Use XP’s theme for Windows Live Messenger in Vista/7

Windows Live Messenger with AERO off

Sometime ago, I had blogged on how you can use Google Chrome’s Windows XP skin in Vista or 7. It involved setting the compatibility option to Windows XP. But, this same trick didn’t work for Windows Live applications. Recently, I came across Messenger Aero Switcher made by the blogger at mynetx. It lets you change Messenger’s skin on the fly without even shutting down the application itself.Messenger Aero Switcher

Just run the application, turn Aero off and then minimize every Messenger window and then restore them. The cool thing about using Messenger with Aero turned off is that every window has a different colored title bar and border which gives it a somewhat more personalized look for each contact instead of the glass borders that are a trademark of Aero. You can download this application from mynetx.

About the Author

Imran Hussain is the founder and editor of iThinkDifferent, which he launched in 2008 to cover Apple news, reviews, and how-to guides. He has spent over 15 years writing about iOS, macOS, and the wider Apple ecosystem, with a focus on hands-on guides - installing developer betas, troubleshooting, and walking through new features on his own devices. Based in Dubai, he also loves to cover photography, gaming, and the tech industry more broadly on his social media profiles.

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