Enable dark wallpaper with registry key

DMD · Apr 1, 2022

Good morning
I ask how you can customize the secure theme by enabling the dark wallpaper via the registry key, which I would like to insert in the iso in order to have it already active after installation.
thank you

FreeBooter · Apr 1, 2022

You can use attached batch script to enable dark or light theme to do that execute the batch script and type N letter to enable dark theme.

DMD · Apr 1, 2022

Thank you for the script, but the problem that it does not replace the light wallpaper with the dark one

FreeBooter · Apr 1, 2022

See you can change it from below registry value:

Code:

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1250897756-1007707114-1137306247-1001\Control Panel\Desktop\WallPaper

FreeBooter · Apr 1, 2022

Specify Default Desktop Background in Windows 10

How to Specify Default Desktop Background in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

DMD · Apr 1, 2022

Unfortunately I can't find the System key in W11

FreeBooter · Apr 1, 2022

DMD said:
Unfortunately I can't find the System key in W11

You can create the key.

DMD · Apr 1, 2022

Thanks, it works. however, it does not allow you to change the background, I tried to set a light background, but it always remains the one set in the registry key.

FreeBooter · Apr 1, 2022

I don't know how to help you with that one.

DMD · Apr 1, 2022

I have found a combination of registry keys, after applying the keys you need to restart the desktop,
and you can change the background normally.

Dark Theme

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"WallPaper"="C:\\Windows\\web\\wallpaper\\Windows\\img19.jpg"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes]
"CurrentTheme"="C:\\Windows\\resources\\Themes\\dark.theme"
"ThemeMRU"="C:\\Windows\\resources\\Themes\\dark.theme;"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\HighContrast]
"Pre-High Contrast Scheme"="C:\\Windows\\resources\\Themes\\dark.theme"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize]
"AppsUseLightTheme"=dword:00000000
"SystemUsesLightTheme"=dword:00000000

Default Theme

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"WallPaper"="C:\\Windows\\web\\wallpaper\\Windows\\img0.jpg"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes]
"CurrentTheme"="C:\Windows\resources\Themes\aero.theme"
"ThemeMRU"="C:\Windows\resources\Themes\aero.theme;C:\Windows\resources\Themes\themeA.theme;C:\Windows\resources\Themes\dark.theme;"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\HighContrast]
"Pre-High Contrast Scheme"="C:\Windows\resources\Themes\aero.theme"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize]
"AppsUseLightTheme"=dword:00000001
"SystemUsesLightTheme"=dword:00000001

DMD · Jan 26, 2023

Sorry to resume this discussion.
When I launch the registry key to enable the dark theme, and perform the explorer restart, it doesn't work, I have to necessarily restart the system.
Is there any way not to do this with registry key?
Thank you

James · Jan 26, 2023

DMD said:
Sorry to resume this discussion.
When I launch the registry key to enable the dark theme, and perform the explorer restart, it doesn't work, I have to necessarily restart the system.
Is there any way not to do this with registry key?
Thank you

What if you had both light background regsitry and dark background on your desktop, then double click whichever you need?

DMD · Jan 26, 2023

Yes it's true, you can do it conveniently from the settings which is very simple and straightforward and you immediately activate the Dark background. What I was wondering is how come instead with the registry key you need to reboot.

badrobot · Jan 26, 2023

I don't understand why you want to do these superficial changes with reg editor.

DMD · Jan 26, 2023

No I don't want to do that.
It's just to understand why the registry key action requires a reboot instead the direct command from settings is not needed.

hsehestedt · Jan 26, 2023

As an alternative, you could consider creating your own desktop themepack. I use one in combination with a batch file that tweaks all my Windows settings.

So, my workflow when setting up a new system looks like this:

1) Install Windows fully automated via an unattended install file.

2) After Windows is installed, plug in a thumb drive that has my customizations including a desktop themepack.

3) Run the batch file. That one batch file installs ALL of the drivers for the system, customizes many settings within Windows, and applies the themepack.

At that point, Windows is fully configured for me.

garlin · Jan 27, 2023

I cleaned up your two reg files; and had ~~zero problems switching themes~~ on 21H2 & 22H2.
Are you using other Explorer add-on's?

Update - 22H2 is now ignoring the reg imports. Hmmmm...

Default Theme

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"WallPaper"="C:\\Windows\\web\\wallpaper\\Windows\\img0.jpg"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes]
"CurrentTheme"="C:\Windows\resources\Themes\aero.theme"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\HighContrast]
"Pre-High Contrast Scheme"="C:\Windows\resources\Themes\aero.theme"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize]
"AppsUseLightTheme"=dword:00000001
"SystemUsesLightTheme"=dword:00000001

Dark Theme

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"WallPaper"="C:\\Windows\\web\\wallpaper\\Windows\\img19.jpg"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes]
"CurrentTheme"="C:\\Windows\\resources\\Themes\\dark.theme"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\HighContrast]
"Pre-High Contrast Scheme"="C:\\Windows\\resources\\Themes\\dark.theme"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize]
"AppsUseLightTheme"=dword:00000000
"SystemUsesLightTheme"=dword:00000000

This batch script will load either reg file, and apply the background image listed by "WallPaper".
H/T to Jose Espitia's Set-Wallpaper Powershell Function

SwitchThemes.bat

Batch:

@echo off
reg import %1 2> NUL
REM https://www.joseespitia.com/2017/09/15/set-wallpaper-powershell-function/

powershell -nop $Wallpaper=(Get-ItemProperty """HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop""" -Name Wallpaper).Wallpaper; ^
if ($Wallpaper -match 'PSObject') { $Image=(((Get-ItemProperty "HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop" -Name Wallpaper).Wallpaper -split ';')[0] -split '=')[-1] } else { $Image=$Wallpaper }; ^
Add-Type -TypeDefinition """using System;`n using System.Runtime.InteropServices;`n public class Params { [DllImport("`""User32.dll"`"",CharSet=CharSet.Unicode)] public static extern int SystemParametersInfo (Int32 uAction,Int32 uParam,String lpvParam,Int32 fuWinIni); }"""; ^
$null=[Params]::SystemParametersInfo(20,0,$Image,3)

SwitchThemes.bat dark_theme.reg
SwitchThemes.bat default_theme.reg

garlin · Jan 27, 2023

More trial & error with "reg import", revealed 22H2 behaves differently than 21H2.

1. My original script works fine on 21H2.

2. 22H2 interprets the same sequence as you making a Custom (user-defined) theme. When you reg import a file, System Settings will immediately switch themes -- but none of the other apps.

The solution is delete Custom.theme from your LocalAppData folder, and add the step of restarting Explorer to change the taskbar.
For unexplained reasons, the only app which ignores this refresh are open CMD windows.

SwitchThemes_22H2.bat

Batch:

@echo off
set CUSTOM=%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\Custom.theme
if exist %CUSTOM% del /f %CUSTOM%

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe > NUL & reg import %1 2> NUL
start /b explorer

REM https://www.joseespitia.com/2017/09/15/set-wallpaper-powershell-function/

powershell -nop $Wallpaper=(Get-ItemProperty """HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop""" -Name Wallpaper).Wallpaper; ^
if ($Wallpaper -match 'PS') { $Image=(((Get-ItemProperty "HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop" -Name Wallpaper).Wallpaper -split ';')[0] -split '=')[-1] } else { $Image=$Wallpaper }; ^
Add-Type -TypeDefinition """using System;`n using System.Runtime.InteropServices;`n public class Params { [DllImport("`""User32.dll"`"",CharSet=CharSet.Unicode)] public static extern int SystemParametersInfo (Int32 uAction,Int32 uParam,String lpvParam,Int32 fuWinIni); }"""; ^
$null=[Params]::SystemParametersInfo(20,0,$Image,3)

timeout 3 1> NUL

3. From my testing, this restart sequence minimizes the onscreen flashing. Maybe someone can do better?
4. Cortana can randomly open when Explorer starts, I have no idea why... but it will close by itself.

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