How to patch up your UXtheme.dll file in XP home or pro

Contributed by risherz

November 16, 2005

Tagged: Windows

In order to use custom themes or MSStyles on your computer you need to patch up your Uxtheme.dll file. Otherwise you can only use signed themes that are created by Microsoft.

*Replacing system files is not always dangerous but if you want you might want to set a restore point.
Note: There are two ways to accomplish this please try the 1st one first then if you are unsuccessful then you can try the 2nd one.

1. Okay first you need to find out which Service Pack you are running. To do this simple press the Windows flag key+Pause/Break key. This is going to open the system properties window. Here it is going to say which service pack you are running
2. Now you have some downloading to do.
First get: The appropriate Uxtheme.dll file
If you are running Service Pack 1 then get this file.
If you are running Service Pack 2 then get this file.
3. Unzip the file to your desktop
4. Now you need to download the Replacer(I recommend getting a stable version). The replacer efficiently replaces your system files and is supposed to be completely safe. This program also backs up your file in case you need to revert the changes.
5. Unzip the Replacer to your desktop. Make sure you read the “readme” because it has some important tips on how to revert those changes that you made.

Now you are ready to replace your uxtheme.dll file

1. Now double click on the replacer file (replacer.cmd)
2. Then it will ask you to drag and drop the original system file you want to replace. So go to the System32 folder and somewhere near the bottom you are going to see the uxtheme.dll file. Drag and drop it into the window.
Note: your computer may have more than 1 uxtheme.dll file but usually the file that you computer is using is the one in the system32 folder. (usually the location for your Uxtheme.dll file is C:\WINDOWS\system32\uxtheme.dll)
3. Press Enter
4. Then it will ask you to drag the file you want to replace. Open the folder with the downloaded file and drag and drop the file into replacer.
5. Now it will ask you to confirm that you want to replace the files or not. So double check and then press enter.

Replacer will now swap your original file with the new one. Now restart your computer.

Congratulations you can now use custom msstyle themes on your computer. Which is going to make your computer look super cool!

To change your theme just right click on desktop» properties» appearances tab» Windows and buttons

If the above method doesn’t work then don’t loose hope. Just download
this multipatcher (no matter what service pack you have) and it might do the job for you!

Oh yeah and one last step: Don’t forget to enjoy (and show off)your new theme that you are going to installing on you computer!

In case you are looking around for some Visual styles and themes here are some sites that might help you in the quest for the perfect style for you:
- Deviant Art
- Wincustomize
- themexp.org
- WinMatrix

If you are unsure and want some more proof then you can find some here at uneasysilence.com

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Anonymous

Where can you download quality .theme files.. ie. windows themes

risherz

Well, there are a lot of places where you can find .msstyles (these are just the visual style part of any theme) files a lot but its a little hard to find a .theme file as well, but most people who create great msstyles do usually include a theme file but it's not guaranteed.

Anyways, you can find lot of different styles at deviantart.com (under visual styles section usually), winmatrix (wallpapers mainly), themexp.org and wincustomize.

If you don't find a .theme file then you can always make your own assortment of themes (basically put together your style and desktop background and advanced settings for the theme and click the 'Save as' button under the 'Themes' tab in the display properties window).

Anonymous

dude my computer doesn't have a system32 folder what should i do now?

Sam Elliott

LOL, dude go back & lay down in front of the big screen & wait for the next bud....

Anonymous

Is this safe? Could this mess-up my computer? I know I could just use System Restore if anything serious happens, but I want to make sure this really won't mess my computer up.

Anonymous

hey guys, you seem to know a lot about this
i have just got a major problem
after i followed those sinstructions to get da replacer and replace the dll file etc
my comp gave me this message
"The application or DLL C:WINDOWSsystem32UxTheme.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check this against your installation diskette."
followign this message i restarted ym comp
when i restarted this comp, i got this message again at the welcoem screen where i click "OK" to get past it
when my desktop screen comes up, the messahe comes again and when i clikc "OK" the message goes away but my desktop does not come up, only the background is there, no taskbar icons etc
i cant use my comp at all all because of this procedure, and i made a system restore point but i cant access it because no taskbar etc comes up and im not able to access anything. the only thing i can get open is the Windows task manager using ctrl+alt+del
can you please help me with this?
im using my 6year old computer because my new computer is dead due to this procedure, please help me, i am realliy stressed, i just spent my last savings on that co puter and now it seems to be wasted
im really stressed, please help

Anonymous

<ul id="quote"><h6>gurbaj wrote:</h6>hey guys, you seem to know a lot about this
i have just got a major problem
after i followed those sinstructions to get da replacer and replace the dll file etc
my comp gave me this message
"The application or DLL C:WINDOWSsystem32UxTheme.dll is not a valid Windows image. Please check this against your installation diskette."
followign this message i restarted ym comp
when i restarted this comp, i got this message again at the welcoem screen where i click "OK" to get past it
when my desktop screen comes up, the messahe comes again and when i clikc "OK" the message goes away but my desktop does not come up, only the background is there, no taskbar icons etc
i cant use my comp at all all because of this procedure, and i made a system restore point but i cant access it because no taskbar etc comes up and im not able to access anything. the only thing i can get open is the Windows task manager using ctrl+alt+del
can you please help me with this?
im using my 6year old computer because my new computer is dead due to this procedure, please help me, i am realliy stressed, i just spent my last savings on that co puter and now it seems to be wasted
im really stressed, please help</ul>

Try System restoring it back to the date before u did that stuff .Use system restore in Safe Mode. Press F8 when the computer starts continuosly to get to safe mode

Anonymous

If you really want to change your Windows desktop to something much nicer than I would recommend something like WindowBlinds.

http://www.windowblinds.net

You can also get the best themes at WinCustomize.

http://www.wincustomize.com

:)

Anonymous

I have downloaded some themes that have wallpapers, icons and color schemes. I can get the wallpaper and the icons, but the color schemes that go with it aren't working, anyone know how to fix that problem? Thanks

Anonymous

<ul id="quote">I have downloaded some themes that have wallpapers, icons and color schemes. I can get the wallpaper and the icons, but the color schemes that go with it aren't working, anyone know how to fix that problem? Thanks</ul> as lynn said.. im having the same problem.. and its a problem thats very annoying and can some1 plz help us out

Anonymous

Hi:
Great directions; very clear and useful. Can you advise Step #2 if Service Pack 3 is installed?

Thanks...

Anonymous

<font color="green">I used those instructions when I had XP home SP2 and it worked. I updated to service pack 3 today and now the custom theme doesn't show up any more. :cry: It's back to an ugly look that is way too bright for me. 8O

I would really like to know how to get this to work with windows XP home service pack 3 as soon as possible.</font>

Anonymous

<ul id="quote"><h6>BaalASystemLord wrote:</h6><font color="green">I used those instructions when I had XP home SP2 and it worked. I updated to service pack 3 today and now the custom theme doesn't show up any more. :cry: It's back to an ugly look that is way too bright for me. 8O

I would really like to know how to get this to work with windows XP home service pack 3 as soon as possible.</font></ul>

Anonymous

ok so i was using this program called UxTheme Multipatcher 4.0 and i restarted my computer, then it makes the theme windows classic. i followed the steps and they sed make a folder and run the msstyle. i did. then i restarted my computer and it switches bak to the windows classic everytime. can someone help me out please???????

Anonymous

Hey, I'm using Service pack 3 and was wondering if you could maybe update the software so it was with SP 3 please.

katy

i cant seem to run the replacer.cmd file. it just flashes open and close again and I cant even read what it says it goes so quick. I caught a bit of it, it was something like something isn't recognised. help! i haven't used windows for ages (a linux convert) so I've forgotten how i ued to tweek things. What about doin it in safe mode?

dude

Just open Command line and CD to the right dir.
Then open the file with open replacer.cmd .

dude

Is this save, or has it a risk?

clamum

OH IT'S SAVE

yana

i'm running the service pack 3. which file should i use? or are there any files that i can use aside from those two?

yana

never mind..i found it.xD

yana

oh and THANK YOU so much! now it works!

jimmy

What did u use please tell me cause i can't find it

idk

How and where did you found it?

Anthony

The first method didnt work and the multipatcher doesnt work either, it comes up with a rather confusing error
"UXTheme Multipatcher v6.0 has detected that there's any Windows NT setup file in C:/WINDOWS/i386"

I've got one other 'uxtheme.dll' file in C:/WINDOWS/SoftwareDistribution/Download\dd9ab5193501484cf5e6884fa1d22f9e
Should i replace that aswell using the first method?

Faye Valentine

This is incredible

Unnamed

And if I've Service Pack 3?

Stephanie

I have service pack 3 and so am a little lost... could you please help me out? Thanks a ton!

stephaniej.reid@gmail.com

pet

i use service pack 3..how then?

Redydav

If replacing fails goto run and type "services.msc" without the " scroll down to themes right click and press stop, then try again, if it works restart themes and if it dosent work still reenable themes.

dick

i have ''service pack 3''
what do i do ?? :(

Daniel

Is there anyway that I can still get the vista theme, even though I'm running a Service Pack 3?

silk

why are people ignoring questions from those using service pack 3? I think that is very bad. especially, Yana who was able to found the file ;xd.

Beatrice

Yana didn't say WHAT she found, so it'd be very useful if someone told us!

jamal

what if you have number 3

Vash Prower

I noticed you don't have a file to download for service pack 3...
Will I be able to use the service pack 2 file on my service pack 3 version?

ice_hot

amazing! worked like magic. having been searching for a while on how i could get rid of my xp blue theme...

Thanks

Moop

It says i am running service pack 3...

What do i do?

ted

i have service pack 3. you dont have a file for sp3 what should i do?????

deadlyalive22

go to this site and you should find it:
http://www.withinwindows.com/uxtheme-patches/

Jackie Chin

Damn Man, what a good file you uploaded! Thx dude !

lester

what if im running xp pro sp3??? where can i get patched uxtheme.dll file? will sp2 file work? and where can i download the replacer, the safe one?...tnx

integrator

What if you are running SP3?

Insect Grain

I have service pack 3

Viper2599

What if you have Service Pack 3.... -_- ,

wan

how to solve the problem in replace your uxtheme.dll for the number 4. It say open the downloaded file and drag and drop the file into replacer. I cannot understand it . help me !

blabls

whenever i open replacer it says some kind of file is not found. it then crashes whenever i drag anything into it

casa

that is the data file...u hav to extract both files to a location [i.e desktop] and then start the replacer from there

Bighead

if i'm using Service Pack 3, what's it gonna be?
tell me..
thank u...

julieann

http://www.filecluster.com/System-Utilities/Oth...

copy the URL above & paste it to your address bar, boom you'll find the patcher for WINDOWS XP SERVICE PACK 3.

Monty

I'm current using XP with service pack 3.. what will be the next step?

casa

im using XP, SP 2 and i hav patched the .dll file but i still cant seem to use msstyle themes coz wen i download one and goto properties>themes tab>browse i cant select a .msstyle coz it onli lets me select *Themes or theme files..why is this?

on here it says goto properties» appearances tab» Windows and buttons but with the windows and buttons i only have XP style and classis style.

help appreciated..cheers.

Jerry Sturgill

What if one is running service pack 3?

Jerry Sturgill

Sorry for asking, didn't see the post above.

SeanJohn

YO NICE (Y) Worked perfectly for me, I am running SP2 and I now have a Vista theme on :)

keyur

what if you have service pack 3

Beatrice

What if you have the new system pack 3?

...

i have service pack 3
o.o...

Brendan

I Have Service Pack 3 - Do I still use one of the downloads from the first option or do i just go and try the second option?

fire magician

i have service pack 3

ahmed

i have service pack 3
what do i do/or downoad?

joe flow

service pack 3?

Fredo

Thanks for the info... was of great help and easy to do.

er

how about for service pack 3?

twiclo

ya... i have service pack 3

Scott

What if im running service pack 3?

anonymous

i can not find the uxtheme.dll in system32.
what can i do?

Connor

i have windows service pack 3, so what do i do?

Cole

im on service pack 3 what do i do then??

joemar

What if ur running system pack 3?
what should i do?

Jake Parker

What do you do if you have service pack 3?

Bob

And what file do you use if you have system pack 3 for windows xp???

Bob

That windows sp3 with free computer scan looks really dodgy and I wouldn't be suprised if it plants viruses in your computer.

ayman

after putting the uxtheme.dll in the replacer which file do i have to put in the replacer next. (as given in step 4)

crazydoodle

i have service pack 3.... what do i download? :(

Anonymous

I've got Service Pack 3... so yeah... :l

Frances

I have service pack 3...

jeremy

im using service pack 3..how?

Jonathan Milton

I'm running Service Pack 3.. What do I download?

Dominic

I am running on servis pack 3. so what do I do?

dave124

Just try service pack 2.

Krzysztof Kula

Thanks! works for me :D

Greenslade

Greetings !
I´d like to do a couple of Skins myself. So I would like to ask : DOes it work with SkinStudio ?
Thanks a lot

ds9490

How about service pack 3?

Lethe123

Uh dude I have service pack 3.....

Paul

im also running service pack 3 and i cannot find answer among the other comments.
what do i download?

Cheeserules

I have service pack 3? What file do I use?

CATEGORIES

How to patch up your UXtheme.dll file in XP home or pro

In order to use custom themes or MSStyles on your computer you need to patch up your Uxtheme.dll file. Otherwise you can only use signed themes that are created by Microsoft.

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