Back in November last year, we listed over 55 free tweaking tools available for Windows 7. Just like tweaking tools, there are tens of good utilities available to customize the default look and feel of Windows 7. In this article, we have covered the best free tools available to customize Windows 7.
Best free tools to customize Windows 7
1. Windows 7 Boot Updater: One of the advanced tools available for the latest version of Windows which makes the impossible possible. Read our how to change Windows 7 boot screen guide to learn to how to change the default boot screen animation in Windows 7.
Please note that this utility is strictly for power users. We also recommend a complete system image backup before using this tool.
2. Logon Workshop: There are tons of free tools available to change the default logon screen background. You can even manually change the logon screen background with a simple registry trick. But this tool offers some advanced options to customize logon screen buttons, font color, and more.
Beginners can go for Windows 7 Logon Screen Tweaker which is also another good logon screen changer.
3. Windows 7 Start Button Changer: Use this tool to create and change the default Start orb of Windows 7 in a few clicks.
4. Taskbar Transizer: Want to make your Windows 7 Taskbar and Start menu transparent? Taskbar Transizer allows you to set a custom transparency level for Taskbar and Start menu.
5. DreamScene Activator: As you know, DreamScene feature is not available in Windows 7. Use this tiny tool to enable the same in the latest version of Windows.
6. Logon Screen Rotator: Unlike other logon screen tweaking tools, this tool changes the logon screen background every time you login.
7. VistaGlazz: A tool that enables you to install third-party visual styles in Windows 7.
8. CustoPack Tools: An awesome application to customize icons, cursors, sounds, folder icons, logon backgrounds, and visual styles in Windows 7.
9. WMP12 Library Background Changer: Changes the default library background of Windows Media Player in Windows 7.
10. Media Center Studio: Customize Windows Media Center by applying new themes. It also lets you create your own Media Center themes.
11. Taskbar Color Changer: Another tool to customize the super bar. Lets you set a custom color for Taskbar.
12. Copy/Delete Animation Modder: An excellent tool to change the default copy, move, and delete animations in the latest version of Windows.
13. Drive Icon Changer: Use this tool to replace the default drive icons in explorer with custom ones.
14. Folderico: Though you can change the default folder icon without the help of a third-party tool, it’s difficult to change the color. Folderico helps you change the color of a folder right from the context menu.
15. Task Manager Modder: Got bored with the default look of Task Manager? Take the help of this tool to easily change its color.
16. Windows 7 Aero Blur Tweaker: As the name reveals, it enables you to change the aero blur settings. Read our review about Aero Blur Tweaker to read more about this tool.
17. Windows 7 Task Pane Changer: Want to change the task pane background that appears in Control Panel and in some other parts of Windows? Download and use this tool to quickly change the default task pane background with a custom one.
18. Navigation Button Colorizer: Change the color of explorer navigation buttons with the help of this free tool. It’s portable and easy-to-use.
19. 7Conifier: This is another tool to customize your Windows 7 Taskbar. It quickly replaces the application icons in the Taskbar and Start menu.
20. Navigation Buttons Customizer: Another free tool to customize explorer navigation buttons. Unlike Navigation Button Colorizer, this tool helps you replace the navigation buttons with new ones.
21. Windows 7 Start Menu User Picture Remover: Don’t want to see the user picture in Start menu? Use this utility to remove the user picture from the Start menu.
22. Windows 7 Folder Background Changer: Like in XP and Vista, you can set a custom background for a folder in Windows 7 as well. Use this tool to replace the default white background in a folder with a custom picture.
23. Theme Manager: If you want to install a third-party theme in Windows 7, you will need to manually replace a few system files as well. Theme Manager helps you install new visual styles by automatically replacing the default system files with customized ones.
24. Taskbar Thumbnail Tweaker: The thumbnail preview that appears when you hover the mouse cursor over an opened application in Taskbar can be customized using this tool.
25. Windows 7 Tray Icons Changer: A simple tool to replace the default network, firewall and volume icons in the notification area (system tray) with custom ones.
26. AeroTuner: Lets you change Aero color, aero stripes, and blur with a few mouse clicks.
27. 7 Library Icons Changer: Replace the default library icons with the help of this free tool.
Domkey says
I would like switch to Windows 7’s classic theme, but the taskbar color is so light grey and bright when I watch video and movies not in fullscreen. Any one interested in making a tool to change the color of folder frames and taskbar?
BTW: the glass effect of transparency really makes those folders in the desktop glows brighter, so watching movie windows really gets distraction from those effects. Wonder why monkeys introduces glass effects into folder frames? Window and glazing? Folder and documents are not for fun, smashing glass is crazy! Drove me nut already with those “bai chi” all white wallpapers! Such a mental case Bill Gate$ was!
Dylan says
Have you tried AIKIN Desktop HyperSearch? I just started using it and it’s phenomenal. Desktop search seems to have languished the last 6-7 years but this app does some really impressive stuff like semantic content search. It’s like I finally have a google-ish search on my desktop because it doesn’t require me to remember exactly how something was named or written. I can just type in what i remember and it finds it more often than not.
steve says
I don’t like win 7 start menu at all and no way to change it ! Classic Shell and other tools are just overlapping GUI adding additional service to system resources ! Not god enough !!! Loosing edit/customizing function for start menu like in WinXp !!! For what purpose/reason has MS do that ??? I just want to rearrange menu to my needs and not prescribed by MS !!! I use winXP still ! I look to Linux that has conceptual GUI better as Win7 but sadly other drawbacks not overcome’d yet/still ! No OS is perfect but removing features that are previous add functionality to the start menu and OS and being user friendly from developer with no reason at all is sick and simply not tolerable. To make things worse MS completely loose common sense with win 8 and metro – PC Workstation is not SMART PHONE !!! Thus user response to it !!! MS loosing common sense big time !!! I want editable start meni back otherwise i don’t use MS at all !!! Just look how many times is classic start menu/similar downloaded and this tells a different story as MS has to provide !!! People want editable GUI to trim desktop to their needs and MS simply doesn’t recognize the need instead bomb user with metro and other useless features that are over-sizing OS ! How sick is that ???
David Merchant says
TO ADMIN
Sorry it took a bit getting back to you here. I only have Windows 7. It’s Win 7 Pro 64 bit. Still cannot get it to work as of yet, though have not tried it again in about a couple of weeks as have had some trouble here where we live.
Felton Frantz says
Maybe its just me but imho S/B 25+ most useless tweaks for Windows
.
Throbinwood says
you just saved me 10 google searches thank you very much
admin says
@ David
Are you running it on Windows 7 or previous versions of Windows?
David Merchant says
The Window’s CustoPack won’t install on my computer , heck it’s not even responding to my computer and the folder background changer doesn’t want to work. I change the background and it does not take at all. I don’t run it as Admin it doesn’t run at all, I run it as Admin, it changes the thing only in view then cuts out and dies. Great programs.
HUNK says
AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
skip says
thanks…
hlynnj3 says
I second Classic Shell…. has 99% of these tools built in and more :)
ewdewd says
Classic Shell…hands down
deco says
Otima lista Into Windows, vcs estao de parabens pelo bom trabalho. Que bom que eu tinha a maioria pois acompanho vcs sempre por email mas assim msm perdi alguns desses maravilhosos app e pude completa minha lista.
Thank you very much!!!