Aero Lite
- This article is about the Windows Basic theme included in Windows 8 and later operating systems. For the Windows Basic theme seen in Windows Vista and 7, see Windows Basic.
Microsoft Windows visual style | |
![]() Aero Lite in Windows 8.1 build 9600.17031 | |
Included in | Windows 8 and later |
---|---|
First seen in | Windows 8 build 7814 |
Aero Lite is the name of the hidden visual style that debuted in Windows 8 and is used within future versions of Windows. It is used for the High Contrast themes with color customization, and acts as a replacement for the legacy Windows Classic visual style.
The theme file is present by default in Windows 8 builds up to build 8423. By Windows 8 build 8432 (fbl loc), the theme file is no longer present by default, although the final release of Windows Server 2012/Server 2012 R2 and Server 2016 builds up to 10575 still use this visual style by default. In both cases, the display name of the theme file is "Windows Basic" while it uses Desktop Window Manager, unlike the actual Windows Basic introduced in Windows Vista.
The msstyles file but not the theme file is present in the %SystemRoot%\Resources\Themes\aero
folder from Windows 8 onwards. To enable the theme, create a copy of the aero.theme
file called aerolite.theme
and redirect it to the aerolite.msstyles
file and set its display name to Aero Lite. Alternatively, you can copy the basic.theme
file from Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 installation to %SystemRoot%\Resources\Ease of Access Themes
folder.
Bugs and quirks[edit | edit source]
- In the Windows Developer Preview, you can get Windows Aero effects in the Aero Lite visual style by running
WindowsAnytimeUpgradeResults.exe
. - In Windows 8 Consumer Preview and Release Preview, when using this visual style, transparency effects can be enabled by means of a bug in the Personalization Control Panel (don't persist if you re-selected the created theme). To do so:
- Open the Personalization Control Panel, then click on the "Window Color" link given at the bottom of the window. Keep the window open.
- Open a separate personalization window and apply the Windows Basic theme.
- Switch to the other personalization window that was opened at the start, uncheck and re-check the "Enable transparency" option and then click on the "Save changes" button. This will cause transparency effects to take effect.
- In Windows 8 build 8432 and later, apply one of the "High Contrast" themes instead, and just click on the "Save Changes" button. However, this will instead enable a broken "glass" effect that results in the border to draw contents of the menu, icons, or other window above it to itself. Moving or resizing the window will also leave behind the trails of the title bar and cursor. Maximizing the windows will temporarily clear out these artifacts.
- In Windows 10 and Windows 11:
- Even if the "Title bars and window borders" option in the personalization settings is disabled, window borders in the Aero Lite visual style remain colored, however, the title of desktop applications with the ribbon UI (File Explorer, Paint, WordPad) remain black even if your accent color results in white title in desktop applications without the ribbon UI.
- In Windows 10, taskbar flyouts have transparent borders.
- In more recent versions of Windows 10, File Explorer looks broken in dark app mode. Control Panel looks more broken.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Windows 8[edit | edit source]
Aero Lite in Windows 8 build 7814
Windows Basic visual style with transparency effects in Windows 8 build 8102.101 by running
WindowsAnytimeUpgradeResults.exe
Windows Basic visual style in Windows 8 build 8250
Windows Basic visual style with transparency effects by means of a bug in the Personalization Control Panel in Windows 8 build 8250
Windows Basic style in Windows Server 2012 build 8250
"Windows Basic" (Aero Lite) visual style in Windows 8 build 8400
"Windows Basic" (Aero Lite) visual style with transparency effects by means of a bug in the Personalization Control Panel in Windows 8 build 8400
"Windows Basic" (Aero Lite) visual style in Windows Server 2012
Windows 8.1[edit | edit source]
"Windows Basic" (Aero Lite) visual style in Windows Server 2012 R2
Aero Lite visual style in Windows 8.1 build 9600.17031 (hidden)
Windows 10[edit | edit source]
"Windows Basic" (Aero Lite) visual style in Windows Server 2016 build 10512
Aero Lite visual style in Windows 10 November 2021 Update (hidden)
Aero Lite in light Windows, applied on Windows 10 November 2021 Update
File Explorer with Aero Lite applied in Windows 10 November 2021 Update
File Explorer in the Aero Lite visual style in Windows 10 November 2021 Update when using dark mode - select and then de-select an item
File Explorer in the Aero Lite visual style in Windows 10 November 2021 Update when using dark mode - tooltips
File Explorer in the Aero Lite visual style in Windows 10 November 2021 Update when using dark mode - details layout
Control Panel in the Aero Lite visual style in Windows 10 November 2021 Update when using dark mode