Do you love to tweak your Windows 7 system, customizing it to fit your personality and the way you work? We have shown you many ways to customize the Taskbar, Start Menu, Desktop, Windows Explorer, and other parts of Windows.
We’ve collected links below to many of our best articles about adding and creating themes, adding wallpapers, pinning programs and files to the Taskbar, moving the Taskbar to another part of the screen, adding items to the Start Menu, tweaking the Desktop, creating shortcuts and hotkeys, customizing Windows Explorer, adding items to the context menus, and many more customizations.
NOTE: Some of the following articles may require you to tweak the registry. Before doing so, be sure you back up the registry. We also recommend creating a restore point you can use to restore your system if something goes wrong.
Themes/Wallpapers
If you work on your computer all day, wouldn’t it be nice to look at a background showing a relaxing picture or one of your favorite pictures and different icons from the usual? The following articles show you how to get new themes, access hidden themes, create custom wallpapers, and even how to create your own Windows 7 theme pack from scratch.
- Access Hidden Regional Themes in Windows 7
- Create a Windows 7 Theme Pack From Scratch
- Download New Themes in Windows 7
- Desktop Themes and Backgrounds
- Create Customized Desktop Wallpapers with Photovisi
- Dual Monitors: Use a Different Wallpaper on Each Desktop in Windows 7, Vista or XP
- How to get DreamScene Animated Desktops Back in Windows 7
- How To Customize Wallpaper in Windows 7 Starter Edition
- Use Your Favorite Wallpapers in Windows 7 Starter Edition
- How to Get Windows 7 Theme Wallpapers Without Installing Them
- Turn Your Desktop into a Picture Slideshow in Windows 7
Screensavers
When you’re away from your computer, Windows 7 provides different screensavers you can activate to hide the screen from prying eyes. The following articles show you how to customize the default screensavers, create icons to quickly enable and disable the screensaver, and how to automatically lock your computer when you leave it.
- Create Shortcut Icon to Disable / Enable the Screensaver
- Create Icons to Start the Screensaver on Windows 7 or Vista
- Customize the Default Screensavers in Windows 7 and Vista
- Automatically Lock Your Computer When You’re Away
Taskbar
The Taskbar in Windows 7 was changed to become a very useful part of the Windows desktop. You can pin programs to it, preview thumbnails of open programs, and use jump lists to easily access open files in programs. The following articles show you how to change the color of the Taskbar, show the Quick Launch Bar on the Taskbar, change the icons for programs, change the size and speed of the Aero thumbnail previews, and even pin files other than program files to the Taskbar.
- Add “My Computer” to Your Windows 7 / Vista Taskbar
- Disable or Modify the “Delay Time” for Aero Peek in Windows 7
- Move the Taskbar to Different Locations In Windows
- Add the Quick Launch Bar to the Taskbar in Windows 7
- Add the Recycle Bin to the Taskbar in Windows 7
- Change the Windows 7 Taskbar Color With No Extra Software (Stupid Geek Tricks)
- Change Your Windows 7 Taskbar Color the Easy Way (and Rotate Between Colors)
- Consolidate the Windows 7 Taskbar with Jumplist Launcher
- Create Custom Windows 7 Jumplists for Apps that Don’t Have One
- Customize the Windows 7 Taskbar with 7 Taskbar Tweaker
- Customize Your Windows 7 Taskbar Icons the Easy Way
- How to Customize Your Windows 7 Taskbar Icons for Any App
- From the Tips Box: Pin Any File to the Windows 7 Taskbar
- Increase the size of Taskbar Preview Thumbnails in Windows 7
- Increase the Speed of the Aero Taskbar Thumbnails in Windows 7
- Change the Windows 7 Taskbar to Work Like Vista
System Tray
The System Tray contains icons of running programs and allows access to options for these programs. The following articles show you how to customize the clock and the icons on the System Tray, disable all notification balloons, and even how to completely disable the System Tray.
- Completely Disable the System Tray on Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Disable All Notification Balloons in Windows 7 or Vista
- Enable Additional Clocks in Windows 7 or Vista
- Completely Disable the System Tray on Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- View Different Time Zones in the Windows 7 Tray Clock
- Customize and Tweak Your System Tray Icons in Windows 7
- Customize the Notification Area in Windows 7 Using Local Group Policy
Start Menu
The Start Menu in Windows 7 can provide quick access to programs and files. You can add items to it and organize it to reflect how you work. The following articles show you how to organize and tweak the Start Menu, add items to it, disable the highlighting of newly installed programs, show items in an expanded view, customize and even remove shutdown and restart from the power button. You can even revert to the classic-style Start Menu from previous versions of Windows.
- Enable Run Command on Windows 7 or Vista Start Menu
- Add “My Dropbox” to Your Windows 7 Start Menu
- Add the Recycle Bin to Start Menu in Windows 7
- How To Add Administrative Tools to Start Menu in Windows 7
- Change Start Menu to Use Small Icons in Windows 7 or Vista
- Change the Number of Recent Items Shown on the Windows 7 / Vista Start Menu
- Change the Windows 7 or Vista Power Buttons to Shut Down/Sleep/Hibernate
- ClassicShell Adds Classic Start Menu and Explorer Features to Windows 7
- Show the Classic “All Programs” Menu in the Start Menu in Windows 7
- Show Start Menu Items in Expanded View in Windows 7
- Change The Windows 7 Start Orb the Easy Way
- Get the Classic Start Menu in Windows 7
- Get an Aero-Styled Classic Start Menu in Windows 7
- How to Reorganize the All Programs Section on the Windows 7 Start Menu
- Disable Highlighting New Programs in Windows 7, Vista, and XP
- Remove Shutdown and Restart Buttons In Windows 7
- Tweak the Start Menu in Windows 7 and Vista
Desktop
Maybe you like a very minimal desktop and without a lot of icons on it. Or, you might use the desktop as your main center for accessing programs and files. The following articles provide tips to help you to customize the desktop, showing you how to add and remove icons, remove text and shortcut arrows from icons, add a Vista-style Sidebar to your Windows 7 desktop, disable Aero, Aero Snap, and Aero Shake, disable gadgets, and how to use some third-party tools to organize your desktop and dock windows on the side of your desktop, among other useful tips.
- Display My Computer Icon on the Desktop in Windows 7 or Vista
- Add the Vista Style Sidebar Back to Windows 7
- Change Desktop Resolution With a Keyboard Shortcut
- Customize Your Icons in Windows 7 and Vista
- Disable Shortcut Icon Arrow Overlay in Windows 7 or Vista
- Hide Desktop Icon Text on Windows 7 or Vista
- Remove “Shortcut” Text From New Shortcuts in Windows 7 or Vista
- Restore Missing Desktop Icons in Windows 7 or Vista
- Hide, Delete, or Destroy the Recycle Bin Icon in Windows 7 or Vista
- Organize Your Messy Desktop with Stardock’s Fences
- Set Icons in Win7 / Vista to Open With a Single Click Instead of Double-Click
- Add Home Directory Icon to the Desktop in Windows 7 or Vista
- Disable Aero on Windows 7 or Vista
- Easily Disable Win 7 or Vista’s Aero Before Running an Application (Such as a Video Game)
- Disable Windows 7 Aero Peek in Two Clicks
- Disable Aero Shake in Windows 7
- Manage Files Easier With Aero Snap in Windows 7
- Disable Aero Snap (the Mouse Drag Window Arranging Feature in Windows 7)
- Disable Sidebar / Desktop Gadgets on Windows 7
- Disable User Installed Desktop Gadgets in Windows 7
- Dock Windows on the Sides of Your Desktop and More With Preme for Windows 7
- Tile or Cascade Multiple Windows in Windows 7
Windows Explorer
Windows Explorer in Windows 7 has been significantly changed and improved since the days of Vista and XP. The following articles help you to customize Explorer, with tips such as setting the startup folder, adding your own folders to the Favorites list, changing the “Up” keyboard shortcut, setting the Navigation pane to automatically expand, disabling the Search history display, and even adding tabs for easier file browsing in Explorer.
- How to Customize Folder Backgrounds and Icons in Windows Explorer
- Set the Windows Explorer Startup Folder in Windows 7
- Add Your Own Folders to Favorites in Windows 7
- Add Apps to the Windows 7 Explorer Favorites List
- Make Backspace in Windows 7 or Vista Explorer Go Up like XP Did
- The “Up” Keyboard Shortcut for Windows 7 or Vista Explorer
- Turn Off Windows Explorer Click Sounds in Windows 7 or Vista
- Customize the Five Windows Folder Templates
- Remove Programs from the Open With Menu in Explorer
- Change Icon Views to Extra Large in Windows 7 Explorer
- How To Enable Check Boxes for Items In Windows 7
- Change Your Windows 7 Library Icons the Easy Way
- How to Enable or Disable the Libraries Feature in Windows 7
- Disable Search History Display in Windows 7
- Make the Navigation Pane Easier to Manage in Windows 7
- Set the Navigation Pane Tree to Automatically Expand in Windows 7
- Add Tabbed Browsing to Explorer in Windows 7
- Resize Icons Quickly in Windows 7 or Vista Explorer
- Show Hidden Files and Folders in Windows 7 or Vista
- Disable Thumbnail Previews in Windows 7 or Vista Explorer
Context (Right-Click) Menus
Context, or right-click, menus are available in Explorer and on the Desktop in Windows. By default, context menus provide useful options that apply to the current location or selected item. However, you can make them even more useful by adding custom items and removing items you don’t need. The following articles show you how to add and remove items and how to access hidden items on the context menu.
- Add Copy To / Move To to the Windows Explorer Right Click Menu
- Add Copy To / Move To on Windows 7 or Vista Right-Click Menu
- Customize the Windows 7 or Vista Send To Menu
- Disable the “Send To” Folder on the Windows Explorer Context Menu
- Add Disk Cleanup to the Right-Click Menu for a Drive
- Add Encrypt / Decrypt Options to Windows 7 / Vista Right-Click Menu
- Add “Open with Notepad” to the Context Menu for All Files
- Add “Take Ownership” to Explorer Right-Click Menu in Win 7 or Vista
- Add Dropbox to the Send To Menu in Windows 7, XP, and Vista
- Add Defragment to the Right-Click Menu for a Drive
- Create a Context Menu Item to Copy a Text File To the Clipboard in Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Create a Context Menu Item to Copy a List of Files to the Clipboard in Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Secret Items on the Windows 7 Send To Menu
- How to Add Any Application to the Windows Desktop Right-Click Menu
- How to Clean Up Your Messy Windows Context Menu
- Power Up and Manage Your Windows Send To Menu with Send To Toys
- How to Add Google Documents to the Windows Explorer “New” Menu
- Add the Command Prompt to the Windows Explorer Right-Click Menu
- Remove Gadgets and Screen Resolution on Windows 7 Desktop Context Menu
Shortcuts/Hotkeys
There are all kinds of ways to speed up access to programs and files and to perform other actions. The following articles provide many shortcuts and hotkeys to quickly perform many useful Windows tasks, easily open applications, and even to quickly create new Google documents.
- 20 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts You Might Not Know
- Create a Shortcut or Hotkey to Turn the Desktop Icons On or Off
- Create a Shortcut or Hotkey to Turn Off the Monitor
- Create a Shortcut for Locking Your Computer Screen in Windows 7 or Vista
- Create a Shortcut Icon or Hotkey to Turn Windows 7 / Vista Firewall On or Off
- Create a Shortcut or Hotkey for the Safely Remove Hardware Dialog
- Create a Shortcut or Hotkey to Immediately Eject a Specific USB Drive
- Create a Shortcut or Hotkey to Eject the CD/DVD Drive
- Create a Shortcut or Hotkey to Mute the System Volume in Windows
- Create a Shortcut or Hotkey to Switch Power Plans
- Create a Shortcut to Enable/Disable Aero Transparency in 7 / Vista
- Create a Shortcut To Group Policy Editor in Windows 7
- Create a Shortcut to Put Your Windows Computer into Hibernation
- Create Custom Windows Key Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows
- Disable Win+X Shortcut Keys on Windows 7 or Vista
- Create Administrator Mode Shortcuts Without UAC Prompts in Windows 7 or Vista
- Create Keyboard Shortcuts to Applications in Windows
- Create Shutdown / Restart / Lock Icons in Windows 7 or Vista
- How to Quickly Create New Google Documents with a Shortcut or Hotkey
- Hotkey for Creating New Folder in Windows Explorer
Other
Here’s even more articles about customizing Windows, such as enabling and disabling User Account Control (UAC), changing the buttons on your mouse to be left-hand friendly, enabling the “How-To Geek” Mode (or God Mode), customizing and cleaning up the logon screen, managing power settings, and even removing or hiding unused items in the Control Panel.
- Make Your Mouse Pointers Left-hand Friendly
- Customize the Manufacturer Support Info in Windows 7 or Vista
- Customize the Windows 7 Logon Screen
- Cleanup Your Windows 7 Login Screen and Remove Unwanted Logon Items
- Disable Delete Confirmation Dialog in Windows 7 or Vista
- Hide Drives from Your Computer in Windows 7 or Vista
- Disable/Enable Lock Workstation Functionality (Windows + L)
- Enable or Disable UAC From the Windows 7 / Vista Command Line
- Disable User Account Control (UAC) the Easy Way on Win 7 or Vista
- Disable User Account Control(UAC) For Administrators Only
- Make User Account Control (UAC) Stop Blacking Out the Screen in Windows 7 or Vista
- How To (Really) Completely Disable UAC on Windows 7
- How to Customize the File Open/Save Dialog Box in Windows
- Enable the Secret “How-To Geek” Mode in Windows 7
- Allow Users To Run Only Specified Programs in Windows 7
- How To Restrict Access To Drives In My Computer In Windows
- Max Out the Multi-Monitor Magic Under Windows 7
- How to Install, Manage, and Delete Fonts on Your PC
- Manage Power Settings
- Make Text and Images Easier to Read with the Windows 7 Magnifier
- Make Your PC Shut Down at Night (But Only When You’re Not Using It)
- Prevent Windows Asking for a Password on Wake Up from Sleep/Standby
- Stop Your Mouse from Waking Up Your Windows 7 Computer
- Turn Off Games in Windows 7
- Remove or Hide Unwanted Items From the Control Panel in Windows 7
Happy Tweaking!
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