I can't find how to change the color of Windows 7 menu bar while using Aero theme. I only want to change the Menu Bar's color.
The default Basic and High Contrast Themes themes of Windows 7 can change the color.
Those kind of themes are customized using Personalization > Window Color and Appearance, but the Menu color property when changed doesn't take effect while using Aero theme.
As seen in the image, I've tested some customization seen in the preview pane of the Window Color and Appearance
- Change the components color to green
- Change the text color to white
- Change the
Menu Bar's text color to gray - FAILED: Change the
Menu Barcolor to purple
It seems that it doesn't even work in the preview. The Window Color and Appearance is created for customization of Windows 7 Basic Theme or Ease of Access theme. It may not be intended for Aero, but even Aero users will still have the same Menu Bar color at every application.
There are applications like Adobe Inc. products that have custom Menu Bar for their GUI. But the default look/color of the Menu Bar for Windows Explorer and other apps are just using the look/color from the theme.
So how could I change the color of Menu Bar while using Aero theme?
Best Answer
The answer by @DavidPostill for changing "Menu" in "Personalization > Window Color and Appearance", does not apply if you are running the Aero theme. It needs the theme to be set to "Windows Classic". Not even "Windows Basic" will work.
If you want to change the menubar, you will need to hack Windows software using a resource editor or even a debugger. The only Windows software I know that might take part in the display is Shellstyle.dll, and it is not at all sure that it is the one that draws the menu bar.
An example of how such hacks are done can be found in the article :
How to Auto-Hide or Disable Command Bar in Windows Vista and 7 Explorer.
However, you are on your own for discovering where the menubar colors are set.
But even if you do, your changes might render your computer unusable, since essential Windows components are digitally signed by Microsoft and are therefore unmodifiable. Even if you managed to hack Shellstyle.dll, the changes might be undone by the next Windows Update, so you may need to repeat them time and again.
Your real choices are really two : Use the "Windows Classic" theme, or accept the limitations of the Aero theme.
Anything else is playing Russian Roulette with the health of your computer.