Change Windows 10 & 11 Theme Without Activating Windows

While you can use Windows 10 without activating it, there are some limitations, most notably that you can't change the wallpaper or theme.

When you try to personalize Windows 10, you will get a message that says, "You need to activate Windows before you can personalize your PC."

Before you get started, you will need to find a themepack for Windows 10.

We need to make some changes to the Group Policy Editor or the Registry Editor. Windows 10 Home users must use the registry or enable Group Policy Editor.

Option 1: Change Windows 10 Theme Without Activating Windows - Group Policy Editor

Open Group Policy Editor.

Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Personalization.

Double-click Prevent changing theme.

Click on Disabled.



Click on OK.

Option 2: Change Windows 10 Theme Without Activating Windows - Registry Editor

Open the Registry Editor.

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

If you don't have Explorer, right-click on Policies, and create a New > Key named Explorer.

Right-click on Explorer and click New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, named NoThemesTab.

Confirm that the Value data is 0, which should be the default



Find a themepack and apply it.

Similar:

How to Use Slmgr to View, Install, Uninstall, Activate, or Extend Your Windows License

How to Check if Windows 10 is Activated

8 Ways to Activate Windows 10

Will Windows 10 Receive Windows Updates if It's Not Activated?

How to Add Color to Your Start, Taskbar, Action Center, and Title Bars

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