Windows XP, once the darling of computer users, has not been receiving any updates from Microsoft since April 2014. Although Microsoft has stopped supporting Windows XP, even today, more computers are running Windows XP than Windows 8.1.
Many computer users love Windows XP for its simple user interface. The decade-old operating system doesn’t ask for powerful hardware, unlike its successors. And above all, most of the software out there still supports Windows XP. Despite all these good things, the fact is that Windows XP is now outdated, and users are slowly but steadily switching to Windows 8.1 as well as the latest Windows 10.
Windows 10, the successor to Windows 8.1, is receiving appreciation from PC users, especially from those who were not happy with Windows 8/8.1. In addition to the much-requested Start menu, Windows 10 is full of new features and surprises. Windows 10 was a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 users who upgraded to Windows 10 in the initial years of Windows 10 launch.
Five Windows XP themes for Windows 10
If you have already installed and are using Windows 10 but are not happy or bored with the default Windows 10 theme (visual style), you can now download and install Windows XP themes on your Windows 10.
Sagorpirbd, a member of DeviantArt, has released a pack of Windows XP themes for Windows 10. The pack includes Windows XP’s Luna, Metallic, Royale, and Zune for the latest Windows 10.
As you can see, all Windows XP themes that have been ported to Windows 10 look well on Windows 10. In addition to those five themes, the pack includes original Windows XP wallpapers as well.
If you love the idea of having Windows XP themes on Windows 10 but are not sure how to download and install them, here is how to do that.
Installing Windows XP themes in Windows 10
Before installing any visual style, we recommend you manually create a system restore point to be on the safer side. If anything goes wrong, which is very unlikely, you can use the previously created restore point to restore earlier settings with a few mouse clicks without losing data.
Step 1: Windows 10 (or any other version of Windows, for that matter) doesn’t support third-party themes. To prepare your Windows 10 for third-party themes, you need to install the latest UXStyle, which can be downloaded from here.
Step 2: Next, visit this page of DeviantArt and download Windows XP themes for Windows 10. You need to extract the downloaded RAR file (learn how to extract RAR files in Windows) to get the Windows XP themes for the Windows 10 folder.
Step 3: Now open up the Windows XP Themes for Windows 10 folder to see the Theme folder. You need to copy all files and folders that exist in the Theme folder to the Themes folder present in your Windows 10’s drive.
To quickly open the Themes folder of Windows 10, open the Run command box by simultaneously pressing the Windows and R keys, type %windir%\Resources\Themes\ in the box, and then press the Enter key.
Step 4: Finally, right-click on the desktop, click Personalize, and then switch to the Themes tab to see all installed Windows XP themes, and then click on a theme to apply the same.
That’s all!
Do let us know if you’re having any difficulties in downloading or installing the Windows XP theme for Windows 10. Don’t forget to share your experience in comments.
Anakin Brownridge says
I dont want devint art i want A ISO no devint art required becuse im a kid.
Anon says
To the admin, I explained why I can’t download the theme. I’m banned from DeviantArt.
Dee says
Unfortunately, these XP themes appear to be only functional on specific versions of windows 10. As soon as a version is updated, the theme fails. Not good….
Dave says
Sep 2021 : Still prefer the real x86 and x64 Windows XP any day.
It piddles all over Win 7/8/10 in speed, efficiency and ease of use. It rocks.
Ok, so you got me with security, but I don’t give two hoots about it. A reinstall with a sata drive takes 8 minutes.
Windows XP Gamer 2001 says
It’s cool!
kyle says
Windows says that the app can’t run on my computer because of compatibility issues
Mason says
i want to have a windows xp now
Dean says
Non of the UXStyle downloads will work on win 10….at least, not for me…
Anon says
We can’t download it because DeviantArt updated their site so that an account is required in order to download any and all free-to-use content. In my case, this is impossible as I’m indefinitely banned from the site.
admin says
Why are you not able to download the theme? Click on the download button which shows up just below the main screenshot to download the file.
meet says
i cant download the theme
Playergame_7777 says
The Taskbar hasn’t changed, Solve this Problem!
Brian Neal says
If I run this program on Windows 10, will I be able to have my background on the desktop be just like I had it on my Windows XP Computer? I want to keep the start button as it is here on Win 10, but I want to have the backgrounds, sounds, and pointers back. Will that happen if I run this program?
Joel Bond says
Sorry, correction, he didn’t put them in the folder. Try downloading the programs though and getting skins for XP.
Joel Bond says
It looks like he has just ported the wallpaper, and put all the vistart files and viglance files into the program folder. Try downloading and installing those programs and putting the skin files in the applications skin files. Just a suggestion?
Ethan Campbell says
I don’t know why it isn’t working for other people but, my window management buttons (Maximise, minimise, exit, restore, etc…), changed along with the background. My Show More Icons button also went XP.
Says says
HERE IS WHY IT DOESNT WORK:
First the artist will update his content next month to a working content, he calls it “anniversary update” and second I had neither windows 10 build 10240 nor 10568, so it wouldnt work anyway.
Fritz says
Still, more than one year after the first comment, it doesn’t work as it should. Still only changes the background. Bad work!
CobbyBear says
It doesn’t change the close, maximise or restore button like in the picture. :(
CJ Burkey says
It only changes the backgrounds. Nothing else.
alex says
Very very very very very bad not to be found after installation, how stupid you have to be so so what to program!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3ogdy says
I have the latest Windows 10 build, but themes only change the title bar and wallpaper – the taskbar and start menu don’t change, like you show they should – which makes me wonder whether it’s uxstyle that’s at fault. I’ll try to reinstall the software and see if that makes any difference because the taskbar really looks much better than the default one in Windows 10