How to Create and Install Your Own Custom Themes in Google Chrome?

Although Google's new web browser "Chrome" doesn't provide any way to change its theme but you can install custom themes using this tutorial. Even you can create your own themes.

All Chrome UI files are stored in a single file "default.dll". So you just need to edit this file to create your own theme and there are already some ready-made themes available to download.

So here is a step-by-step tutorial to install and create custom themes in Google Chrome:

1. First you'll need to find this "default.dll" file to replace or edit it. Type following string in RUN dialog box and press Enter:

local settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application

NOTE: Windows Vista users can also type "appdata" in RUN or Startmenu Search box and press enter, then navigate to "local\Google\Chrome\Application".

2. It'll open a folder containing Chrome files.

3. Now when you are in "Application" folder using 1st step, navigate to "0.2.149.27\Themes" folder. That's it, you'll find the "default.dll" file in this folder:

4. First take a backup of this file before replacing or editing it, so that you can restore it if you want to get the default look back.

5. Now open this file in "Resource Tuner" and expand "BINDATA" folder.

6. Under this folder, you can replace the existing PNG files with your custom PNG files. Create your own PNG image with same dimensions using Photoshop, Gimp, etc. and then replace existing PNG in the "default.dll" file with your one.

To replace the existing PNG file with your custom one, select the PNG file in Resource Tuner and then press "Ctrl+Shift+E", it'll open another window asking for your own resource file. Press "Ctrl+O" and browse to your own PNG file, select it and click on "Open" button and then click on "OK" button.

When you have replaced all desired resources, save the file and you have done.

Since Chrome supports PNG files, there are lots of possibilities for theme creators to put transparency in their themes.

7. You can also download some 3rd party ready-made themes. Just download them and you'll get the custom "default.dll" file. Replace the default file with this new one as mentioned in above tutorial.

This article was posted in Browsers, Google Chrome.

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16 Comments

Manojit

Is it can be done using RESOURCE HACKER
VG

^^ Resource Hacker doesnt support PNG files, so its better to use Resource Tuner or Restorator.
MANOJIT

Is Restorator can be run on WINDOWS XP without admin restriction as Resource hacker can run ?
Resource tuner is noting running on limited account ( I dont want to install it on my admin account ).
VG

^^ I have only Admin account on Vista, so can't confirm it. Please check it yourself.
MANOJIT

Ok thanks for it .
Again another question there is a file in my chrome directory .
C:\Documents and Settings\USER\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application.2.149.27\Installer
THe name ofe the file is setup.exe . What is the file ? It is also in other xp computer aslo .
Again . What is inside the chrome.7z file at the same place ?
I am not able to open .7z file using WINRAR ?
Please check it ......

Again : How to use custom css for website in chrome as we do it in FIREFOX with stylish & greasemonkey ?
VG

^^ Its the setup of Chrome. You can use 7zip to open the file.
lemonvenom

erm cool i know this isnt to do with theme but i cant get it to allow me to use java on google chrome =/
VG

^^ Download following file and run it:

http://dl8-cdn-04.sun.com/s/ESD45/JSCDL/jdk/6u10-rc-b28/jre-6u10-rc-windows-i586-p-iftw-k.exe?e=1220448904205&h=1a05ae2fdbfc5886d58891c087c674b5/&filename=jre-6u10-rc-windows-i586-p-iftw-k.exe

It'll fix your problem.
Scrawl

Here are some tools which simplifies the extraction of PNG and compiling of custom themes:

http://psytoy.net/everything-else/google-chrome-theme-editor/
ian jay

Vishal!

i messed up my Chrome and i forgot to backup my original default.dll!

any idea where i can get the original file?