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

Previous recipe | Next recipe |

HELP ME PLZ

But wait i have a service pack 3 computer. Do i need to do anything to that file?

SpaceOdyssey42

Really helpful guide thanks. I found a decent programs to manage and find dll files easily yesterday, I really want to get to grips with it as I can never find a theme that I like, the standard ones that are already included are pretty awful in my opinion.

Ninjaboy1898

I have service Pack 3????
What should i do?

Xeni Ziba

Lol i am using Service Pack 3
what should i do ?!

Liam Nisbet

Do either of those files work with Service Pack 3?

ealejo09

i have service pack 3 what do i do..?

kajus

Is It Possable To Change It Back?

kajus

It Looks Cool!

mikster22

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/SP3-UxTheme-Patcher.shtml
ux theme pacher for xp sp3

Name

Im another dude that has service pack 3...

kalob

Would if you have service pack 3?

Name

I have service pack 3 what shall I do

chase

i have service pack 3

pmaldude

i have system pack 3...

shierly

Please help. I followed the steps above^^^ step by step and when I restarted my computer EVERYTHING was gone. The only thing I can see is my wallpaper. no buttons. no start. No nothing. Please help me restore it!!!

Hugh

How do you do it with windows xp sp3

Cheeserules

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

Paul

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

Lethe123

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

ds9490

How about service pack 3?

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

Krzysztof Kula

Thanks! works for me :D

Dominic

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

dave124

Just try service pack 2.

Jonathan Milton

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

jeremy

im using service pack 3..how?

Frances

I have service pack 3...

Anonymous

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

crazydoodle

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

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)

Bob

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

Bob

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

Jake Parker

What do you do if you have service pack 3?

joemar

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

Cole

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

Connor

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

anonymous

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

Scott

What if im running service pack 3?

twiclo

ya... i have service pack 3

er

how about for service pack 3?

Fredo

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

joe flow

service pack 3?

ahmed

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

fire magician

i have service pack 3

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?

...

i have service pack 3
o.o...

Beatrice

What if you have the new system pack 3?

keyur

what if you have service pack 3

SeanJohn

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

Jerry Sturgill

What if one is running service pack 3?

Jerry Sturgill

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

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.

Monty

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

julieann

http://www.filecluster.com/System-Utilities/Other-Utilities/Download-UxTheme-Patch-for-Windows-XP-SP3-.html

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

Bighead

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

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

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 !

Viper2599

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

Insect Grain

I have service pack 3

integrator

What if you are running SP3?

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

Jackie Chin

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

deadlyalive22

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

ted

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

Moop

It says i am running service pack 3...

What do i do?

ice_hot

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

Thanks

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?

jamal

what if you have number 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!

Daniel

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

dick

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

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.

pet

i use service pack 3..how then?

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

Unnamed

And if I've Service Pack 3?

Faye Valentine

This is incredible

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?

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

idk

How and where did you found it?

jimmy

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

yana

oh and THANK YOU so much! now it works!

dude

Is this save, or has it a risk?

clamum

OH IT'S SAVE

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 .

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.

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

<ul id="quote">
BaalASystemLord wrote:
<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

<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

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

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

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

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

<ul id="quote">
gurbaj wrote:
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

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

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.

gdusing

You have to be very careful when patching UXtheme.dll it could damage your computer. That's why you should back up all your dlls before patching them, or you might need dll search or some other tool to help you find a healthy backup.

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....

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).