In this post, I have mentioned some themes for Windows 10 to make your PC look like Windows 7. These themes are also known as visual styles. They will change the appearance of window borders so that they look and feel more like the ones found in Windows 7. Windows 10 brought the flat and single color theme which I personally don’t like. Following themes fix that by letting you enjoy in Windows 7 styled themes on your Windows 10 powered machines.
Do note, for any of these themes to work you need to install UxStyle Theme Patcher. This will allow you to use third-party themes. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find Windows 10 version download links. Be careful when using UxStyle Theme Patcher, it can prevent your PC from booting if used improperly.
Let us get started with the themes.
1. Aero 7 Basic Theme
Aero 7 Basic Theme is a theme for Windows 10 which looks and feels just like the basic Windows 7 theme, the one without transparency, glossiness and all the fancy effects. Installing this theme is pretty straightforward. Just download the RAR archive from the link down below, extract it and then copy its contents to C:\Windows\Resources\Themes.
Alongside with the theme you also get all the Windows 7 wallpapers and the Windows 7 Start Menu icon (the famous orb) gets restored. Keep in mind that only the Start Menu icon is restored, not the menu itself. You still get the same tiled Windows 10 menu. Taskbar transparency is activated and the aforementioned Windows 7 wallpaper gallery starts being changed (slideshow mode), just like in Windows 7.
2. Soft Glass 10
Soft Glass 10 is a Windows 10 theme that mimics the Windows 7 theme design, but it also changes things up a bit. Notice on the image above that just like its name indicates this theme follows a blue glass design.
The first thing you’ll probably notice is that the minimize/maximize/close buttons in the top right corner are not colored. They blend in with the blue glass color that the rest of the window border has. Start Menu icon is different, as are the wallpaper and the taskbar coloring. Everything fits quite nicely together.
3. Aero 7 Square
Aero 7 Square is actually a theme from the same Aero 7 pack from which the first theme that I mentioned, Aero 7 Basic Theme is from. Aero 7 Square is another Windows 10 theme that makes Windows 10 look like Windows 7. Squares are what make Aero 7 Square stand out, obviously. Instead of rounded edges, window borders are squared.
Coloring follows the usual Windows 7 theme coloring, including the glossy effect that was lost in Windows 10. Everything from the taskbar, Start Menu button and again even the wallpapers follow the Windows 7 theme. Squares give this theme a more modern look, which is why I enjoy it the most. Taskbar color changes with the background color, similar to how it does on Windows 7. Do note that taskbar still looks and feels flat like the Windows 10 taskbar.
4. Aero 7 Clear
I’m going to finish this list with a theme that I think looks most similar to the Aero theme found in Windows 7. In Aero 7 Clear window borders follow the same rounded edges design, and offers a more glossy feel to them. Their accent coloring also changes with the wallpapers, just like it does in Windows 7 themes.
Start Menu orb icon is exactly like the one found in Windows 7, but the menu is still Windows 10 menu. To change the menu to the one found in Windows 7, you’ll need to install Classic Shell. The taskbar has transparency and it changes coloring with the rest of the theme. One thing that I especially like about Aero 7 Clear is that the background of the inactive window titles doesn’t have a black border around them. Compare screenshots of previous themes and you’ll see it too. This makes Aero 7 Clear look and feel like a complete theme for making Windows 10 look like Windows 7.
Conclusion
All 4 of the Windows 10 themes from the list above worked great, and they will do a decent job of converting your Windows 10 so that it has Windows 7 look and feel. I have three favorites, Soft Glass 10, Aero 7 Square and Aero 7 Clear. I actually used Aero 7 Square for the longest time, cause I like Windows 7 glossy theming, but I don’t like rounded corners. Soft Glass 10 offers a unique take on the Windows 7 theme, with its glassy blue undertones. Aero 7 Clear is for those that want to have a theme that mimics as close as possible the look and feel of the default Windows 7 theme. You won’t get closer to the Windows 7 look and feel than with Aero 7 Clear.
Let me know what you think, which theme you liked the most by leaving a comment down below.
