Themes
The Windows Vista themes in RetroBar
RetroBar 1.22.122 has three Vista themes, Aero, Basic and Classic, plus Longhorn Aero from the betas before Vista. Aero is the one with the round Start orb and glass, and it has one setting that changes its look a lot on Windows 11. All pictures are real screenshots.
On this page 5 sections
Short answer
How do I get the Windows Vista taskbar with RetroBar?
Right-click the RetroBar taskbar › Properties › Taskbar tab › Theme: Windows Vista Aero. If you want the dark glass of Vista rather than a light, see-through bar, untick Allow blur behind transparent taskbar on the Advanced tab.
The three Vista themes
Real screenshots · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650 · shown at 2×
Windows Vista
Glass or dark: the blur setting
Vista Aero's taskbar is partly transparent. With Allow blur behind transparent taskbar on, which is the default, RetroBar asks Windows to blur what is behind the taskbar. On our Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 machines that made the bar a light, frosted grey that takes on the colours behind it. Turned off, the bar is the dark glass most people remember from Vista. On Windows Server 2022 the default already looked like the dark version.
Which one is “right” depends on your wallpaper and taste; the setting is on the Advanced tab of Properties.
Longhorn Aero
Before Vista was released, its test versions were called Longhorn. RetroBar's Windows Longhorn Aero theme recreates the taskbar of those builds, with its own Start button. It is listed with the beta themes on the all themes page.
The Vista Start menu
RetroBar's Start orb opens whatever the Windows key opens. With Open-Shell and our Vista preset, that is the two-column Windows 7 style menu with the Windows Aero skin, the closest Open-Shell has to Vista's.
Questions
Is there a Windows 7 theme?
Not built in. Vista Aero is the closest; its orb and glass are the same idea, but Windows 7's taskbar was taller and showed pinned icons instead of text buttons. Community Windows 7 themes exist; check one with our Theme Checker before installing it.
What is the difference between Vista Aero and Vista Basic?
Basic is Vista without glass, as on PCs whose graphics could not run Aero: an opaque dark bar with the same orb. Classic is Vista with the classic Windows style: grey, with a small Start button.
Why is my Vista taskbar light grey instead of black?
That is the blur effect on Windows 11. Untick “Allow blur behind transparent taskbar” in Properties › Advanced for the dark look.
Keep going
Found something out of date or wrong? Tell us at hello@retrobar.dev and we will fix it.