This is the default aero theme with added default Windows 7 Taskbar and Start Menu, also included the stylescript and stylehack files to add your own to any theme on Windows 11, it must be a native Windows 11 theme or imported Windows 10 theme, will not work on themes that are not imported correctly, if you want to learn how to import a Windows 10 theme then look here https://virtualcustoms.net/showthread.php/88580-Windows-11-22H2-Updated-ClassMaps-and-Import-Scripts

Hello Mr GRiM

Are you going to do the same for the RS2 (1703) ?

Thanks so much

At the moment I don't know, I don't think there are any working theme patchers or any way to test themes are even working, tbh I think themes on 10 will be dead when RS2 is released, the only one who has any hope of reviving themes for Windows 10 RS2 is Tyhiy, I think that he might be hinting about doing something like that anyway.

I made this for Stylish a little while ago, decided I should probably share it with everyone.



https://userstyles.org/styles/131125/windows-style-builder

Also remade site banner with a updated logo, I have attached it as well if anyone wants to use it for something

Not sure about Windows 7 but on Windows 8 this can be done by adding a font property to Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand > TaskItemButton > Focused

You can also add them to the other states as well as different text colors.

Sorry that's not possible, you would have to ask Tihiy if he can add support for that

It was for all programs,  did you even try doing what I said?

Here is everything you need for RS1 and ONE http://virtualcustoms.net/showthread.php/72240-ONE-for-Windows-10-Aniversary-Update-aka-Redstone-1

This is only made possible using SiB to do this add property Composited:Bool and remove the fill color from Start Menu (For SIB Only) > Menus > Aero > KeyBoard:TreeView, you will also need to make sure the image you are using in Start Menu > Panels > Aero > Top > Programs List > Panels > NSCHost has some transparency.

The Caption text glow is broken in Aero Glass because the image numbers changed so now it's using the wrong image, disable it in the aero glass gui or select use theme settings, The color is a PITA, I changed the permissions to read only on DWM [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\DWM] after manually changing it to the colors I wanted, this is the only way I have been able to keep any changes.

Here are the style scripts and style hacks to add back skinning to a default msstyles https://www.vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?topic=2240.msg13621#msg13621

Update for RS1 aka Windows 10 Anniversary Update Only!!

This may work on TH2 or earlier but it's not tested so probably best not to try.

This time round I have created 2 separate style scripts to add the start menu and task bar skinning back (SiB only) and also one that will add them both.

After you run the style scripts you can then run the Taskbar Style Hack followed by the Start Menu Style Hack, note that you will have to save and reload the style to see the new added classes for the Taskbar and start menu although you can still run the stylehacks before saving as well as test to see if they were applied, I have found when applying the start menu style hack sometimes you get a msstyles error, just undo and redo the action and it will usually work.

As usual best to do any testing in a VM until you are sure you know what you are doing, even though this type of modification to a default msstyles is relativity safe.

OK looks like it''s time to make you guys an style script for the start menu and taskbar, I will make them separate so you don't have to have both, although if you are using a taskbar it will because you are using SiB

OK it's done, this will add the default Windows 7 taskbar and start menu minus the task view buttons https://www.vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?topic=2240.msg13621#msg13621

You can add classes back manually for each theme or the alternative is to make a style script and it will automate the task for you, have a look at the import style scripts, the ones I used were the 8-10 import style scripts, best to make a backup of your theme before you go adding anything as you will have to save it and reload to be able to see the new classes.

Those style scripts are not perfect for the job though, they really needed to be modified for creating new themes rather then importing a theme, I will have to look at making a better style script that can add classes properties back to a default msstyles.

The taskbar properties are removed in TH2 and onwards so they need to be added back in again, I ran your theme through my import script and added back the classes you need, I also added the properties and fixed the taskbar for you, I noticed your frames wre a bit funky looking as well so I adjusted the content margins in  Windows & Caption Buttons > Aero > DWM Window > Frames > Window > Top from 5, 0, 0, 0 to 1, 0, 0, 0 hope you like the changes

Are you using a shellstyle.dll with the custom exploreframe.dll UI file in it?

With SIB you need to uncheck the composited:bool in "Start Menu > Panels > Aero > Top" if you want to have transparent images with no blur or coloring.

did you try with the regedit.exe.mui file as well?

No heaps of parts are no longer themeable, you can get taskbar and start menu customization back if you use StartIsBack

Taskbar Item buttons and Aero Peak flyout images are no longer themeable, the caption text can be changed but it doesn't seem to work as it should, if you select white in system metrics it gives you black instead, if you select red though it works fine.

The start button can be changed in the msstyles but it only uses a single image, you can use StartIsBack to add a start button image, you can use either png or bitmap images.

To change the start button in the msstyles go here: Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBar > Aero > Start Button

For more information using Uxstyle on TH2 please check the topic on my forum http://virtualcustoms.net/showthread.php/70555-Uxstyle-and-Theme-Signature-Bypass-for-Windows-10-TH2-AKA-1511-AKA-10586

Sorry just cleared up step 4 a bit.

4.  Make sure your .theme file remains in the theme directory but uses the new directory for the msstyles.

You will need to open the .theme file in Notepad++ and use the replace tool, replace any text that has "Themes\" with "Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles\" and save.

I am using Uxstyle but this requires you to have your themes in the aero folder in a new folder called aerolite.msstyles, you will have to take ownership of the theme folder first then rename the original aerolite.msstyles and then create a folder with the same name, then put your theme in that folder.

1.  Rename the default C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles to aerolite.msstyles.bak
2.  Make a new folder in C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\ called aerolite.msstyles
3.  Put your theme in the aerolite.msstyles folder C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles\My Theme\My Theme.msstyles
4.  Make sure your .theme file remains in the theme directory but uses the new directory for the msstyles.
5.  Select your theme from the personalization menu.

OK yeah that's also a problem, I find if you Take Ownership of the entire theme folder you don't have any problems with saving.

I get this all the time with WSB, seems to have spurts of instability and constant crashes, I find the only way to fix it is to start a new aero style and test it, if it tests ok and doesn't crash then your good to go, otherwise keep repeating that step till it works.

[Windows 7 to Windows 10 TH2 (Only for TH2, does not work on RS1).]

OK I would like to share some custom import scripts I have made for importing themes from Windows 7, Windows 8 and from Windows 10 to TH2 and RS1

This is a bit more complicated in some ways but once you get the hang of it it becomes very easy.

First thing to do is select the appropriate Windows Style Builder, there are 3 different folders for TH2 and RS1, each one has a specific import script.


Windows 7 to Windows 10 TH2 (Only for TH2, does not work on RS1).

1. Open the folder called "Windows Style Builder 7-10 TH2"

2. Open the WSB Program.

3. Go to File > Open > Import 7 Theme

4. Open the the Windows 7 Theme you want to import.

5. Save your theme and then reopen it, then save it once more and your done.


Windows 8 to Windows 10 TH2.

1. Open the folder called "Windows Style Builder 8-10 TH2"

2. Open the WSB Program.

3. Go to File > Open > Import 7 Theme

4. Open the the Windows 8 Theme you want to import and do not save.

5. Select Import Style Hack and select "10 TH2 Import Fix" (Very important!!, will have white flashing screen if this step is missed)

6. Save your theme and then reopen it, then save it once more and your done.


Windows 10 RTM to Windows 10 TH2

1. Open the folder called "Windows Style Builder 10-10 TH2"

2. Open the WSB Program.

3. Go to File > Open > Import 7 Theme

4. Open the the Windows 10 Theme you want to import and do not save.

5. Select Import Style Hack and select "10 TH2 Import Fix" (Very important!!, will have white flashing screen if this step is missed)

6. Save your theme and then reopen it, then save it once more and your done.


For Redstone 1 it's pretty much exactly the same but this time I was not able to import a Windows 7 theme so this explanation will be skipped.


Windows 8 to Windows 10 RS1

1. Open the folder called "Windows Style Builder 8-10 RS1"

2. Open the WSB Program.

3. Go to File > Open > Import 7 Theme

4. Open the the Windows 8 Theme you want to import and do not save.

5. Select Import Style Hack and select "10 Import Fix" (Very important!!, will have white flashing screen if this step is missed)

6. Save your theme and then reopen it, then save it once more and your done.


Windows 10 RTM or TH2 to Windows 10 RS1

1. Open the folder called "Windows Style Builder 10-10 RS1"

2. Open the WSB Program.

3. Go to File > Open > Import 7 Theme

4. Open the the Windows 10 Theme you want to import and do not save.

5. Select Import Style Hack and select "10 Import Fix" (Very important!!, will have white flashing screen if this step is missed)

6. Save your theme and then reopen it, then save it once more and your done.


So that's it, not too hard, of course not everything can be imported to Windows 10 but most of it can be, this will also automatically add back any missing classes that are removed and restore support for the Start menu and Taskbar so it will work with StartIsBack.

I am not responsible for anyone who bricks their system using these import scripts, always create a restore point, it's always best to experiment on a Virtual Machine before using on your live OS

Yes that's why I said that icons could be added to the shell32.dll.mui and not replaced in, anyway here is one I posted on VC with the extra icon added, plus the one on DA does exactly the same thing but with silent exe and god knows what else happening to your system.

I only know of ONE for removing the caption text and icons on explorer windows but it still doesn't remove it from other windows and programs, as for the save error, check that it's not read only and you have taken ownership of the msstyles.

yeah caption text seems completely screwed in 10, I have found you have better luck if you try making the colors less bright, aside from red which seems to work fine.

I made my own custom import scripts and style scripts to make the job allot easier, you will need a Windows 7 theme if you want to import to Windows 10, importing a Windows 8 theme will not work but it can be used to make style hacks.

I have attached 2 versions of my Windows Style Builder for this method, 10 v1 and 10 v2, note I have not included the WSB exe files,just copy them from your installed WSB folder.

Using Windows Style Builder 10 v1 import the Windows 7 theme, save it then reopen it and test it to make sure it imported correctly.

At this point you would normally have to fix a whole bunch of stuff, my custom import scripts fix 99% of the problems importing.

Now using Windows Style Builder 10 v2 import a Window 8 theme without saving, then start exporting all parts of the Windows 8 theme aside from the DWM parts, including the DMW parts in the Windows 10 (For testing purpose only), DWM parts cannot be made into style hacks, then export all marked properties to a style hack.

Now on the imported Windows 7 theme apply the style hack and then test the theme to make sure there are no errors.

Unfortunately there is a bug in WSB when creating style hacks, it will only export the first 2 states of a part, 0 and 1 so if you need to copy other states then this will have to be done manually.

Once you have done that you can manually change and fix any of the DWM parts and your done.

When creating style hacks you can also right click on individual properties and include them in your style hack, this can be useful when trying to make a stylehack for states other then 0 and 1, or if you only want certain properties from a state or part.

I have also included a few extra style scripts that can be useful for importing themes to Windows 10, some of these were made before I made a proper import script so they are no longer needed.

It's always a good idea to create a restore point or test on a VM when importing themes in the case that something goes wrong.

I think he meant the green bar when there is sound playing, it cant be changed as far as I know.

There is another way to use as many styles as you like with Uxstyle.

1. Rename the default C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles to aerolite.msstyles.bak
2. Make a new folder in C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\ called aerolite.msstyles
3. Put your theme in the aerolite.msstyles folder C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles\My Theme\My Theme.msstyles
4. Make sure your .theme file uses the new directory.
5. Select your theme from the personalization menu.

So now you just use the aerolite.msstyles folder as the normal theme folder and you can have as many themes as you like.

Note that if you do sfc/scannow or if you do a large Windows update to say Rs1 the themes will most likely be lost, so keep a backup of your themes.

Not sure what that would result in, I guess it would just fall back to using the aerolite theme which could be a good thing as these large updates seem to break any older themes anyway.

That cg.msstyles works, you need to remove the TextColor property from Colors Global and Fonts, System metrics, maybe it needed a custom shellstyle.dll to work normally.

Just edited my previous post with some updated class maps and class groups for Windows 10 TH2

It seems if I fiddle too much with the caption buttons I get an error applying the theme using the aerolite.msstyles hack for some reason.  The rest of the theme applies except for the caption bar and the caption buttons.  Must be how it's reading the DWM Window or Stream.  Works when I apply it using WSB though.  Will investigate further!

You might find with some themes you need to change the images from Windows & Caption Buttons > Aero > DWM Window > <65> to <92>

65 - 88 are the glyph images

89 - 92 are the min/max button images

I had to change these on one of my themes.

I just updated my class groups for the new parts, I have also integrated all of the other changes to Windows 10.



Feel free to download my updated class maps and groups, you will need to replace the ones in 8.1 for these to work.

I just tried putting my themes for Windows November Update that I'm creating into the regular places and they are working now after modifying the original aerolite.msstyles!

Now the themes are working fine (not the old RTM ones) but the new ones.  So all you have to do is replace the normal aerolite.msstyles with my modified version and any further installed ones should work fine!  Still bummed out that I have to redo all my themes but at least it's a start.

*Update after logging out and back in it doesn't seem to be working! doh!

You bugger, I was getting excited then until I read your update

Nice work guys, better then nothing, just means people will only have the choice of one theme at a time.

I'm dual-booting with 7 and I recovered from there.

Have you been able to test/use msstyles that worked in 10547 in this build or is it just me?

Yeah I was able to import a windows 7 msstyles and that worked fine but any Windows 8 or 10 msstyles just cause a black screen.

After recovering from the black screen I won't be testing any more msstyles that worked in the last build.

The glyphs in Windows & Caption Buttons > Aero > DWM Window > Controls > Captions > Window work as usual. So I have no idea where those new white glyphs show up. Maybe in a dark theme?

I am just testing on a VM, I created a snapshot to restore to after a black screen, takes less then a minute to get back up.

Hope there is a way to upgrade windows 8 and 10 themes, using the Windows 7 upgrade works for Windows 7 themes no problems.

Those new states are used for the Min, Max/Restore active caption buttons as well the Glyph images for all.

that method adds new images to the shell32.dll.mui file, I tried and was able to change the shell32.dll icons but sadly it doesn't work on any of the new insider builds.

Personalization has returned some more functionality like previously fore setting the Wallpaper, Color, Sounds and Screensaver although wallpaper and color open up the modern UI settings, also the left navigation pane is fully populated again, not sure why they are starting to bring this back but maybe they will continue to bring back more removed customization.



I have edited my shellstyle.dll THEMECPL_UIFILE and made it so they open the legacy wallpaper and color settings instead, the modified UI files are attached if anyone else wants to use them.