Force a specific visual style file or force Windows Classic

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

Description

This setting allows you to force a specific visual style file by entering the path (location) of the visual style file.

This can be a local computer visual style (aero.msstyles), or a file located on a remote server using a UNC path (\\Server\Share\aero.msstyles).

If you enable this setting, the visual style file that you specify will be used. Also, a user may not apply a different visual style when changing themes.

If you disable or do not configure this setting, the users can select the visual style that they want to use by changing themes (if the Personalization Control Panel is available).

Note: If this setting is enabled and the file is not available at user logon, the default visual style is loaded.

Note: When running Windows XP, you can select the Luna visual style by typing %windir%\resources\Themes\Luna\Luna.msstyles

Note: To select the Windows Classic visual style, leave the box blank beside "Path to Visual Style:" and enable this setting. When running Windows 8 or Windows RT, you cannot apply the Windows Classic visual style.

Options

  • Path to Visual Style:
  • To select Aero type:
  • %windir%\resources\Themes\Aero\aero.msstyles
  • To select a different visual style, type:
  • ie: \\<server>\share\Corp.msstyles
  • To select Windows Classic, leave the box
  • above blank and enable this setting

Registry

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