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How To Install Windows 7 Themes

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This will be a guide how to install Windows 7 themes properly. You can install themepacks created on Windows 7 by double-clicking on it, but for 3rd party themes you will have to patch your uxtheme.dll and some other dll files first.

Overview

Installing custom Windows 7 themes can be more difficult than you think. This is a comprehensive guide that will teach you what you have to do.

If this tutorial is too difficult for you or simply can’t install Windows 7 themes after following each and every step, you should simply download one of our custom Windows 7 themes. ALL of them can be installed with a simple double-click!

Download Custom Windows 7 Themes – 1-CLICK-INSTALL

Prerequisites

To install themes you first have to follow Method 1 or Method 2. This is NOT optional.

Are you trying to install an unsigned Windows 7 theme?

Disclaimer: Backup files

Method 1: Patch files uxtheme.dll, themeui.dll and themeservice.dll

Method 2: Unsigned Themes Services

Questions & Answers

Troubleshooting Method 2

Download My DLL files (64-bit only)

Where do I have to copy my Windows 7 themes to? How do I actually INSTALL them!

There are system files! How do I replace them?

Installing .Themepack Themes vs. Installing Unsigned Themes

Before we start, answer this question:

Do you want to install a theme that has the file extension .themepack or is it a complex shell theme that actually changes the appearance of your operating system and has the file extension .theme and usually comes with a whole folder of files?

If the answer is that it is a .themepack theme, you can install the theme with a simple double-click. If it’s not, then proceed with the next step.

Before installing 3rd-party themes: Create a backup

Microsoft does not allow you to use themes that modify the shell of Windows 7 or other parts like the Start orb or the taskbar. In order to install those themes you will have to patch your uxtheme.dll, themeui.dll and themeservice.dll, which can be found “C:\Windows\system32\”.

Before you try to install any themes please make a backup of those files!! I won’t repeat this and you are doing any changes at your own risk, I don’t take any responsibility.

Method 1: Universal Theme Patcher

Alternatively, you can download the Universal Theme Patcher created by deepxw that works with Windows XP SP2 SP3/2003/2008/Vista SP1 SP2/Windows 7, 32bit(x86)/64bit(x64). This won’t create another background process, instead it will patch your files.

Download Universal Theme Patcher.

This patcher will automatically patch the following files on Windows 7: uxtheme.dll, themeui.dll, themeservice.dll

In order to patch the files, you will to run this with administrator privileges. To provide admin rights, right-click on the file and select “Run as administrator”:

The tool will automatically create a backup of the file, so it’s totally safe, because you can always restore the original file:

One last step: To install 3rd party themes, you have to copy the complete folder to C:\Windows\Resources\Themes

Click here for more instructions where to copy your Windows 7 themes

Method 2: Background Service UXStyle Core

The first and probably easiest way to install Windows 7 themes is to use the UXStyle Core tool (created by Rafael withinwindows.com).

The UXStyle Core tool can downloaded from http://uxstyle.com/ or from our own server: Download UXStyle Core

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