Window Color and Appearance - Enable or Disable Change

How to Allow or Prevent Changing Window Color and Appearance in Vista and Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to allow or prevent all users from changing the current Window Color and Appearance personalization settings in Vista and Windows 7. Changing the Window Color and Appearance settings is allowed for users by default in Windows.

EXAMPLE: Window Color and Appearance Enabled and Disabled
NOTE: When disabled (right screenshot), Window Color is grayed out and will not open when clicked on.



EXAMPLE: Window Color and Appearance settings
NOTE: When enabled, these are the settings available that you can change when the ungrayed out (blue) Window Color is clicked on above.

OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download

1. To Allow Changing Window Color and Appearance
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Window_Color_and_Appearance.zip

Download


B) Go to step 3.
2. To Prevent Changing Window Color and Appearance
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Window_Color_and_Appearance.zip

Download


3. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop.

4. Open the downloaded .zip file and extract the .reg file to the desktop.

5. Right click on the extracted .reg file and click on Merge.

6. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

7. Restart the computer to fully apply.

8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg and .zip files if you like.

OPTION TWO

Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Personalization. (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Prevent changing window color and appearance and click on Edit. (See screenshot above)

4. To Allow Changing Window Color and Appearance
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (See screenshot below step 6)

B) Go to step 6.
5. To Prevent Changing Window Color and Appearance
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (See screenshot below step 6)
6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

8. Restart the computer to fully apply.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change the Window Color and Appearance in Windows 7
• How to Backup and Restore Advanced Appearance Settings in Windows
• How to Create a Window Color and Appearance Shortcut
• How to Specify a Desktop Background for All Users
• How to Allow or Prevent Changing Desktop Background in Windows 7
• How to Allow or Prevent Changing Screen Saver in Windows 7
• How to Allow or Prevent Changing Sounds in Windows 7
• How to Allow or Prevent Changing Theme
• How to Allow or Prevent Changing Mouse Pointers in Windows 7
• How to Specify a Default Theme to Load for New Users in Windows 7
• How to Remove Background Images to have Only Solid Colors in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove "Advanced Window Color and Appearance" from Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7

 

[Shura]

windows 7 background turn red

hi,
I am having a problem with windows 7 background color.
When I changed from slide show to the default windows 7 everything turn red.
I tried to change to different colors, but it windows doesn't response to my changes.
What did i do wrong and how can fix background problem
I have windows 7 professional N.
Please help.

 

[Brink]

Hello Shura, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Are you referring to the desktop wallpaper background?

If so, then double check using the tutorial below to see if you may have the Remove background images (where available) box checked by mistake.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/67200-remove-background-images-where-available.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[parthysing]

i download and install Enable_Window_Color_and_Appearance.reg but i changed my entire windows apperance..how can i revert back now ?? i dont have system restore option so please give me a way to go back as it was before.

 

[Brink]

Hello Parthysing, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Could you post a screenshot showing what you mean with more details?

 

[Boboo]

I just registered to say thank you for this post. I did seek for days to find out how to get windows background back.
People did think that I mourning because someone because my whole desktop was black. When i did turn it to pink they guessed i am queer. Finally today my Alpha Romeo 8C appear again on my desktop.
Thank you dude.

 

[Brink]

I'm glad it could help Boboo, and welcome to Seven Forums.