How to Enable True Aero Glass Transparency with Blur and Reflection in Windows 8 and Later?

UPDATE: This freeware is also available to enable Aero glass transparency in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

Yesterday we posted a tutorial to enable stable transparency in Windows 8 as Microsoft has removed the Aero glass transparency from its new OS. Our tutorial told you how to enable a perfect transparency effect but without blur or reflection effects in Windows 8. You can read more about this tutorial at following link:

Finally a Way to Enable Transparency in Windows 8 Without any Bug or Glitch

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The above tutorial requires some manual work and a free software to get the things done. First we enable the unstable transparency in Windows 8 using a manual method and then we use a 3rd party software to make the unstable transparency stable. But this procedure can’t provide Windows 7 style blur and reflection effects in Windows 8. You just get the transparency in windows which is too clear and sometimes causes difficulties in concentrating on the active window.

Today in this topic we are going to share a free program “Aero Glass for Windows 8” which can bring back Windows 7 style Aero glass transparency with blur, reflection and shadow effects in Windows 8.

The best thing about this freeware is that it is completely integrated into Desktop Window Manager (DWM) service which is the main Windows component responsible for transparency and other eye candy effects. This utility doesn’t break any system protection feature and doesn’t modify any system file.

It performs all rendering using native Direct3D device. You can use the built-in color intensity slider in personalization window to adjust the amount of transparency.

Its also very low on system resources as it tries to utilize all default DWM resources as much as possible which minimizes RAM usage. It doesn’t run any background service.

Transparent_Windows_8.png

Features List:

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  • Apply Aero glass look to windows borders
  • Blur the content behind the borders to improve UI experience
  • Change amount of transparency in Control panels directly
  • Change inactive windows borders color
  • Skin windows borders (add glow, shadows etc.) without changing Windows theme
  • Fully native including MSStyle themes and DWM API compatibility
  • Low resources usage

If you are interested and want to get Aero glass transparency in Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10, you can download it using following link:

Download Link: glass8.eu

Its available for both 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10.

Also check out:

How to Disable Aero Glass Transparency in Windows 8 Taskbar?

Published in: Software, Windows 10, Windows 8

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. I just want to get the transparency similar to taskbar (with color, without reflection) is simply good enough.

  2. No transparentcy in windows 8 was first problem to me and it make me revert back to windows 7. Due to performance, revert back to windows 8. Now. problem solve. Problem Microsoft??

  3. can any one port metro luna visual style of windows 7 to windows 8 will be thankfilled

  4. DO NOT Download Aero Glass for Windows 8 and 8.1… It’s not free and has annoying pop-ups and watermark if you don’t donate. Don’t call it free if it’s not.

  5. The aero glass with blur and reflection worked very well until my computer downloaded some updates when i shutted down my computer. when the updates were done, a message poped up and it said: DWM not compatible with aero glass. install again? (or something like that). i clicked OK, but the message shows up again, again and again! My screen was flashing, flashing and flashing and my OS totally glitched up! i clicked cancel but still glitching! Then i deleted it very quickly and everything was normal. HEEEEEEELP!!!

  6. Same roger, i used system restore to revert back to normal. NEVER DOWNLOAD!
    wait for something by VG or Microsoft!
    i’m doing my best, if you want to install it go ahead, but don’t come crying back to me saying it’s glith

  7. Link to glass8 takes you to the main page, and glass8 cannot be found…

  8. ^^ The website has moved to a new URL. I have updated the download link. Now its working fine.

  9. ^^ Whole window transparent? Please provide more details.

    @Ben Brackenbury
    You should get uninstall option in Control Panel -> Programs and Features.

  10. This is working fine now. it was because the spring update for windows 8.1 modified DWM.exe and so they had to update it.

  11. I am loving to use Aero Glass for Windows 8.1 but the main problem is that it leaves a watermark on desktop. Please VG, can you tell me of any glitch or something so that I can remove that annoying watermark of aero glass? Everything is awesome except that watermark. I want to remove it completely. Any registry tweak or something??

  12. ^^ That watermark is shown by the Aero glass program. I think you’ll need to purchase the program to remove that watermark.

  13. So is there any other program which works EXACTLY the same as aero glass for win8.1 which is integrated in the DWM??

  14. there is a message poping up daily saying your machine code is #####
    what is it for and how can i remove it ?

  15. Gives me error: “This service is not supposed to be executed by the user.” Even though I ran the .exe as admin.

  16. Installed in Win 8.1 using the installer from the linked site. It did nothing to change the UI or anything else. Also, the warning during installation, “Do not click this box if you have a custom theme” is totally unclear. Does this mean that if I changed the color of my window borders that I have a custom theme and shouldn’t check the box? I’m uninstalling it.

  17. Not work at Windows 10, but in Windows 8.1 its bad choice to use it.
    My SSD done with this aero glass and i installed it, it says failed then I press ok but the screen flashing then automatic logoff.
    (Windows 8.1 Preview)

  18. I like the transparency effect, but not the blur. Is there a way to increase/decrease transparency (specifically in title bars of windows), but to ditch the blur? I like the slightly shaded color, but clear glass effect best, and I can’t seem to tweak this to get it right.

  19. The link for ‘Download Aero Glass for Windows 8 and Later’ is no longer safe.
    2/68 engines from Virus Total detected these URLs hosted by glass8.eu:
    glass8.eu/files/winrs_x64_1.5.9.7z
    glass8.eu/files/setup-wrs-1.5.9.exe
    Avirava (Malware)
    Dr.Web (Malicious)
    Last analysis 2018-07-21 22:22:15 UTC

    virustotal.com/#/url/073cb7d5ad3f94198eecc04e1f7e90fb075eaa5a073eb62233b7775d53c243ae/detection
    virustotal.com/#/url/daeaa413b420ebc9935464b1db5afc19c8c9cae74612c030e0849234fc21c73f/detection

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