Installing Windows 7 themes can be difficult for beginners, but with a good tutorial on your hand you will quickly install themes like the Mac OS X Theme in a few minutes. If you download our Mac theme you will get a tool that allows you to install shell themes A LOT easier, it will do all the dirty work for you.
1. IMPORTANT: Patch Windows 7!
Before you can actually install custom 3rd-party Windows 7 themes you have to patch some system files. Why? Because Windows 7 does not allow you to install 3rd-party themes by default. To be exact, you have to patch the files uxtheme.dll, themeui.dll, themeservice.dll
Download Universal Theme Patcher
IMPORTANT: You HAVE to restart after patching the files or you will not be able to install the mac theme. It will simply not work.
2. Download Custom Mac Theme for Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit
Please, if you don’t know if you are on Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit read this tutorial.
Next, you need a custom theme that actually modifies system files. Shell themes (that’s what they’re called) often include the following files: explorer.exe, explorerframe.exe, shell32.dll, Ooebefldr.dll, .theme, .msstyles and other system files. If the theme supports Windows 7 64-bit it will include 32-bit files AND 64-bit files.
3. Install Mac Theme via Windows 7 Theme Installer (on Windows 7 32-bit)
Next, open our tool that will help you to install Windows 7 themes.
1. Step Open the folder Theme Installer:
2. Extract the Theme Installer:
3. Right-click on WindowsThemeManager.exe, click on Run as administrator
4. Step Try to understand the interface of the Theme manager:
5. Step Add the system files ONE by ONE.
It is critical that you understand this.
On 32-bit, you only have to add the 32-bit files in the left pane. On Windows 7 64-bit you add the 64-bit files in the left pane and the 32-bit files in the right pane.
6. Step If you are on Windows 7 32-bit LEAVE THIS BLANK. If you are on Windows 7 64-bit follow the instructions here.
7. Make sure that you added all system files correctly. For the Mac theme, you have to add: .theme, explroer.exe, explorerframe.dll, shell32.dll.
8. Step Click on Install Theme:
9. Step Finally, click on Apply Theme while the Mac Theme is selected in the list of themes:
10. Step Reboot.
11. You have successfully installed the Mac theme if you followed all steps correctly.
Install Mac Theme via Windows 7 Theme Installer (on Windows 7 64-bit)
If you are on Windows 7 64-bit you must add the 32-bit files. They will go directly into the SysWOW64 folder, which is basically the 32-bit emulator of Windows 7 64-bit.
I don’t see “Apply Theme”. The window that I should see this in needs to be larger, I mean visually. I can’t expand it for some reason.
That’s really strange Noah. Can you try to run it in compatibility mode? A screenshot would be appreciated.
What resolution do you use?
This may sound dumb but it is possible to easily revert back to the windows 7 theme? i dont want to try this and be stuck with just the mac theme and no idea how to get the windows 7 theme back. i use the 64bit
Joe, yes you can easily revert back to the original Windows 7 theme. All you have to do is to make sure you have backups of all files.
But even if you forget the backups, you can simply run sfc.exe via command prompt and restore EVERYTHING. Insert sfc.exe into our search box for more information …
I’m done with step 1 and it says step 2 ..I’m clicking on Step 2 i do the copy-paste and then it says to get to Control Panel and Personalize but it doesn’t says anywhere Personalize
George, it says go to the “Personalization Control Panel”.
Right click on your desktop then click on Personalize.
Let me know if you still have problems installing it
Hi, can I uninstall this easily, want to put it on my laptop, but just in case the misses doesn’t like it. She not great with change lol
Sorry, I don’t understand this part (Shell32.dll):
It is critical that you understand this.
On Windows 7 64-bit you add the 64-
bit files in the left pane and the 32-bit files in the right pane.
When I search for the Shell32.dll, I find one in this map:
C:\Windows\winsxs\amd64_microsoft-windows-shell32_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16644_none_c848619d2b8d62c0
and one in this map: C:\Windows\System32
Which one to choose? And which is for 32-bit and which is 64-bit.
Thanks.