figure 6. Patch for installing themes for Windows 7

This month Windows users 10 received the first major update for the system. Unfortunately, with the new version of the system Neither patches for installing third-party themes are compatible(the patch has already been released, see Method 3), nor the actual themes created for the first stable version (10240). The following describes a temporary solution to this problem, and in two ways at once.

To begin with, we’ll immediately warn you that by using these instructions you will be able to use third-party themes, but only those specially created or modified for Windows 10 1511 (aka “with the November update”, aka build 10586). Some authors have already started modifying their most popular themes, but this is unlikely to be done for all previously released themes.

Method 1

Attention! In Windows 10 1511 with build number 10586.494 (update was released on July 12, 2016), this method no longer works. It is proposed to use instead Method 2.

Now let’s talk about how to patch it for installing third-party Windows themes 10 1511. Until the authors of the patches have prepared a more elegant solution, you will have to perform several actions and use the necessary system files prepared by the customizer under the nickname .

1. Download and unzip a set of necessary tools on disk Theme Patcher (link at the end of the article).
2. Run and install patches as administrator UxStyle_0242_x86_x64_preview And UltraUXThemePatcher_3.0.4.
3. To restart a computer.
4. Run file Add_Take_Ownership_to_context_menu.reg and agree to make changes to the system.
5. Go to folder C:\Windows\System32.
6. Become the owner of the files by right-clicking on each one and selecting the item in the context menu Take Ownership.
7. Create backups files themeui.dll, uxinit.dll, uxtheme.dll or just give them new names, like old_themeui.dll.
8. Copy modified files themeui.dll, uxinit.dll, uxtheme.dll from folder File Patch x86 or File Patch x64(depending on the bit depth of your operating system) to the folder C:\Windows\System32.
9. Reboot (although our test system did not require a second reboot).

Your system is now ready to install third-party themes.

Attention! We do not recommend using modified system files; this may lead to complete inoperability of the operating system. Before using these instructions, we strongly recommend that you create a system restore point. You do everything at your own peril and risk.

If you have problems using the first method, try the second. It is safer and simpler, but less convenient due to the need to edit the theme file of each newly installed theme.

Method 2

1. Create a system restore point.
2. Download and install the patch (the project seems to be closed) or its .
3. Rename file C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles V aerolite.msstyles.bak
4. Create in folder C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\ a new folder named aerolite.msstyles
5. Copy the desired theme to the created folder.
6. Open theme file.theme in any text editor(Notepad will do) and replace all instructions with the standard path to the theme files:
   C:\Windows\Resources\Themes or %SystemRoot%\Resources\Themes
   on new:
   C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles or %SystemRoot%\Resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles
7. Apply theme in panel Settings → Personalization → Themes → Theme Options.

Method 3

In early February 2016, one of the enthusiasts put together UXThemePatcher for Windows 10 1511. Manual file replacement is no longer required, the program does all the work independently. However, the above instructions may become relevant again after the release of one of the future updates for the system. Updated 04/19/2016 - and so it happened: in latest versions system patch does not work.

Windows family operating systems offer their users amazing design options. appearance OS. Various color schemes, styles, sets of buttons, options for windows and panels, as well as everyone’s favorite themes have long been invented at the service of users. This has been implemented on a particularly large scale in the two latest releases from Microsoft - “Seven” and “Eight”.

Despite the fact that many things in Windows operating systems are learned almost intuitively and are done quite simply, many users still face serious difficulties in how to do this or that thing. And installing themes is no exception! Let's take a closer look at it.

Installing official themes in Windows 7

First, click on an empty/free space. table right keyboard mouse and call the option "Personalization".

This way you will instantly be in registration service Windows. As you can see, there, in two sections, the system already offers a wide variety of topics to choose from, both in “aero” and “basic” (simplified) versions. Select any of them by clicking on it with the mouse, and it will be automatically installed immediately.

If you want something “new” or different, then to download additional official themes, use the option "Other Internet Topics".

By clicking on it you will instantly be taken to official microsoft portal, where you can choose and download many beautiful themes for design. Take advantage search bar and categories to find something faster. The site also has the function of viewing each topic so that you can clearly see what you are going to download.

After downloading the theme you like, find its file on your computer (by default it will be in the folder "Downloads") and launch it by double-clicking the mouse.

The theme will also be installed automatically and appear in "Design and personalization" In chapter "My themes".

Installing third-party (unofficial) themes in Windows 7

It’s hard to disagree with the fact that today the Internet is full of beautiful custom themes that, unfortunately, cannot be installed in Windows using the usual method. Decide this problem possible using special utilities, For example, VistaGlazz, which will patch system files and thereby make it possible to install third-party themes.

To get started, download the latest version of VistaGlazz and install it on your PC. There is nothing super complicated here. Simply, run the installer file from them administrator and follow the installer's further instructions.

After VG will be installed, launch it from the “working” shortcut or from the menu "Start" and press the button "I agree" to start using it.

Click on the icon "Computer with white shield", then, on the button "Patch files" to begin the process of patching system files.

After finishing, click on "Reboot" to reboot the machine. Then all the changes made VistaGlazz will take effect.

After restarting the OS, run the program again and make sure everything went well. A green shield should now appear on the “Computer” icon!

That's it, now you can start installing themes!

After that, open "Design and personalization" and look - the topic should be displayed there, in the section "My themes".

That's all. Now you will no longer have problems installing official and proprietary themes in Win7!