How to patch up your UXtheme.dll file in XP home or pro
Contributed by risherz 
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 said on October 4, 2008
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 said on October 4, 2008
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 said on October 5, 2008
Is this save, or has it a risk?
dude said on October 5, 2008
Just open Command line and CD to the right dir.
Then open the file with open replacer.cmd .
clamum said on October 17, 2008
OH IT’S SAVE
yana said on October 31, 2008
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 said on October 31, 2008
never mind..i found it.xD
yana said on October 31, 2008
oh and THANK YOU so much! now it works!
Anthony said on November 5, 2008
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/Downloaddd9ab5193501484cf5e6884fa1d22f9e
Should i replace that aswell using the first method?
jimmy said on November 16, 2008
What did u use please tell me cause i can’t find it
Faye Valentine said on November 19, 2008
This is incredible
Unnamed said on November 19, 2008
And if I’ve Service Pack 3?
Stephanie said on November 20, 2008
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 said on November 23, 2008
i use service pack 3..how then?
Redydav said on November 27, 2008
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 said on November 28, 2008
i have ‘’service pack 3”
what do i do ?? :(
Sam Elliott said on December 4, 2008
LOL, dude go back & lay down in front of the big screen & wait for the next bud….
Daniel said on December 4, 2008
Is there anyway that I can still get the vista theme, even though I’m running a Service Pack 3?
silk said on December 9, 2008
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.
jamal said on December 19, 2008
what if you have number 3
Vash Prower said on December 22, 2008
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 said on December 28, 2008
amazing! worked like magic. having been searching for a while on how i could get rid of my xp blue theme…
Thanks
Moop said on January 3, 2009
It says i am running service pack 3…
What do i do?
ted said on January 5, 2009
i have service pack 3. you dont have a file for sp3 what should i do?????
deadlyalive22 said on January 7, 2009
go to this site and you should find it:
http://www.withinwindows.com/uxtheme-patches/
Jackie Chin said on January 11, 2009
Damn Man, what a good file you uploaded! Thx dude !
lester said on January 19, 2009
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 said on January 21, 2009
What if you are running SP3?
Insect Grain said on January 22, 2009
I have service pack 3
Viper2599 said on January 25, 2009
What if you have Service Pack 3…. -_- ,
wan said on January 30, 2009
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 said on February 5, 2009
whenever i open replacer it says some kind of file is not found. it then crashes whenever i drag anything into it
Bighead said on February 6, 2009
if i’m using Service Pack 3, what’s it gonna be?
tell me..
thank u…
julieann said on February 8, 2009
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.
Monty said on February 13, 2009
I’m current using XP with service pack 3.. what will be the next step?
casa said on February 15, 2009
that is the data file…u hav to extract both files to a location [i.e desktop] and then start the replacer from there
casa said on February 15, 2009
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 said on February 25, 2009
What if one is running service pack 3?
Jerry Sturgill said on February 25, 2009
Sorry for asking, didn’t see the post above.
SeanJohn said on February 28, 2009
YO NICE (Y) Worked perfectly for me, I am running SP2 and I now have a Vista theme on :)
keyur said on March 14, 2009
what if you have service pack 3
Beatrice said on March 19, 2009
What if you have the new system pack 3?
Beatrice said on March 19, 2009
Yana didn’t say WHAT she found, so it’d be very useful if someone told us!
... said on March 22, 2009
i have service pack 3
o.o…
Brendan said on March 23, 2009
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 said on April 2, 2009
i have service pack 3
ahmed said on April 18, 2009
i have service pack 3
what do i do/or downoad?
joe flow said on May 3, 2009
service pack 3?
Fredo said on May 8, 2009
Thanks for the info… was of great help and easy to do.
er said on May 10, 2009
how about for service pack 3?
twiclo said on May 19, 2009
ya… i have service pack 3
Scott said on May 21, 2009
What if im running service pack 3?
anonymous said on May 21, 2009
i can not find the uxtheme.dll in system32.
what can i do?
Connor said on May 23, 2009
i have windows service pack 3, so what do i do?
Cole said on June 2, 2009
im on service pack 3 what do i do then??
joemar said on June 6, 2009
What if ur running system pack 3?
what should i do?
Jake Parker said on June 15, 2009
What do you do if you have service pack 3?
Bob said on June 19, 2009
And what file do you use if you have system pack 3 for windows xp???
Bob said on June 19, 2009
That windows sp3 with free computer scan looks really dodgy and I wouldn’t be suprised if it plants viruses in your computer.
ayman said on June 19, 2009
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 said on June 26, 2009
i have service pack 3…. what do i download? :(
Anonymous said on June 28, 2009
I’ve got Service Pack 3… so yeah… :l
Frances said on June 30, 2009
I have service pack 3…
jeremy said on July 8, 2009
im using service pack 3..how?
Jonathan Milton said on July 8, 2009
I’m running Service Pack 3.. What do I download?
Dominic said on July 10, 2009
I am running on servis pack 3. so what do I do?
Anonymous said on July 12, 2009
Just try service pack 2.
Krzysztof Kula said on July 21, 2009
Thanks! works for me :D
Anonymous said on July 26, 2009
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
Anonymous said on August 24, 2009
How about service pack 3?
Anonymous said on October 12, 2009
Uh dude I have service pack 3…..
Paul said on October 16, 2009
im also running service pack 3 and i cannot find answer among the other comments.
what do i download?
Anonymous said on October 26, 2009
I have service pack 3? What file do I use?
idk said on November 21, 2009
How and where did you found it?
Hugh said on November 22, 2009
How do you do it with windows xp sp3
Anonymous said on November 29, 2009
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!!!
Anonymous said on November 29, 2009
i have system pack 3…
chase said on December 5, 2009
i have service pack 3
Name said on December 7, 2009
I have service pack 3 what shall I do
Anonymous said on December 9, 2009
Would if you have service pack 3?
Name said on December 28, 2009
Im another dude that has service pack 3…
Anonymous said on January 19, 2010
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/SP3-UxTheme-Patcher.shtml
ux theme pacher for xp sp3
Anonymous said on March 27, 2010
Is It Possable To Change It Back?
Anonymous said on March 27, 2010
It Looks Cool!
Anonymous said on April 1, 2010
i have service pack 3 what do i do..?
Wisdom of Dogs said on April 2, 2010
Do either of those files work with Service Pack 3?
Xeni Ziba said on June 18, 2010
Lol i am using Service Pack 3
what should i do ?!
Ninjaboy1898 said on June 28, 2010
I have service Pack 3????
What should i do?
Anonymous said on July 17, 2010
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.
Anonymous said on July 29, 2010
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.
HELP ME PLZ said on August 12, 2010
But wait i have a service pack 3 computer. Do i need to do anything to that file?
AM said on September 23, 2010
after i follow the instructions and restart, i found my computer stuck, and start pop up a warning menu saying that the uxtheme.dll is not windows image… now i can’t use it,, what should i do please help..
thx
Anynom said on October 2, 2010
I really want this Vista Skin to my XP computer but I when i read this and do what you just said I got a problem… My computer was Service Pack 3… HELP!
MikeLOne said on October 7, 2010
sir i use Service Pack 3. what file do i need to get?
Pluto1997 said on October 11, 2010
i ve got Service Pack 3 :(((
Zoo said on October 15, 2010
Where can you download quality .theme files.. ie. windows themes
Addie_binds1234 said on October 15, 2010
None of this stuff works for me…I have downloaded everything all the right ways as the site says and also have downloaded so many themes and nothing is showing up. I keep going to my Display Properties..nothing is there about what I have downloaded. Then, when I browse the themes I have downloaded and try to get it to use them it says,The theme could not load because the needed files could not be found. etc. etc. Please comment if u know how to help.
jdar2 said on November 12, 2010
THERES ONE PROBLEM I HAVE SERVICE PACK 3 WHAT DO I DO?1
theman said on December 3, 2010
This on is Written Above:
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!
Or you can download here:
http://www.filecluster.com/downloads/UxTheme-Patch-for-Windows-XP-SP3-.html
remember always make a back up file!
kave said on March 14, 2011
This method works for my problem. thanks a lot!!
Naba said on April 5, 2011
I use service pack 3.What can i do?
Mateja Tejč Kunčič said on April 14, 2011
I have Service pack 3 !!! What is that all about?
XTCrefugee said on January 17, 2012
Thanks for this. I had to update an old system of mine and had forgotten how to do this. The replacer script is definitely the way to go, I tried UxStyle earlier but it installs a new service to bypass uxtheme, which kind of defeats the whole point of patching a system file!