Solved How to change background color of Folders in Windows 7

[damando25]

Is it possible to change the folders normal white background from white to say an off blue color. The reason is white just seems to hurt my eyes too much. Someone told me in order to do this I may need to refresh my skills at C++. I have tried this "Windows 7 Folder Background Changer" at Change folder background with Windows 7 Folder Background Changer. However it does not work on my system for some reason.

 

[Callender]

Change background color of folders

Well this works for me:

Run regedit and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

Right click on the "colors" key and make a backup (export the reg key).

Then in the right pane scroll down to window - double click and change the value to 200 200 200

Exit registry editor and log off then log back on again. You'll see a background like this:

However if you want to change the background color in your photo viewer - read this:

Registry Tweak and Freeware to Change ?Photo Viewer? or ?Photo Gallery? Background Color in Windows - AskVG

There are two tweaks shown. One is for Windows Photo Viewer and the other is for Windows Live Photo Gallery if you've installed it instead of the default Windows Photo Viewer.

 

[damando25]

I am talking about the general folders color such as when you open up "my computer" the background is white then local disc c is white also then program files (86) is white and so on etc... What you are offering is just changing the color on those two Viewers (Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Photo Viewer).

 

[Slartybart]

Try a different theme - if I understand your question, you want the window background color to not be so bright.

A quick test would be to select the High Contrast Black theme.

That might not be what you want, but there are more themes available. click the Get more themes online and see if there's one that meets your needs.

You can also create your own theme, but I've never done it.

 

[Slartybart]

I am talking about the general folders color such as when you open up "my computer" the background is white then local disc c is white also then program files (86) is white and so on etc... What you are offering is just changing the color on those two Viewers (Windows Live Photo Gallery and Windows Photo Viewer).

Not exactly, the link Callender provided does reference Photo Gallery and Photo Viewer, but this is more general and I think it's what you're looking for - go back and read his post again.

Callender:
Then in the right pane scroll down to window - double click and change the value to 200 200 200
​

 

[Callender]

Screenshot

It would be better if you could just post a screenshot of the background that you want to change with an arrow pointing at the background.

Here the background is "off white" and is the same if I click on C or Program Files and so on. Is this the color that you mean?

If it is - use an RGB colour picker tool to define the color via HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors as defined in my earlier post or else as Slatybart suggests try another theme entirely.

Here's a color picker:

Online color picker tool,online pick color tool as HTML,RGB,HEX

Suggest any matching set of three numbers over 200 to get an off white background. The current setting on my machine is 236 236 236

 

[damando25]

"Callender" I tried and change the value to 200 200 200 and still does nothing ? Ok I see some change now as I changed the value to 37 55 187 and came up with a blue using this online tool at http://color.shawnolson.net/ However it changes the background when I go into regedit and also my web pages address bar but it does not change what I am looking for which is odd ?

 

[Slartybart]

"Callender" I tried and change the value to 200 200 200 and still does nothing ?

Just to be certain, which key did you change?

​

 

[Slartybart]

You might have to restart Explorer.

Post a screen of what area you want to change. Callender knows this stuff.
edit: See: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

If there's a way, he will help you.

I'll step out.

 

[damando25]

Here the background is "off white" and is the same if I click on C or Program Files and so on. Is this the color that you mean?

Yes Exactly .

 

[damando25]

"Callender" I tried and change the value to 200 200 200 and still does nothing ?

Just to be certain, which key did you change?

View attachment 324133​

Yup that is it.

 

[damando25]

Here is the picture

 

[Callender]

Screenshots would help

Perhaps you could post a few screenshots making it clear which colors you want to change.

If you look at registry settings here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Colors

Then backup those two registry keys you can mess about changing colors without worry.

If you see 255 255 255 (That's white) listed for anything labelled window or info window then you can change the values to match the desired color. Just don't change any text colors!

It does require logging off/ on or a reboot to take effect.

 

[damando25]

Perhaps you could post a few screenshots making it clear which colors you want to change.

If you look at registry settings here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Colors

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Colors

Then backup those two registry keys you can mess about changing colors without worry.

If you see 255 255 255 (That's white) listed for anything labelled window or info window then you can change the values to match the desired color. Just don't change any text colors!

It does require logging off/ on or a reboot to take effect.

Ok Thank you will do.

 

[Callender]

Screenshots

Try changing the highlighted items to whatever values you want to use.

I will be away from my computer for around 14 hours or so.

 

[Callender]

Confirm that settings stuck

Suggestion:

Go back into the registry and confirm that the settings that you applied have stuck. Since my last post I've tested several machines and was able to change background color by editing the registry on all of them without problems even without an admin account.

Check that any custom theme changer programs are not active or have been fully removed.

Also see the tutorial here and read about the restrictions on color changes depending upon the theme that 's in use.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/282-window-color-appearance-change.html

If you can live with "Classic Theme" use it then personalize. (Right click a blank part of your desktop then choose "Personalize" then "Window Color")





Save your current theme first though!

 

[damando25]

I really appreciate your help. I have changed a lot of stuff but not what I want. It is mind boggling but I am backing up everything I change or making a copy at least.

 

[Callender]

Good stuff!

I really appreciate your help. I have changed a lot of stuff but not what I want. It is mind boggling but I am backing up everything I change or making a copy at least.

Yes, backing up is really sensible!

 

[damando25]

Since I can not get mine to work any chance you want to use teamviewer ?

 

[Callender]

Team Viewer

Thanks for the invite. Unfortunately I won't use Team Viewer or allow Remote Desktop connections. sorry about that.

If you look at the tutorial here on Seven Forums that I mentioned in my last post and look at this image:

(It's some way down the page under 8. The Default Advanced Appearance Settings)

You should notice that it's only possible to change the Window Color if you also select the Basic Theme or an Ease Of Access Theme.

That means using one of the themes listed in this screenshot:

From this tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/280-theme-change-save.html

Other than that I'm afraid that it's going to mean other another third party theme changing software. Since the one that you tried to use didn't work.

Just for good measure here's the Advanced Appearance Settings - Backup and Restore in Windows tutorial that you could use before going any further!

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/324228-advanced-appearance-settings-backup-restore-windows.html

I've used software from this site operated by another Seven Forums member and here's a link to some of the themes that are available:

WinAero: Classic Themes For Windows 7 - the Colorful Classic Themes

Also see the following:

WinAero: How to install 3rd party theme in Windows

Please note that this is not a recommendation and I haven't used these themes/ methods. It's just something that you could consider.

I reckon that you would probably be better off sticking with one of the themes that are supplied with Windows!