"Home Screen" Windows 10 borrowed some elements from previous versions of the OS. With Windows 7, the usual list was taken, and with Windows 8, live tiles were taken. The user can easily change the appearance of the menu "Start" built-in tools or special programs.

This article will look at some applications that change the appearance "Home screen", and will also describe how to do this without unnecessary software.

Method 1: StartIsBack++

StartIsBack++ is a paid program that has many configuration tools. Opening "Desktop" occurs without the Metro interface. Before installation, it is advisable to create a “Restore Point”.

Method 2: Start Menu X

The Start Menu X program positions itself as a much more convenient and improved menu. There are paid and free versions of the software. Next we will look at Start Menu X PRO.

Method 3: Classic Shell

Classic Shell, like previous programs, changes the appearance of the menu "Start". Consists of three components: Classic Start Menu (for the menu "Start"), Classic Explorer (changes the toolbar "Conductor"), Classic IE (also changes the toolbar, but for the standard Internet Explorer browser. Another advantage of Classic Shell is that the software is completely free.

Method 4: Standard Windows 10 Tools

The developers have provided built-in tools for changing the appearance "Home screen".

Hello dear readers of the blog site. The article below will show you one of the ways to install a theme on Windows 10 . By following a few simple steps you can make your computer brighter!

Brief instructions:

• Install the patch using the program " UltraUX Theme Patcher 3+". You can download it from this link
• Install and then configure the program" OldNewExplorer". It is designed to hide and show individual panels in Explorer. And you can download it
• Copy the desired theme to " C:/Windows/Resources/Themes/"
• Select it in the "Personalization" panel.

Detailed installation instructions without patch:

The new operating system offers the user a significant set of tools for personalization. However, to make your computer truly unique, follow a few simple steps:

To enable a pre-installed theme, use " Options". RMB on the desktop will open " Personalization". In the application " Options".

Here you can customize the desktop image, as well as the transparency of interface elements.

Important! Windows 10 themes are stored in the Themes folder.

Important! Themes pre-installed in Windows 10 cannot be deleted because... they are protected.

Installation

If you don’t like any of the proposed options for interface design, you can download and install new themes.

1. RMB from the menu Start V Control panels turn on the small icons and " Personalization". Next click on " Other topics from the Internet».
2. The official Microsoft website will open with different design options.
3. Select the most suitable option and click " Download theme".
4. Run the file downloaded from the Internet and after installing it, “ Personalization» changing theme in Windows 10.
5. Find a suitable design option for your OS from a third-party creator and download it to your computer.

Good to know! All themes are in archives, for this reason it is better to create a folder with the appropriate name for each of them.

Unpack the archive into a folder and copy the files that appear to the directory Themes where are standard Windows 10 themes.
You can enable the new OS design in the same window where the standard themes are located.

The user may be able to customize the Windows 10 OS interface at his own discretion. It can turn standard themes on and off, download new ones from the Microsoft website or third-party developers, and use the dark version for design. All changes are made in the menu " Personalization».

It often happens that a user wants to somehow update or diversify the internal working appearance of his OS. It's not that difficult to do. The default look of Windows 10 can be changed in different ways. One of them is installing a new theme.

Changing Theme

The entire Windows design installed by default is a standard theme. By installing another one, you will change the appearance of windows, the cursor, system applications, and also add new wallpaper, system sounds and design colors.

There are several ways to install a new theme: download it from the official store, create it yourself, or download it using third-party programs. Please note that versions of Windows prior to build 1703 Creators Update did not have this feature, so make sure you have this or a later version of the system installed.

Through the official store

To change the theme using the official Microsoft Store, follow these steps:

1. Expand system settings.

   Open System Settings

2. Go to the “Personalization” block.

   Open the “Personalization” block

3. Select the "Themes" sub-item. Once in it, you will see a list of already available themes. Select one of them and evaluate the changes made. If you don’t like the theme, you can always change it to the standard one in the same way.

   Click on the theme you want to install and evaluate the changes made

4. If there is no option suitable for you in the list of standard themes, proceed to search for new offers by clicking on the “Other themes in the Store” button.

   Click on the "More Themes in the Store" button

5. The official Microsoft store will open. It has a huge selection of free themes. Find among them the one that attracted you and install it, and then return to the “Themes” sub-item, select and save it.

   Select a theme from the store and install it

6. After installing some themes, the “Themes” sub-item is transformed: a list of things that can be configured appears in it. For example, you can choose from several cursors or alert sounds.

   After installing themes from the store, the “Themes” tab is transformed: a list of additional settings appears in it

Via the official website

A large number of topics are presented on the official Microsoft website. Open the desired page, select the theme you like and download it, then open the downloaded file and confirm the installation. Done, the new theme will be applied automatically and will appear in the list along with the previously received themes.

The official Microsoft website offers a large selection of additional themes

Video: how to change the Windows 10 theme through the official Microsoft website

Via patch

If you want to install themes from third-party resources, that is, not from the official website or store, you will have to first install an additional UltraUXThemePatcher patch, which adds the desired function to the system:

1. Download the patch installation file from the official website and run it, click on the “Next” button and wait for the automatic installation to complete.

   Run the installation file and click Next

2. Reboot your system.

   Restart your computer

3. Download the theme from any third-party site and move it to the C:\Windows\Resources\Themes folder.

   Copy the theme to the C:\Windows\Resources\Themes folder

4. When all the files have been successfully copied, go to personalize your computer and install the theme that appears in exactly the same way that official themes are installed, that is, click on it and wait for the system to complete its transformation.

   Select a third-party theme from the list of themes and wait for the system to complete its transformation

Video: how to change the Windows 10 theme using UltraUXThemePatcher

Through third party programs

For more detailed and convenient customization of your own theme or installation of someone else’s, you can resort to the help of third-party programs. For example, try WindowBlinds 10.

1. Select the color and size of the window in the Style tab. The application has a large range of colors available. The palette will help you achieve exactly the shade you need.

   Select window color and size

2. In the Wallpaper section, from the proposed set of beautiful pictures and photographs, select those with which you want to decorate your desktop.

   Set your desktop picture

3. In the Settings section, pay attention to additional settings: playing sounds and showing system icons.

   In the Settings section there are more detailed theme settings

If the theme installation process seems too long for you, you can install the Windows Themes Installer program. It allows you to specify the path to several topics at once and quickly switch between them as needed.

Windows Themes Installer allows you to select multiple themes at once and switch between them as needed

Create your own theme

Creating a theme is personalizing the system to your taste and then saving the established parameters. It is worth saving the theme if you are going to change system settings in the future or install a new theme, but at the same time be able to return to the earlier configuration. You can also share your themes with other people using your Microsoft account.

Deleting a topic

Right-click on the topic and select the “Delete” function

Please note that you can only get rid of topics that you added. Standard themes cannot be recycled.

Video: How to remove a theme in Windows 10

What to do if the theme does not install

If you are faced with the fact that the new theme does not work, that is, the system design does not change in any way after installing it, then first of all restart your computer. Perhaps this will help fix the problem. If it does not disappear after a restart, then the problem is most likely in the topic itself. Uninstall it and try installing either another one or the same one, but download it from another site and install it in a different way.

A similar problem sometimes occurs due to the fact that the account name is written in Russian characters. The only way to rename the folder responsible for the username is to create a new account with the correct name, and then transfer all the necessary data to it.

You can install a theme in different ways: download from the official store or website, download through a third-party website and program after installing a patch, or create it yourself. But remember that you need to select a theme so that its colors and settings do not hurt the eyes, do not spoil the appearance of the system and do not reduce its level of comfort.

Many users were dissatisfied with the appearance of the radically new Start menu in Windows 8 and in the new version of the operating system, Microsoft decided to listen to the demands of millions of users from around the world and gave them a choice: use the full-screen Start menu or install the classic version familiar to users Windows 7 and older versions of the operating system. Are you new to Windows 10? Here are instructions for changing the appearance of the Start menu in Windows 10.

The traditional Start menu, installed by default in Windows 10.

By default, Windows 10 comes with the classic design, which looks like a combination of the Start menu from Windows 7 and Windows 8. On the left side, you will find a list of frequently used applications and recently added ones, as well as a button that will open you a list of all installed applications. The right side of the menu displays all of your apps' pinned tiles, just like Windows 8.

The Start menu personalization window in Computer Settings.

If you prefer full-screen display mode or just want to try an alternative interface, you can change it as follows:

Full screen Start mode in Windows 10.

This will switch the Start menu to full-screen mode, similar to Windows 8. Note that in this case, the computer's power key will appear at the bottom left, along with the all applications button. A list of installed apps will open in the sidebar, and a button in the top left corner will take you to a panel with frequently used apps and four links to File Explorer, PC Settings, All Apps, and Power Management.

How do I turn off frequently used and recently added apps from showing in the Start menu?

Alternative Start Menu from Stardock.

Bonus.

Of course, no one has canceled third-party applications with which you can change the appearance of the Start menu. If you're still unhappy with the way Microsoft has changed the menu, you can install the classic option, which will look exactly the same as what is used in Windows 7. Please note that you need to use third-party applications for this. Stardock provide a great app called Start10 for just such purposes.

Windows 10 provides the user with a wide range of options for personalizing the appearance of the OS. You can download and install design options either directly from the official Microsoft store or using various third-party utilities. Themes include wallpaper, system sounds, mouse pointers, and a variety of color schemes. Let's look at how to change themes in Windows 10 in order to make the system design unique and as convenient as possible. In addition, we’ll figure out how to delete unnecessary topics and create your own.

Windows offers the user a powerful set of tools for customizing the appearance of the system. Let's take a step-by-step look at the process of using built-in themes and downloading additional ones from the official Microsoft store:

1. To go to the personalization settings, open the menu and click on the gear symbol leading to the OS parameters:

1. In the window that opens, select the block:

You can also get here by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “:

1. In both cases, a window for customizing the appearance of the system will open. In the left menu, select the item. Going a little lower, you can see several themes pre-installed in the system available for selection (classic is also available). If none of them are suitable, go to the official store to download others:

1. As you can see in the image above, there are very few pre-installed themes, so let's go to the store. It contains a rich set of all kinds of designs for Windows 10 with automatic installation (from nature and architecture to anime), which are absolutely free. We browse the store and select the desired theme or enter its name in the search bar:

After downloading, the selected option will automatically become available for use and will be among the preinstalled ones.

Windows 10 allows you not only to use built-in themes, but also to create your own. Let's look at how to create a unique version of the appearance of the OS.

Create your own version

To create your own unique theme, we also go to the point in personalization. The system allows you to assign your own background image, change the color scheme, set up sound themes for various actions and select the most suitable mouse cursor:

Let's go through these points:

1. Background. Selecting wallpaper for your desktop. You can set a single photo, a slideshow of images, or a solid fill of one color:

1. You can also change the position of the selected photo - stretch it to fill the entire screen, set it in the center, keep the standard image size, etc.:

1. Colors. Select the color scheme that will be applied to the tiles in the launch:

1. Sounds. We use the built-in ones or, if desired, download our own:

1. Mouse cursor. Select one of the cursors provided by the system or leave the standard one:

1. Save the changes by clicking the button:

It is possible that the built-in tools for changing the design of the system are not enough, and free themes from the store do not satisfy all needs and are too standardized. In order to download third-party themes from other users, you need to unlock this feature. The UltraUXThemePatcher utility can help you do this.

Using UltraUXThemePatcher

Windows 10 developers initially prohibited the use of third-party themes that were not on the list of preinstalled ones or in the official store. The implementation of this feature is hampered by several files in the system folder. It is to bypass them that the UltraUXThemePatcher utility was developed - a kind of program for installing themes.

Thanks to this tool, the user does not need to manually search for obstructing files. The application detects them automatically. The utility is absolutely free and does not require additional permissions. It automatically detects the possibility of “patching” interfering files on a specific version of the system, which allows you to avoid unwanted problems. The user only needs to allow the program to make changes and restart the computer or laptop after the procedure.

It should be clarified that UltraUXThemePatcher does not have its own graphical interface. The application is compatible with Windows x32 Bit and x64 Bit, is installed once and does not require restarting. In other words, this is a one-time tool that gives the user the opportunity to use third-party themes. The sequence of actions for working with the utility will look like this:

1. Download the application and open the downloaded file. In the window that opens, click on « Next":

1. We accept the terms of the user agreement and click on "Next" :

1. Click on the button « I"Agree":

1. The utility provides information about the system installed on the PC and the status of files to be changed. Status « notpatched" means that the files have not yet been modified. In this case, to continue the operation, click on « :

1. The process takes literally a few seconds, and during its execution the command line window will appear and disappear. At the end of the operation, the program will notify you that you must restart the computer for the changes to take effect. Agree by clicking the button « Next":

1. The utility will offer to immediately restart the computer or postpone this operation. Select the desired item and click on « :

The files have been patched. After restarting the PC, you can begin installing third-party themes (their uniqueness is that they are extremely different from the classic ones - for example, they may contain transparent elements). How to install a theme? To do this, download the required one and transfer the files from the archive to the following path:

Go to personalization (through the options in the Start menu or by right-clicking on the screen and selecting ) and go down to the list of preinstalled themes. Among them will be the one that was just added. To install this theme, simply click on it. The system will apply the new design automatically:

Using the UltraUXThemePatcher utility, you can quickly and easily unlock the ability to install third-party themes on Windows 10. All custom options (may even contain live wallpapers) located on the Internet (you can find them, for example, by request "topics forWindows 10"), will be easily applied using this method.

You just need to take into account that the theme must be supported by the version of Windows 10 installed on the computer. Most often, themes are developed for the following versions - Anniversary (1607) and Creators Update (1703). Usually the author of the design leaves information about compatibility.

You can check your Windows 10 version by following these simple steps:

1. Press the Win + R key combination on your keyboard to open the Run window:

1. We write the command « and press “OK” or Enter:

1. All information will be provided in the window that opens:

The utility will automatically create a system restore point so that you can return it to its previous state if any problems arise.

Let's look at how to delete unnecessary topics when too many of them have accumulated.

How to remove themes in Windows 10

Each user strives to choose the best design for himself, trying many different options. In this regard, a huge number of unnecessary files accumulate on the disk that need to be deleted. Let's figure out how to do this. There are two options:

1. If the theme was downloaded from a third-party site, then only deleting it through the system parameters will help. Let's move on to personalization (the sequence of actions was described above). Right-click on the unnecessary topic and click on:

This design will be removed from the list of available ones without further confirmation. The theme files will also be automatically deleted from the system disk:

1. If the theme was downloaded from the official store, then you can remove it through the list of installed programs and components. Open through the menu:

1. Select a block:

1. We find the topic in the built list of installed programs and delete it like any other application. You can find a topic among others by name using the search bar:

This concludes our consideration of ways to change the appearance of the system.

Results and comments

If the built-in standard themes from the store are enough for you, then there is no need to use additional utilities - the official store has a huge number of options. If standard themes are not enough, then you should try UltraUXThemePatcher - the utility maximizes the possibilities of changing the design of Windows 10, allowing you to use third-party options for the appearance of the system.

Video instruction

Below you will find a video in which we show the process of installing third-party themes on Windows 10.