Force a specific visual style file or force Windows Classic: registry value SetVisualStyleUserHKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System

Policy ID: CPL_Personalization_SetVisualStyle
Scope: User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2003 operating systems or Windows XP Professional
Source: Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows 11 2026 Update (26H2) (version 1.0)
Category: Control Panel › Personalization

Registry

SetVisualStyle

REG_SZUser

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Path to Visual Style:
Value type: REG_SZ

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]

; Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data
"SetVisualStyle"="<enter value>"

CMD

:: Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System" /v "SetVisualStyle" /t REG_SZ /d "<enter value>" /f

PowerShell

# Value names and types follow the ADMX. Replace <enter value> below with your own data

New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Force | Out-Null
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System' -Name 'SetVisualStyle' -PropertyType String -Value '<enter value>' -Force | Out-Null