How to install Windows 7 Themes
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!
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
This tool will create a new process “UnsignedThemesSvc.exe” that is running in the background and will allow you to run 3rd-party themes properly.
After rebooting your PC, you should check if the service “Unisgned Themes” is started. To do that follow a few instructions:
1. Click on Start
2. Enter services.msc into the search field
3. Enter “U” and look for the service “Unsigned Themes”
4. Double-click it and click on “Start”
5. If it could not find the specified file, you should download
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
Troubleshooting Unsigned Themes service
Error:
Windows could not start the Unsigned Themes service on local computer.
Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified.
Fix:
Download Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package
x32 Download
x64 Download
Sidenote: Before you use the UXStyle Core, you should deinstall any previously installed UXTheme.dll patches. The UXStyle Core is working on Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.
If you have problems installing unsigned themes after installing UXStyle Core, check if the service is started: Enter “sc start UnsignedThemes” into command line or follow the instructions above.
Reboot your PC after installing UXStyle Core!
UXTheme.dll x64 Build 7100
I uploaded my own dll files, but you should only use them if you are using Windows 7 Build 7100 (RC) x64:
Download UXTheme.dll x64 7100#
If you found this tutorial useful, please retweet it, submit it to digg or stumbleupon. I would really appreciate it.
Where should I copy my themes to?
To install your 3rd-party themes you have to copy your themes to the folder C:\Windows\Resources\Themes
Let’s take a peek at that folder to understand how it works:
The themes folder has some .theme files but also a folder called “Aero”. This folder is part of the Aero theme (aero.theme). The folder MUST have the exact name of the .theme file (in this case Aero). The folder name is case-insensitive.
Now let’s take a peek at a typical 3rd-party theme:
A folder and a .theme file! For now, it doesn’t really matter what is in that folder. Now, when you extract the folder and .theme file you have to make sure that you are not creating a subfolder for the theme, it has to be exactly like above! If the folder Midnight and Midnight.theme are in a subfolder your theme won’t be recognized.
What should I do with shell32.dll, explorer.exe and other system files?
Many themes will include system files that you have to replace, e.g. explorer.exe, shell32.dll or other system files. You have to replace them to fully install your themes.
Be advised that modifying system files can render your system unusable! Always be VERY careful when you replace system files.
Read our tutorial: How to replace system files in Windows 7
Installing Shell Themes & Theme Installer 0.7
Update 8/8/2010:
A new guide has been added that explains how to install custom Windows 7 shell themes. This guide includes some special tips for 64-bit Windows 7 users. When you install shell themes on Windows 7 64-bit you’ll have to copy some files to the SysWOW64 folder, that’s explained in the guide:
Additionally, we have added a theme installer that makes installing themes a lot easier:
Based on 4 votes
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Contact The Author: support@windows7themes.net 
Need help? Ask a question at our QA site, click the red button to get started:
at ‘where do i copy my themes to’ all u said was where to copy it and how it needs to look. i cant make it look like that!? i cant do this at all iv been trying for like 12 hours straight, sick i know but its driving me insane that i cant do it. so WHAT DO I DOOO to make it look like the ‘picture above’…?
exploited, it’s a very simple process and I described it all on this site dozens of times. Especially read the very last part of the tutorial and click on the link to the tutorial “how to install shell themes”
Patch your UX files, copy the themes as described, make sure the theme is compatible with your version (not all themes work on 64-bit Windows 7), don’t make simple things difficult.
Ok first of all it would be awesome if I could get it to work….however the 1st method after downloading it I found that I could NOT get it to install. SO I tried method 2 and it installed but can not be found. So I am back to square one when an awesome theme I CAN’T use……
A new video how to install Windows 7 themes will be up shortly
so.. I’ve used method 2 and I’m done. my only problem is how do I change my start orb?? please help me.
SO SWEET!!! Using blade theme for windows 7 64 bits. worked like a charm! I read your instruction and notepad inside a folder. worked like a charmed. Cheers!
all I did was download the .themepack, copied it to the “c:\windows\resources\themes” , and double clicked on it. It installed the pack and was available in, choose and it shows under “my themes”. Was done with in seconds.
OMG, all these happy people working around just another one of Windows poor user designs. This is almost as bad as the Registery.
I did this 3-4 times. the first time my other PC broke. the 2nd time my PC lagged and didnt open apps same for 3 and or 4th.
You’re obviously doing it wrong – possibly you have a corrupt theme or you are replacing the wrong files.
You’re aware of sfc.exe to quickly restore your PC right?
Also make sure that you know where to copy 32-bit and 64 bit files