Download Windows 8 Login Screen for Windows 7

Almost all of us are aware of Microsoft’s upcoming OS Windows 8. Windows 8 comes with lots of new features and GUI changes like new boot screen, login screen, start screen, etc.

Windows 8 login screen is very simple and doesn’t feature any eye candy effects like Aero glass reflection, aurora effect, etc. Today we are going to share Windows 8 look-like login screen for Windows 7 users.

This login screen has been created by “PeterRollar” @ DA. This login screen replaces default login screen of Windows 7 with new Windows 8 login screen which looks like following screenshot:

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Windows_8_RTM_Login_Screen

Please NOTE that this login screen can only be used in Windows 7 with SP1 operating system. DO NOT try it if you don’t have Service Pack 1 in your Windows 7 system. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions are available.

To enjoy this login screen in Windows 7, you just need to follow these simple steps:

1. First download following file:

Download Windows 8 Login Screen for Windows 7

Extract the downloaded RAR file using 7-Zip or WinRAR and you’ll get 2 folders:

  • x64 (64-bit) Files
  • x86 (32-bit) Files

Windows 7 32-bit users will need to use files present in “x86 (32-bit) Files” folder and Windows 7 64-bit users will need to use files present in “x64 (64-bit) Files” folder.

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Both folders contains following 2 files which are required to have Windows 8 look-like login screen in Windows 7:

  • authui.dll
  • basebrd.dll

authui.dll” file is the main file which will provide Windows 8 login screen in Windows 7. “basebrd.dll” file will only replace Windows 7 branding logo which is displayed in bottom-center of login screen with new Windows 8 branding logo.

2. After extracting the downloaded file, go to “C:\Windows\System32” folder and take ownership of authui.dll file. To take ownership, you can take help of following tutorials:

PS: We assume that you have installed Windows 7 in C: drive, if its installed in some other drive in your system, change C:\ to that drive letter.

3. Once you have taken ownership of the file, rename it to some other name like authui_bak.dll

4. Now copy new authui.dll file from the extracted folder to “C:\Windows\System32” folder.

NOTE: 64-bit Windows users will also need to replace “authui.dll” file present in “C:\Windows\SysWOW64” folder.

5. Now go to “C:\Windows\Branding\Basebrd” folder and take ownership of basebrd.dll file.

6. Once you have taken ownership of the file, rename it to some other name like basebrd_bak.dll

7. Now copy new basebrd.dll file from the extracted folder to “C:\Windows\Branding\Basebrd” folder.

8. At last set the “Background.jpg” file present in the downloaded archive as login screen background with the help of following articles:

9. That’s it. Windows will start using the new files and you’ll enjoy Windows 8 login screen in Windows 7.

Published in: Windows 7

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. ^^ You can edit the file in Resource Hacker and customize the images. 🙂

  2. does someone know the backward way?
    files from windows 7 import to windows 8 ?
    so i got the logon from win 7 in win 8 ?

    just doing the by copying file from a win7 to a win8 does not help
    it ends up in a black screen on windows 8

  3. And what about those who don’t have service pack 1 like me?Any workaround for this?What error will occur if applied on the version without the service pack?

  4. ^^ Not checked but most probably you’ll not be able to login. A version mismatch can make your system broken. SP1 is a must have for Windows 7 users and its free so you should install it.

  5. Yeah I’ve already made up my mind that when I get a better PC I will remain with Win 7.In my opinion Win7 is the perfected XP, while Windows 8 should win vista.

  6. Windows Server 2012’s logon screen contains Windows’ logo at least. I like it better.

  7. Dear VG, it is a nice tutorial however, I replaced the files without changing the background and I noticed that the login is restricted to the green color .. so I am obliged to put the green background in order for everything to look nice, suppose I wanna add a custom background, like my fav car, the login bar / profile pic will still be green … can’t u put a tutorial on how to craft our own authui.dll ?!?!?

  8. How do you remove the small white boxes at each of the corners if you set a password?

  9. great work but sir, i want to how animation works , i can’t find proper code for in. thank you

  10. i applied all that is said but when i will upload something on a website, and click upload button etc. a window explorer comes up but it has no navigation pane?

  11. this just happened when i followed some tutorials here.

    https://www.askvg.com/transform-windows-7-into-windows-8-vnext-without-using-customization-pack/

    fyi, i just did the ff:
    -Windows Theme or Visual Style
    (Download Windows 8 RTM Theme for Windows 7)
    (Download Windows 8 “Aero Lite with Glass” Theme for Windows 7)
    -Boot Screen
    (Download Windows 8 RTM Boot Screen for Windows 7)
    -Login Screen or Welcome Screen
    (Download Windows 8 RTM Login Screen for Windows 7)
    (Download Windows 8 Blue Login Screen for Windows 7)
    -Start ORB or Start Button
    (Get New Windows 8 Start ORB (Start Button) in Windows 7)
    -User Picture Tile in Taskbar
    (UserTile: Free Utility to Get Windows 8 User Picture Tile (Avatar) in Windows 7 Taskbar)
    (Get Windows 8 Look-Like User Picture Tile (Avatar) in Notification Area of Windows 7)

  12. ^^ It might be the theme problem. Apply default Aero theme and check whether the issue occurs or not.

  13. its not. i applied the default and nothing happened.i also tried to replace the athui.dll and basebrd.dll file with the orginal piece but nothing happened..

  14. ^^ It seems you have replaced some other system files in past which caused this issue. Did you replace shell32.dll or any other file recently?

  15. i did not replace any other system files other than what is said to be replaced on the tutorials. By the ay, my problem is ok now. i just restored all files that i replaced good thing it is said in the tutorial to not erase the original files.i just restarted my pc and it solved my problem. On the other hand, thank you very much for your effort. i appreciate it.

  16. Just a note for 64bit users –
    YOU will need to copy the authui.dll file from x86(32bit) folder to your systems “%windir%\Windows\SysWOW64\” folder
    AND copy the authui.dll file from x64(64bit) folder to your systems “%windir%\Windows\System32\” folder

    with the basebrd.dll either one should work ok

    cheers

  17. When I try to extract authui.dll into C:\Windows\System32, it just does nothing and goes straight into C:\Windows\SYSWOW64. When I extract it with my backup browser, it still does nothing! By the time you read this, I will probably have Windows 7 looking like Windows 8 except for the login screen.

  18. As I did exactly,when I restart my pc …I get authui.dll error with black screen …Please Help How to fix it?

  19. @ Kuldip
    Turn it off again by removing power supply & again connect it & start.
    >>Tap F8 after clicking power button
    >>Select ” LAST KNOWN GOOD CONFIGURATION”
    Wait & watch. It should fix. otherwise, again turn off &
    >>Tap F8 after clicking power button
    >>Select “Repair your PC”
    >>Select system restore, select an appropriate restore point & go.
    If it fails, again turn off &
    >>Tap F8 after clicking power button
    >>Select “Repair your PC”
    >>Select Command prompt
    >>type sfc /scannow
    it should fix, otherwise reset your pc to factory mode

  20. I followed every instruction and it is working good. But how can i change the account picture? I want it to look like the one in windows 8. I have windows 7.

  21. Hi, I followed the instructions and it turned out like this;

    file:///C:/Users/Angela/Downloads/11749250_1163572300325892_1781371736_n.jpg

    Can someone help me?
    I don’t know what is the problem…

  22. Nevermind, I found a solution. I named the jpg background image to backgroundDefault.
    Thanks for the tutorial btw 🙂

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