The Windows themes are used to customize the interface of the Windows. It will change the colors, sounds, screen saver, pointers, and desktop background for the user account. There are several themes that the user can choose for their desktop. However, an administrator at home or in the organization can disable the theme changing settings from a standard account. It will completely disable the theme settings; however, the users can still change the colors, sounds, screen saver, pointers, and desktop background. In this article, we will show you methods for disabling the theme settings.

Prevent Users from Changing Theme - 1

Prevent Users from Changing Theme

Method 1: Using the Local Group Policy Editor

The Local Group Policy Editor contains all kinds of policies that can enable and disable specific settings on the operating system. It can be used to customize settings for a computer or a specific user on the computer. There is a specific policy setting for preventing users from changing the theme of their operating system. It is listed under the User Configuration category of the Group Policy Editor.

The Local Group Policy Editor isn’t available for every Windows 10 edition. If you are using the Windows 10 Home edition, then skip this method and try using the Registry method in this article.

  1. Press the Windows + R key together on your keyboard to open a Run dialog. Then, you need to type “ gpedit.msc ” in the dialog box and press the Enter key or click on the Ok button. This will open up the Local Group Policy Editor window on your computer. Opening the Group Policy Editor
  2. In the Local Group Policy Editor window, head over to the following path: User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Control Panel\Personalization\ Navigating to the setting
  3. Now double-click on the policy named “ Prevent changing theme ” and it will open another window. Then choose the Enable toggle option as shown below. Enabling the setting
  4. After that, just click on the Apply and Ok buttons to save these changes.
  5. The Group Policy will automatically update the changes. If not, then you must force the update for the group policy.
  6. Search for Command Prompt in the Windows search feature and run it as an administrator . Now type the following command in Command Prompt (Admin) and press the Enter key. You can also update the group policy by restarting the computer. gpupdate /force Force updating the group policy
  7. If you want to enable the theme settings again, just change the toggle option to Disabled or Not Configured in step 3.

Method 2: Using the Registry Editor

Another way to prevent users from changing themes on the computer is by using the Registry Editor. Whenever we configure a setting in the Group Policy Editor, it will automatically update the Registry for that specific setting. If you used the Group Policy Editor and configured the setting, then you don’t need to use this method because it will be already configured. However, if you are using this method directly, then you need to configure it from the start. There will some technical steps for creating the missing key and value for this specific setting. Follow the below steps carefully to prevent users from changing the theme:

Note : We have included a registry backup step for safety. However, you can skip it if you don’t want to create a backup.

  1. First, open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows and R keys together on your keyboard. Then, you need to type “ regedit ” in the dialog box and press the Enter key to open the Registry Editor . If you get UAC (User Account Control) prompt, then click on the Yes button. Opening the Registry Editor
  2. To create a Registry backup before making new changes, click on the File menu and choose the Export option. Select the path and name the file as you want. Lastly, click on the Save button to create the backup. Creating a registry backup Note : You can always restore a backup by clicking on the File menu and choosing the Import option as shown. Then, you can choose the backup file that you recently created.
  3. In the Registry Editor window, head to the following location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer Note : If the Explorer key is missing, just right-click on the Policies key and choose the New > Key option. Then name that newly created key as “ Explorer “.
  4. Right-click on the right pane of the Explorer key and choose the New > DWORD (32-bit) Value option. Then rename the value as “ NoThemesTab ” and save it. Creating a new value in Registry
  5. Double-click on the NoThemesTab value and it will open a small dialog. Now change the value data to 1 and click on the Ok button. Changing the value data
  6. Finally, close the Registry Editor window, and reboot the computer to apply the new changes.
  7. You can always enable it back by changing the value data to 0 or by removing the value from the Registry.

How to Fix “Printer is in an error state” Issue?

The “ Cannot change fingerprint or PIN ” problem in Windows 11 happens when the options to change these settings are greyed out in Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options. Even if you are the administrator, you can’t update your Windows Hello credentials. You might also see a message like “ This option is temporarily unavailable. ”

How to Prevent Users from Changing Theme in Windows? - 2

Can’t disable PIN or Fingerprint on Windows 11

This usually happens because Windows Hello’s stored data (in the Ngc folder) is damaged or not in sync. Other reasons include security rules set by your workplace or school, connected work accounts, or restrictions set in the registry or group policy.

Now that you’re aware of the potential causes, let’s go through some steps that have helped other users fix or work around this problem:

1. Change the PIN or Fingerprint the Conventional Way

If your goal is to remove the fingerprint or PIN without setting up another sign-in method, please note that this is not possible on Windows 11.

Windows 11 requires you to have at least one Sign-in option enabled. The Remove button will remain grayed out if you only have one active sign-in method.

How to Prevent Users from Changing Theme in Windows? - 3

Can’t disable PIN or Fingerprint on Windows 11

For example, the Remove button for your PIN will stay unavailable until you add a different sign-in option (like Facial Recognition, Fingerprint, or a Security Key).

If you want to stop using your PIN or Fingerprint, you’ll need to set up an additional way to sign in.

Below are step-by-step instructions to set up a new sign-in option and then remove your current one:

  1. Press Windows key + I to open the Settings menu in Windows 11.
  2. Inside the Settings menu, click on Accounts from the vertical menu on the left. Accessing the Accounts menu Note: If the left menu is hidden by default, click the menu button (top-left corner) to reveal it.
  3. Once in the Accounts menu, move to the right-hand section of the screen and select Sign-in options. Accessing the Sign In Options menu
  4. Now, choose which sign-in method you’d like to set as a fallback. Sign-in Options Note: Your available options depend on your device. If your PC doesn’t support facial recognition or you don’t have a security key, you can switch between PIN and fingerprint.
  5. After you pick your new sign-in method, follow the on-screen instructions to set it up.
  6. Once your second sign-in option is set, you’ll be able to click the Remove button to get rid of your previous sign-in method. You can also choose Change PIN or Change Fingerprint to update, rather than remove, your sign-in credentials. Modify the current PIN or remove one of the configured sign-in options

2. Remove PIN or Fingerprint Requirement by Using a Local Account

If you want to completely remove all sign-in options like PIN or Fingerprint, you will have to switch to a local account .

We generally don’t recommend this unless you really need to, as it can limit the functionality of some built-in Windows features (like Windows Update and the Microsoft Store).

If you still want to remove your PIN or Fingerprint sign-in, you’ll need to set up a local account with a password instead. Keep in mind, this means you’ll need to stop using your Microsoft account on your PC.

Important: This method isn’t available if you’re enrolled in the Windows Insider program.

To change from a Microsoft account with PIN or fingerprint to a local password, follow these steps:

  1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings menu in Windows 11.
  2. In the Settings menu, click on Accounts from the menu on the left. Accessing the Accounts menu Note: If you don’t see the left menu, click the menu icon (top-left corner).
  3. Inside Accounts , click on Family & other users on the right-hand side. Accessing the Family and other users tab
  4. In the Family & other users tab, check for any accounts listed under Other users. If you find any, remove them before moving on.
  5. Next, return to the main Accounts menu and click on Your info on the right. Accessing the Your Info tab
  6. Scroll down to Account Settings and click on Sign in with a local account instead . Sign in with a local account instead
  7. On the next screen, click Next .
  8. When prompted, enter your current PIN or use your fingerprint as requested. Inserting the PIN
  9. Then, you’ll be asked to create a username and password for your new local account, along with a password hint in case you forget. Configure the local account
  10. Finally, click Sign out and finish to complete the switch.