Customizations for desktop devices

You have the following options to customize your image. Depending on which options you’d like to use, you’ll employ the associated method or choice of methods to apply the customization.

Feature	Unattend	Modification file
Taskbar	subset	TaskbarLayoutModification.xml
Start layout	subset	LayoutModification.xml
Out of Box Experience (OOBE)	subset	OOBE.xml
Darkmode	yes	Unattend.xml
Get Help app	yes	Unattend.xml
Colors	yes	Unattend.xml

All desktop customization options listed above are supported in Windows 10 in S mode. To learn more, see Windows 10 in S mode manufacturing overview.

In this section

These are some common ways to customize your desktop device. You will also find the technical reference for Unattend and WSIM.

Customize

Purpose

Customizations of the Windows OS are ways in which partners can modify the Windows device UI, connectivity settings, and user experience to better reflect the partners’ brand, and to fit the network and market in which the device ships. Customization options include adding applications, modifying icons and Start layouts, configuring network settings by using device management, changing defaults in Settings, and adding brand-specific art and sounds to the OS.

WindowsВ 10 supports both pre-existing desktop Unattend settings, and mobile Managed Centralized Settings Framework (MCSF), for configuring customization options for WindowsВ 10 devices.

See the following sections for more information about what you can do to customize your WindowsВ 10 devices.

Topic	Description
Customizations for desktop	This section includes topics describing key desktop customization opportunities, as well the Unattended Windows Setup Reference, and Windows System Image Manager Technical Reference.
Customizations for enterprise desktop	Learn about the customizations available to you if you are providing a controlled and specialized experience on a Windows device running WindowsВ 10 Enterprise.
Configure power settings	Learn about the power settings you can configure using the Windows provisioning framework. Each power setting topic includes the identification GUID, allowed values, meaning, and common usage scenarios for the setting.
Preinstalled and exclusive apps	If you’re a Windows OEM or mobile operator partner, find out how you can create partner apps that you can package and configure to install during the initial device setup process. While the user is going through the initial setup process, the preinstalled apps are installed in the background. OEMs can also work with software developers to target OEM devices for apps to appear exclusively on, based on registry keys.
Change history for Customize	Review the timeline of Windows 10 Customization topics that have been created, updated, or deleted.

Audience

This section of the partner documentation is intended for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs), Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs), system builders, mobile operators, and IT administrators.

Basics: Using Settings to customize Windows

Technical Level : Basic

Windows 10 introduces a revised modern configuration app called Settings. Previously called PC Settings in Windows 8/8.1, Settings features familiar functionality available in the classic desktop Control Panel you have been using earlier versions of Windows. Some of the things you can use Settings for include changing window colors, manage installed programs, update Windows, connect to networks, adjust time and language, configure hardware and a myriad of other task.

To launch Settings, click Start > Settings or press Windows key + i on your keyboard.

For our first customization, we will look at using Personalization to change the look and feel of Windows 10. Click on it.

Click the Color tab and select a color choice you like.

You can even have Windows automatically choose a color for you. Scroll down and you will see additional settings you can choose such as the parts of the interface you would like colors to be applied and the ability to make the Start menu and Taskbar transparent.

You can apply different effects and appearances to your Start menu and Taskbar.

If there are more granular options you would like to apply, click the Themes tab and choose from the available options. Here you can adjust sound, icons and mouse pointers.

So thats a look at using Settings to adjust the look and feel of your computer.

Finding Settings

If there is a specific setting you are looking for, you can use Find a setting to find it. See below.

In the above screenshot, I want add a printer. I am presented with relevant options.

Pinning Commonly accessed Settings to Start

If there is an area of Settings I commonly access, I can quickly access it by pinning a shortcut on my Start menu. Just lick the Push Pin icon which will change to indicate it is pinned.

You will now be able to quickly access your favorite Setting quickly from the Start.

If there certain settings you are not able to find or you still prefer older Control Panel, you can still access it.

Press Windows key + X
Click Control Panel

From the Search box (Windows key + S)

Type: control Panel

You can right click and Pin it to the Taskbar or Start menu for quick access.

So, thats the new Settings, go ahead and explore it.

Top 10 Ways to Customize Your Desktop

You spend a lot of waking hours at your computer, so why not make it a little prettier (and more productive)? Here are 10 ways to customize every inch of your desktop, no matter what operating system you use.

WARNING: The deeper you go with customization, the more you risk causing problems with your system, particularly when changing system files. We’ve tried a bunch of these tools and apps before, but you should always back up your system before you start any deep customization!

10. Collect Some Sweet Wallpapers

Still rocking the default windows wallpaper? Maybe it’s time to switch it up. There are a lot of great wallpaper sites out there , but you can make your wallpaper even more awesome with a few tools. Desktoppr is an awesome way to browse and sync wallpapers with all your computers, and then rotate between them with a good wallpaper switcher . Wallpapers don’t have to be a time waster, either—they can be motivational and productive , too. Check our weekly Wallpaper Wednesday series for more wallpaper fun, too.

Five Best Wallpaper Sites

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9. Install a Custom Dock

The default Windows taskbar is actually pretty awesome, especially once you beef it up . But if you prefer the aesthetic and functional nature of a dock, we recommend checking out a customizable dock like the $10 ObjectDock , or the older (but free) RocketDock . If you’re on Linux, check out Docky instead. If you’re on OS X, you can customize your dock with something like DockMod .

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8. Change Up Your Icons

Maybe you have one or two apps with ugly icons, or maybe you want to change them all up for a more unified, customized look. No matter what your desires, it’s pretty easy to change the icons on your system. Individual apps and folders are extremely easy to change on both Windows and OS X , though system icons are a bit tougher. Windows users should check out IconPackager , which can do a heck of a lot—but in my experience is a bit finicky, so be sure to back up your system first.

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7. Tweak Your Favorite Web Sites

They aren’t part of your «desktop,» per se, but you probably spend a lot of time looking at the same web sites, and those are customizable too. Check out our guide to customizing your favorite sites with userscripts and user styles for more, and be sure to check out some of our site-specific guides too—like this one for Facebook or this one for Gmail . It’s amazing how much better (and better looking) you can make your favorite sites with a few tweaks.

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6. Organize Your Desktop Clutter

Of course, a lot of these customizations will mean nothing if your desktop is covered in icons. All it takes is a little organization : with an app like Fences or Desktop Groups you can not only make things more attractive, but keep everything organized by category, project, or whatever else you want, so you can reach everything easier.

How to Design and Create a Clean, Organized Desktop

Numerous studies have shown that your environment affects your productivity, and that even…

5. Skin Your Windows

Tired of the boring grey window borders and traditional buttons in the corner? You can spice up your windows with WindowBlinds (Windows) or something like CrystalClear Interface (Mac). Linux users don’t have as easy a one-size-fits-all method—as it depends a lot on your desktop environment and window manager —but sites like GNOME-look.org are a good place to start looking for good themes.

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4. Add and Change Your Favorite Features

This one’s a little more function than form (not that we’re complaining). Sometimes the best desktop customization comes in smaller tweaks that help you get things done better—and that’s where our favorite system tweakers for Windows , OS X , and Linux come in. With the right tweaker in your arsenal, you can customize your operating system’s built-in menus, settings, fonts, or anything else under the hood.

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3. Get Some Neat Desktop Effects

Ever feel like your windows could make a snazzier entrance when you un-minimize them? Ever get jealous of that awesome desktop cube Linux users have? Windows users can get in on the fun, too. Free app Dexpot has a few cool animations to contribute (including the aforementioned cube), but if you really want to take it further, WindowFX is an awesome (but sadly, $10) app with a ton of animations and customization built-in. Check out the video above to see it in action.

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Dear Lifehacker, I’m loving Linux, but I keep seeing screenshots and videos of these tricked-out,…

2. Overhaul Your Skin Entirely

This is definitely one of the more sweeping changes you can make to your system—not to mention riskier—but if you really want to change everything from the ground up, there are a lot of cool system-wide skins out there you might like. Want to give everything a cool transparent look? Check out the Shine skin . Want to make your Windows system look like OS X? The Mavericks Transformation Pack is for you. Search around sites like DeviantART and our Featured Desktop series for inspiration and links to some pretty cool skins, if you’re feeling adventurous.

The Tide Desktop

Chris Sm sent in this desktop for us to review, which combines a really interesting wallpaper with

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