- Apr 25, 2013
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15 Free Windows 8.1 Customization & Tweaking Tools
A number of free and paid software have been released ever since the preview release of Windows 8.1 update. In this guide, we have compiled a list of 15 free tools that help you tweak and customize the default look and feel of Windows 8.1 operating system.
In no particular order, following are the 15 free tools out there to tweak and customize Windows 8.1 operating system.
NOTE: We suggest you create a manual system restore point or create a backup image before using these tools.
Windows 8.1 Boot Screen Logo Changer: An advanced tool designed to change the default logo of the boot screen. Even though it sports a simple user interface, using this tool isn’t very straight-forward and we advise you follow the instructions mentioned in our how to change the boot screen logo in Windows 8.1 guide for detailed instructions.
Download Boot Screen Logo Changer
Start Button Changer: The Start button on the taskbar in Windows 8.1 is quite nice but if you have come across a better looking Start button and want to replace the default one with your desired one, Start Button Changer is the ideal tool. It’s easy-to-use as well.
Download Start Button Changer
Lock Screen Customizer: Even though you don’t need a third-party tool to set your picture as lock screen background in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, you might want to use this tool to change the time format, disable the lock screen, and change the login screen color.
Download Lock Screen Customizer
Charms Bar Customizer: As the name suggests, this tool lets you change the default look of the charms bar by replacing default icons with custom ones. That is, you can replace search, share, Windows logo, settings and devices icons with your own icons.
Download charms Bar Customizer
WinAero WEI Tool: This isn’t exactly a tweaking or customization tool but helps you get theWindows Experience Index (WEI), one of features removed from Windows 8.1 update. As you might know, only the GUI version of Windows Experience Index has been dropped from Windows 8.1 version. This tool reads the WEI file located in Windows folder and then displays processor, RAM, hard disk, and graphics scores.
You can also check out other two tools named Metro Experience Index and ChrisPC Windows Experience Index to get Windows Experience Index in Windows 8.1.
Download WinAero WEI
Windows 8.1 Start Screen Customizer: Microsoft has enhanced the Start screen in Windows 8.1 with even more customization options. For instance, you can set your current desktop background as Start screen background. But if you want even more customization options, Windows 8.1 Start Screen Customizer is the right software. It’s not only free but portable as well.
With Windows 8.1 Start Screen Customizer, you can set your own custom picture as Start screen background, set a video file as Start screen background image, change Start screen opacity, and more.
Download Windows 8.1 Start Screen Customizer
This PC Tweaker: This PC Tweaker lets you add new folders and locations to This PC and also lets you remove Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos folders from This PC.
Download This PC Tweaker
Source
A number of free and paid software have been released ever since the preview release of Windows 8.1 update. In this guide, we have compiled a list of 15 free tools that help you tweak and customize the default look and feel of Windows 8.1 operating system.
In no particular order, following are the 15 free tools out there to tweak and customize Windows 8.1 operating system.
NOTE: We suggest you create a manual system restore point or create a backup image before using these tools.
Windows 8.1 Boot Screen Logo Changer: An advanced tool designed to change the default logo of the boot screen. Even though it sports a simple user interface, using this tool isn’t very straight-forward and we advise you follow the instructions mentioned in our how to change the boot screen logo in Windows 8.1 guide for detailed instructions.
Download Boot Screen Logo Changer
Start Button Changer: The Start button on the taskbar in Windows 8.1 is quite nice but if you have come across a better looking Start button and want to replace the default one with your desired one, Start Button Changer is the ideal tool. It’s easy-to-use as well.
Download Start Button Changer
Lock Screen Customizer: Even though you don’t need a third-party tool to set your picture as lock screen background in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, you might want to use this tool to change the time format, disable the lock screen, and change the login screen color.
Download Lock Screen Customizer
Charms Bar Customizer: As the name suggests, this tool lets you change the default look of the charms bar by replacing default icons with custom ones. That is, you can replace search, share, Windows logo, settings and devices icons with your own icons.
Download charms Bar Customizer
WinAero WEI Tool: This isn’t exactly a tweaking or customization tool but helps you get theWindows Experience Index (WEI), one of features removed from Windows 8.1 update. As you might know, only the GUI version of Windows Experience Index has been dropped from Windows 8.1 version. This tool reads the WEI file located in Windows folder and then displays processor, RAM, hard disk, and graphics scores.
You can also check out other two tools named Metro Experience Index and ChrisPC Windows Experience Index to get Windows Experience Index in Windows 8.1.
Download WinAero WEI
Windows 8.1 Start Screen Customizer: Microsoft has enhanced the Start screen in Windows 8.1 with even more customization options. For instance, you can set your current desktop background as Start screen background. But if you want even more customization options, Windows 8.1 Start Screen Customizer is the right software. It’s not only free but portable as well.
With Windows 8.1 Start Screen Customizer, you can set your own custom picture as Start screen background, set a video file as Start screen background image, change Start screen opacity, and more.
Download Windows 8.1 Start Screen Customizer
This PC Tweaker: This PC Tweaker lets you add new folders and locations to This PC and also lets you remove Documents, Pictures, Music and Videos folders from This PC.
Download This PC Tweaker