Fix .themepack and .deskthemepack file association. Cannot install themes

If you’re unable to install themes shipped as .themepack or .deskthemepack files on your Windows computer, the file association settings may need to be fixed. Broken file association for theme pack file types causes one the following problems.

• Nothing happens when double-clicking a .themepack or .deskthemepack file. Themes can’t be installed.
• File association error or the Open with dialog appears when double-clicking a .themepack or .deskthemepack file.

Note that the .deskthemepack is a newer format supported only in Windows 8 and Windows 10. They won’t run in Windows 7. It’s normal.

To fix the theme pack file association settings, use the registry fix below.

Download themepack_asso_fix.zip. This includes fix for .themepack as well for .deskthemepack file types.

Alternately, if you want to make .REG files of your own, use the contents below.

Contents of the REG file 1 – .themepack fix

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;For Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and Windows 10

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.themepack]
@="themepackfile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\themepackfile]
@="Windows Theme Pack"
"FriendlyTypeName"="@themeui.dll,-2685"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\themepackfile\DefaultIcon]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
  00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,74,00,68,00,\
  65,00,6d,00,65,00,75,00,69,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,37,00,30,\
  00,34,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\themepackfile\shell\open\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
  00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,72,00,75,00,\
  6e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,25,00,53,\
  00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,\
  79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,\
  00,63,00,70,00,6c,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,4f,00,70,00,65,00,6e,00,\
  54,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,41,00,63,00,74,00,69,00,6f,00,6e,00,20,00,25,\
  00,31,00,00,00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.themepack]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.themepack\OpenWithProgids]
"themepackfile"=hex(0):

Contents of the REG file 2 – .deskthemepack fix

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;For Windows 8, 8.1 and Windows 10

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.deskthemepack]
@="desktopthemepackfile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\desktopthemepackfile]
@="Windows Desktop Theme Pack"
"FriendlyTypeName"="@themeui.dll,-2695"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\desktopthemepackfile\DefaultIcon]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
  00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,74,00,68,00,\
  65,00,6d,00,65,00,75,00,69,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,37,00,30,\
  00,34,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\desktopthemepackfile\shell\open\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
  00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,72,00,75,00,\
  6e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,25,00,53,\
  00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,\
  79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,74,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,\
  00,63,00,70,00,6c,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,4f,00,70,00,65,00,6e,00,\
  54,00,68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,41,00,63,00,74,00,69,00,6f,00,6e,00,20,00,25,\
  00,31,00,00,00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.deskthemepack]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.deskthemepack\OpenWithProgids]
"desktopthemepackfile"=hex(0):

RELATED: [Fix] Windows can’t find one of the files in this theme error