retrobar.dev
v1.22.122

Themes

The Windows XP themes in RetroBar

RetroBar 1.22.122 has eight Windows XP themes: the famous Luna Blue, Olive Green and Silver, the Media Center “Royale” family, and XP with the classic style. This page shows each one on real Windows, and the settings and Start menu that complete the look.

Checked against RetroBar 1.22.122Updated Tested on real Windows2 min read
On this page 6 sections
  1. All eight XP themes
  2. What makes it look like XP
  3. Settings for the full XP look
  4. The XP Start menu
  5. What RetroBar cannot make look like XP
  6. Questions
RetroBar with the Windows XP Blue theme on Windows Server 2025.
Real screenshot · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650RetroBar with the Windows XP Blue theme on Windows Server 2025.

Short answer

How do I get the Windows XP taskbar with RetroBar?

Right-click the RetroBar taskbar › Properties › Taskbar tab › Theme: Windows XP Blue. For the full XP look, also tick Collapse notification area icons on the Notification area tab, and add Open-Shell with our XP Start menu preset.

All eight XP themes

Real screenshots · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650 · shown at 2×

Windows XP

Windows XP Blue

The Luna Blue taskbar and green Start button that most people picture as “Windows XP”.

File
Windows XP Blue.xaml
Since
1.0.8
Height
30 px
Font
Tahoma

Switch to it with a script

RetroBar Windows XP Blue theme: Start button, Quick Launch and task buttons, real screenshot at 2xRetroBar Windows XP Blue theme: notification area and clock, real screenshot at 2x

What makes it look like XP

  • The Start button is an image from RetroBar's own resources, a separate one for Blue, Olive Green, Silver, Royale, Royale Noir, Zune and Embedded. Its “start” text is drawn in Franklin Gothic, set in RetroBar's language file.
  • The bar is 30 pixels high, two more than the classic themes, with Tahoma text, as in Windows XP.
  • Olive Green, Silver and Royale are built on top of XP Blue and change its colours and images; Royale Noir, Zune and Embedded are built on Royale. XP Classic has no keys of its own: it combines the Windows 2000 colours with XP's Start text and icon, like Windows XP with the classic style turned on.
Clicking the XP Blue Start button: it switches to its darker pressed image while the menu is open (here the Windows Start menu, without Open-Shell).
Real screenshot · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650Clicking the XP Blue Start button: it switches to its darker pressed image while the menu is open (here the Windows Start menu, without Open-Shell).

Settings for the full XP look

Windows XP hid inactive notification icons behind an arrow and had no seconds or window previews. These are the RetroBar settings that match it, each shown on the XP Blue theme:

Default: all notification icons shown.
Real screenshot · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650Default: all notification icons shown.
Collapse notification area icons on: the XP arrow, with inactive icons hidden.
Real screenshot · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650Collapse notification area icons on: the XP arrow, with inactive icons hidden.
Show Desktop button on (not in Windows XP itself, which had it in Quick Launch).
Real screenshot · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650Show Desktop button on (not in Windows XP itself, which had it in Quick Launch).
Show seconds in the clock (not in Windows XP).
Real screenshot · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650Show seconds in the clock (not in Windows XP).
SettingFor XPWhere
ThemeWindows XP Blue (or another XP theme)Properties › Taskbar
Show Quick LaunchOnProperties › Taskbar
Lock the taskbarOnProperties › Taskbar, or right-click the taskbar
Collapse notification area iconsOnProperties › Notification area
Show seconds in the clockOffProperties › Notification area
Show window previews (thumbnails)OffProperties › Taskbar

The Settings Builder can write all of these into a script that applies them in one go.

The XP Start menu

RetroBar's Start button opens whatever the Windows key opens. With Open-Shell and our XP preset, that is a two-column XP-style menu with the Luna skin. Choose its Olive Green or Silver variation in Open-Shell's Skin tab to match those themes.

Open-Shell with our XP preset, opened from RetroBar's Start button.
Real screenshot · RetroBar 1.22.122 · Windows Server 2025 build 26100.33650Open-Shell with our XP preset, opened from RetroBar's Start button.

Set up the XP Start menu

What RetroBar cannot make look like XP

RetroBar changes the taskbar only. Window title bars, File Explorer and dialogs keep the Windows 11 look, and app icons on the taskbar are today's icons. Other tools restyle those parts; see what to combine RetroBar with.

Questions

Which RetroBar theme looks most like Windows XP?

Windows XP Blue: the Luna Blue taskbar with the green Start button that Windows XP used by default.

Is there a Windows XP Media Center theme?

Yes: Windows XP Royale, the look of Media Center and Tablet PC editions. Royale Noir is its dark version.

Can I change the green Start button?

Only with a custom theme: the button is an image set in the theme file. See custom themes and the StartButton keys in the key reference.

Keep going

All themesAll 19 built-in themes on real Windows, side by side.Start menuPair RetroBar with Open-Shell for a classic Start menu.Custom themesInstall, fix and make your own .xaml themes.

Found something out of date or wrong? Tell us at hello@retrobar.dev and we will fix it.