All Windows Xp Themes May 2026

So, what are all the Windows XP themes?

Whether you are restoring a vintage Dell Latitude or just want to throw a green "Start" button on your modern monitor via a widget, the legacy of Windows XP themes is the legacy of the open web—messy, creative, and utterly personal.

Have we missed your favorite theme from 2004? The one with the glowing neon start menu? Let us know in the comments (in an old-school phpBB forum, preferably).

This report outlines the official, unreleased, and expansion themes (visual styles) developed by Microsoft for the Windows XP operating system. 1. Standard Preinstalled Themes

These themes were included in the standard retail versions of Windows XP (Home and Professional). Luna (The "Windows XP Style")

: The iconic default theme featuring rounded window corners and a green Start button. It shipped with three official color schemes: Blue (Default) : The standard vibrant look. Olive Green (Homestead) : A natural, earthy palette. Silver (Metallic) : A sleeker, more neutral gray aesthetic. Windows Classic all windows xp themes

: A legacy theme that mimics the look of Windows 95, 98, and 2000. It is less resource-intensive and includes 22 preset color schemes, such as "Rainy Day," "Rose," and various high-contrast options for accessibility. 2. Specialized Edition Themes

Certain versions of Windows XP came with exclusive "signed" themes that were later released or leaked for general use. Royale (Energy Blue) : Introduced with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

. It is a glossy, brighter blue variant of Luna with more pronounced reflections and gradients. Royale Noir

: An unreleased, darker version of Royale with a blackish-purple tint and a black Start button. It was leaked during development but never officially shipped in a final product.

: Officially released to promote the Zune media player. It features a dark gray/black taskbar with a signature orange Start button. : Found in Windows Embedded Standard 2009 So, what are all the Windows XP themes

. It is similar to Royale but uses a deep dark blue color scheme and a matching blue Start button. 3. Microsoft Plus! Expansion Themes Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP

pack added thematic overlays that leveraged the Luna visual style but introduced unique wallpapers, icons, and sounds, including themes like Aquarium, Nature, da Vinci, and Space. 4. Development & Hidden Themes

Several themes were found in early pre-release builds (Whistler) or uncovered in leaked source code: Watercolor

: A flat-designed, blue/white placeholder used before Luna was finalized. Mallard (Sample Test Visual Style)

: A test theme featuring unusual color combinations such as "Chartreuse Mongoose". Whether you are restoring a vintage Dell Latitude

: A hidden theme found in the leaked source code that imitated the Apple Mac OS X "Aqua" interface. Summary of Official Visual Styles Luna (Blue/Olive/Silver) : Standard XP themes. Royale (Energy Blue) : Glossy theme from Media Center Edition 2005.

: Dark gray/orange, released to promote the Zune media player. : Dark blue, from embedded systems.

| Theme Name | Style | Availability | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Luna (Blue) | Glossy Color | Built-in (All Versions) | | Luna (Olive) | Glossy Color | Built-in (All Versions) | | Luna (Silver) | Glossy Monochrome | Built-in (All Versions) | | Windows Classic | Standard Gray | Built-in (All Versions) | | Royale (Energy Blue) | Premium Glossy | Media Center Ed. / Download | | Royale Noir | Dark Glossy | Hidden (MCE Files) | | Zune | Black & Orange | Official Download | | Embedded | Royale Variant | Embedded OS / Download |

For users upgrading from Windows 95/98/2000 who found Luna too drastic, XP included a legacy engine.

Released for thin clients and very old hardware.