Theme - Change or Save

How to Change or Save a Windows 7 Theme​

   Information

This will show you how to choose a theme to change the pictures (desktop background), colors, and sounds on your computer all at once in Windows 7.

You will also see how to save and delete your custom theme. Saving or deleting a theme is not available in Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic.

   Note

• My Themes is your current theme. These .theme files are located in the hidden C:\Users\User-Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes folder.
• Aero Themes are the Windows Aero themes. They are located in the C:\Windows\Resources\Themes folder.
• Basic and High Contrast Themes are the Windows 7 Basic, Windows Classic, High Contrast #1, High Contrast #2, High Contrast Black, and High Contrast White themes. They are located in the C:\Windows\Resources\Ease of Access Themes folder.
• Regional Themes - See: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1176-themes-regional.html

   Tip

• If you would like to, you can also load a theme pack to your computer from a friend or website to have available to use as your current theme.
• For free themes from Microsoft, see: Windows 7 themes - Microsoft Windows

OPTION ONE

To Change the Theme in Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic

1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the Display icon.

2. In the left blue pane, click on the Change color scheme link. (see screenshot below)

3. Select the color scheme (theme) that you would like, and click on Apply to test to see how you like it. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Aero themes are not available in the Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions.

4. When finished, click on OK. (see screenshot below step 3)

5. Close the Display window. (see screenshot below step 1)

OPTION TWO

To Change the Theme in Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise

1. Right click on a empty space on the desktop and click on Personalize. (See screenshot below)

2. To Change the Theme
A) Click on one of the available themes. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: See the NOTE box at the top of the tutorial for more about these. To have the regional themes added, see: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1176-themes-regional.html.

B) Go to step 4.
3. To Create a Custom Theme
NOTE: Any changes that you make to a theme that you have already saved will automatically be updated and saved to it. There will be no need to save it as a new theme again in step 4 below unless you want a new theme.
A) Change the Desktop Background picture and settings.

B) Change the Window Color and Appearance settings.

C) Change the Sounds for the Windows 7 sound events to any sound file that you would like instead.

D) Change the Screen Saver and settings to be used for this theme pack.

E) Change, add, or remove any Desktop Icons that you want to with.

F) Change the Mouse Pointers to use pointers of your choice.

G) Proceed to OPTION TWO below to save your customized theme as a theme pack.
4. To Save the Current Theme to a File
NOTE: This will be your custom theme with a picture (desktop background), colors, sounds, and screen saver that you have selected and put together for the theme.
A) Under My Themes, click on the Save theme link towards the right. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: This will save your theme as .theme file for use on your computer only. If you want to share the theme with family and friends, then see: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2026-theme-pack-create-save-install-delete.html.

B) Type in a name you want for this theme, and click on the Save button. (See screenshot below)

5. To Delete a Selected Theme
NOTE: You cannot delete the current theme. If you want to delete the current theme, then you must select another theme in step 2 first.
A) Under My Themes, right click on the saved theme you want to delete and click on Delete theme. (See screenshot below)

B) Click on Yes to confirm the deletion. (See screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Allow or Prevent Changing Theme
• How to Make your own Windows 7 Theme Pack
• How to Change the Windows 7 Desktop Background
• How to Change the Window Color and Appearance in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Transparency
• How to Change the Event Sound Effects in Windows 7
• How to Create a Desktop Slideshow in Windows 7
• How to Prevent or Allow Themes to Change Windows 7 Desktop Icons
• How to Use the Regional Themes in Windows 7
• How to Change or Restore Default Windows 7 Desktop Icons
• How to Change the Screen Saver in Windows 7
• How to Change the Mouse Pointers in Windows 7
• How to Prevent or Allow Themes to Change Windows 7 Mouse Pointers
• How to Create a Windows 7 Personalization Shortcut
• How to Apply Custom Themes in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable the Windows 7 Taskbar Thumbnail Previews
• How to Specify a Default Theme to Load for New Users in Windows 7
• Change Windows 7 to Look and Function like Windows XP again
• How to Enable Custom Themes without Modifying System Files
• How to Add or Remove "Personalize" from Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[erco61]

Success!

Thank you Shawn for your help!

The actual name I had given the new theme had a space in it so, I quoted the path in the policy window.

I renamed the theme to not have spaces and I moved it to c:\Theme\newTheme.theme

Now when I create a new user, either Admin or standard, the new user gets the desired theme on initial login.

Thank you very much for your prompt, accurate and helpful reply to my post!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Erco. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[BlackViper]

Hey Shawn, I happened to come across a similar problem that someone else was having. They posted it on either page 1 or 2.

Whenever I restart my computer Windows 7 will automatically create an unsaved theme that replaces my current saved theme (I still have my saved theme there its just not the one being used). I'm using a video animation for a background, and the reason that the unsaved theme that is automatically being used instead of my other saved theme is quite annoying is because it causes all my icons text to appear as black and unreadable on my black background. Is their any way to possibly change which theme windows 7 will use upon start-up. I've tried deleting the other theme, etc, but it gets created over and over again upon start-up.

 

[Brink]

Hello BlackViper, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It may be a issue with the animated background, but you might see if doing either tutorial below may be able to help.

(Set your theme, and prevent it from being changed.)
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/62283-theme-allow-prevent-changing.html

(Specify your theme to be the default)
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/80384-theme-specify-default-theme-load-new-users.html

Hope this may help,
Shawn

 

[rim]

themes

hi
i have windows 7 home basic 32 bit so can i change the themes in my computer .
plz help me as soon as possible.
thank u ........

 

[Brink]

Hello Rim, and welcome to Seven Forums.

By default the Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions do not have the Personalization features included in them, such as changing and saving themes.

You could use Option Two in the tutorial below to be able to change the desktop background and theme in Windows 7 Home Basic though.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/47294-desktop-background-change-windows-7-starter.html

To save and use custom themes in Windows 7 Home Basic, you would need to use a 3rd party program like the pay for WindowsBlinds.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[panopticon]

I had the problem that 'Unsaved Theme' did not appear when I had changed e.g. the color or intensity.
This prevented me from saving the new theme. The new settings re-appered after reboot, though.
The cause was that the file 'Custom.theme' in 'C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes'
was marked as 'ReadOnly'. Removing this attribute, solved my problem.

 

[Brink]

Hello Poul,

Thank you for posting back with your results.

 

[niet1986]

Hy! I was wondering... If I have a selected theme. How can I move between pictures in my desktope without using right click?

Tnx

 

[Brink]

Hello Niet, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You could create a desktop slideshow to have different desktop background images shuffle as often as you like automatically.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[koolkat77]

@Brink : would it be a problem if i took ownership of the 4 High contrast themes and deleted them? thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Koolkat,

It will not be a problem at all. They will just not be available in Personalization to select afterwards.

I would recommend to keep a copy of them saved somewhere as a backup if you like in case you may wish to add any one of them back later.

 

[koolkat77]

Hello Koolkat,

It will not be a problem at all. They will just not be available in Personalization to select afterwards.

I would recommend to keep a copy of them saved somewhere as a backup if you like in case you may wish to add any one of them back later.

I have never used them in my entire life . So i deleted them without a backup

 

[Brink]

LOL, I here you. I only played with a bit to see what they were like, but that's about it.

 

[Yoyodude1124]

HI, My comuter wont let me save themes for sharing. i right click on the theme, then click save theme for sharing, then it says "Windows can't fing one of the files in this theme. Do you still want to save the theme?" then i ckicl yes, and it does it again, and again, and again. Is there a fix?

 

[Brink]

Hello Yoyodude,

See the tutorial below instead to see if it may help. The error indicates that one of the files (ex: sound, wallpaper, screen saver, etc....) could not be found to be included in the .themepack file. You'll need to track down which one it is by seeing which one doesn't work for you, then fix it by setting the correct location of the file.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2026-theme-pack-create-save-install-delete.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[ancient11]

I find it almost impossible to believe that we don't have full control of our desktops in home and starter edition. i think that really sucks! They have a photograph in the Australian edition that I would like on my desktop but since I am using the home edition I guess BiLL Gates don't think I have that right.

However despite bill gates, i have managed by hook and crooke to get my photograph on my desktop, it's just a shame that i had to go through so much time and trouble to do so.

 

[Brink]

Hello Ancient,

The Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions are cheaper since they do not have as many features included. That's the trade off for getting a lower purchase price versus the other editions. You get what you pay for.

If you have not already, the tutorial below can give you a nice permanent option to allow you to easily change your desktop background as you like.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/47294-desktop-background-change-windows-7-starter.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn