Fix: Can’t install themes on Windows 7

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Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Even thoughWindows 10 is taking over,Windows 7still the most remarkable OS Microsoft ever produced. When it comes to customization, all Windows platforms have a lot of available options. AndWindows 7customthemesare one of the best ways to personalize and beautify the user interface with a few tweaks. However, someWindows 7users were unable to install customthemes.

There are a few reasons why this problem might occur and we made sure to provide you with solutions below. Make sure to check them out and we should be able to get that shinythemesin a sec.

How to fix Windows 7 custom themes installation issues

1. Make sure the theme file isn’t corrupted

The free customthemesforWindows 7come in numbers. There’s even adedicated DeviantArt sectionwith dozens if not hundreds of availablethemes. However, if you’ve run into a problem and you already patched the system files (you need to do this in order to apply customthemes), try multiplethemes.

Sometimes a certainthemewon’t work while any other will get you going. The Aero versions ofthemescome in “themepack” extensions while the standardthemesare zipped and require extraction. After that, as you already know, just copy the extracted files to theC:WindowsResourcesThemesdirectory.

2. Use Universal Theme Patcher

There are various ways to overcome the system boundaries and enable customthemesbut the best (and the simplest way, for that matter) is by using the utility called UniversalThemePatcher. With it, you can enable customthemesinstallation (or implementation, if you like it more) intoWindows 7.

Follow these steps to download and run UniversalThemePatcher inWindows 7:

3. Check the services

Themesare an essential part of the system shell. You can’t uninstallthemes, as these personalization options will always be there. However, there is a dedicated service which, if disabled, prevents you from using the alternativethemes. Without it, you’ll have only the blankthemewithout Aero as an option. Not to speak of customizedthemesand mods.

So, what we recommend to do is navigate to Services and checking whether the dedicated service is indeed enabled. Here’s how to do it in a few simple steps:

4. Make sure that your system is compatible with the downloaded theme

If you can’t installthemesonWindows 7, the issue might be that you don’t have a compatiblethemeformat. There are two types of extensions used bythemes:

You won’t be able to install the .deskthemepackthemeonWindows 7, so be sure to double-check thethemeformat before trying to install it.

In addition,themesonly work in Home Premium and higher editions ofWindows 7. If you have Home Basic or Starter version ofWindows 7, you won’t be able to installthemesat all.

That’s a wrap-up. In case you’re still bothered with the same issue or have, say, some interesting customthemesto recommend, feel free to tell us in the comments section below.

Fix: Can’t install themes on Windows 7#

How to fix Windows 7 custom themes installation issues#

1. Make sure the theme file isn’t corrupted#

2. Use Universal Theme Patcher#

3. Check the services#

4. Make sure that your system is compatible with the downloaded theme#