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How to Edit or Create Visual Styles

This guide is meant to walk you through the basics of Microsoft Visual Styles. A few things to note

1. This only works on with Windows - theming any other OS or software has other ways
2. Not all Windows app respect visual styles. Even other Microsoft apps such as Office have their own style.
3. Visual Style are limited in some regards - for example, they can't affect the Ribbon interface or the newer Metro/UWP/Modern style sets.

I am making this with Windows 11 24H2 in mind. Many of the basic parts are the same in other versions, but some things have been introduced (or possibly removed) since they were implemented in the current form in Windows Vista (XP Visual Styles work completely different). Also, I cannot guarantee that this will be the same in future versions of Windows.

Sections

1. Included in the top level will be some notes on the very basics of how to edit the Visual Styles.
2. In the Basic Parts section, there will be notes on commonly used controls and how they work.
3. In the Advanced Parts section, there will be notes on lesser used controls.
4. In the All Classes section, all parts with notes will be included in alphabetical order.

I recommend reading through Buttons, even if you know what you’re doing or don’t plan to change buttons. This is because I’m still working on this, and that article will help you understand some terminology and how stuff works, as well as how I explain things (not well, I know).

Next: Getting Started