Major issues with Universal apps on Windows 10 1709

UWP apps are not skinned

from Stardock Forums

Hello!

Today, I purchased the whole Object Desktop suite. For the past hour, I have been playing around with WindowBlinds, which I remember having a lot of fun with over ten years ago. However, it just does not seem to work very well, particularly with UWP (Store) apps. The issue appears similar to what this other user is experiencing, except that I am running Windows 10 version 1709 (build 16299.15). Apps like Settings, Edge, and Mail do not skin at all. This would be fine, except that the app windows still get a glitchy-looking frame around them, and the titlebar buttons do not work properly (the click targets seem to correspond with where the buttons would be if the apps were skinned) or at all (in the case of Edge). Adding these apps to the exclusion list (which is not easy, as Microsoft does its best to hide the location of UWP app executables) has no effect, including after a reboot.

This is, of course, highly frustrating. In my opinion, if skinning UWP apps is not supported or not reliable, there should be a way to exclude all of these apps from skinning. I am hoping that I have simply made a mistake somewhere along the way (missed a setting or something like that) and this can be easily resolved.

windowblinds
23,665 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'm using the same build of Windows 10 as you are. As you can see below, settings is skinned for me, and works correctly.

I know this doesn't help you, but it should demonstrate that your issue doesn't exist for everyone.

Mail is somewhat skinned here, but the buttons work correctly. I don't use edge, but I'll check it.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Edge is skinned fine here with the exception of the tabs.

 

Make sure you're using a skin that has a Windows 10 substyle.  Skins made for earlier Windows versions may not present correctly on Win 10.

Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

With the latest version of windows 10 (1709) and the latest WindowBlinds 10.74 (054 - Windows 10 Edition) - 64 bit OS

Still the Photos app will not skin properly,

 

Come on Stardock before there were universal apps your software worked perfectly

 

Cheers

 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Melkesideck, reply 3

Hello,

With the latest version of windows 10 (1709) and the latest WindowBlinds 10.74 (054 - Windows 10 Edition) - 64 bit OS

Still the Photos app will not skin properly,
End of Melkesideck's quote

Hello,

I have forwarded your problem to Stardock Support team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

 

Basj

Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Melkesideck, reply 3

Still the Photos app will not skin properly,

Come on Stardock before there were universal apps your software worked perfectly
End of Melkesideck's quote

Apps which custom paint the titlebar area will not skin the titlebar area unless special coding for them is made - and even then it may not be possible. 

Example:

It's a difficult call for us as any app store product could need that - meaning potentially hundreds of apps.  

That said, I will see about addressing the ones that ship with Windows - Photos being one, Calendar, Grove being others.

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi Sean,

Thanks for your reply, and thanks for working on the photos app and calendar to be skinned correctly...

You mentioned universal apps have custom painting...

so then could windows blinds disable the custom painting while its installed & 

 give windows blinds "full control" of the desk top and universal apps,

As i notice for a few seconds the universal apps open with windows blinds skin then the custom painting over laps it.

There must be a way to block the custom painting..

Cheers

Alan

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Melkesideck, reply 7

You mentioned universal apps have custom painting...
End of Melkesideck's quote

Its not all, it's some.  For example, calculator and weather are UWP apps but do not have custom titlebar painting:

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Even after the latest windows blinds update...

 

the below apps "STILL" will not skin correctly...

(While some do)


Please can this be resolved ASAP

 

Cheers

 

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

i have an issue with Windows Blinds not excluding Microsoft apps like settings app Store and Mail

 

my version of windows 21H2 v 19044 , 1566

ive told windows blinds to exclude Svchost.exe but it still skinning those apps even excluded setting app itself and that Launch app from a third part start menu Start10.

but no luck seem like its still wants to skin and also the taskbar Transparensy isnt working like before.

 

my windows blinds version WindowBlinds 10.89 (064 - Windows 10 Edition) - 64 bit OS

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting JoneeAL, reply 10

i have an issue with Windows Blinds not excluding Microsoft apps like settings app Store and Mail

my version of windows 21H2 v 19044 , 1566

ive told windows blinds to exclude Svchost.exe but it still skinning those apps even excluded setting app itself and that Launch app from a third part start menu Start10.

but no luck seem like its still wants to skin and also the taskbar Transparensy isnt working like before.

my windows blinds version WindowBlinds 10.89 (064 - Windows 10 Edition) - 64 bit OS

End of JoneeAL's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Not really sure if there is a way in Windowblinds to exclude all Universal applications. Anyway, I have forward your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

 

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

There has been some discussion about this issue in another topic, https://forums.stardock.com/507885/how-to-properly-exclude-uwp-apps

Quoting JoneeAL, reply 10

i have an issue with Windows Blinds not excluding Microsoft apps like settings app Store and Mail

 

my version of windows 21H2 v 19044 , 1566

ive told windows blinds to exclude Svchost.exe but it still skinning those apps even excluded setting app itself and that Launch app from a third part start menu Start10.

but no luck seem like its still wants to skin and also the taskbar Transparensy isnt working like before.

 

my windows blinds version WindowBlinds 10.89 (064 - Windows 10 Edition) - 64 bit OS
End of JoneeAL's quote

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

The response from Stardock's Neil Banfield in the other thread:

The process to exclude is applicationframehost.exe
You will need to reboot after.

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Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Update the excluding does work i had enabled to many settings in the excluding settings tab, and they were in conflict with eachother.

So i fixed that and its doing what its supposed to.

 

but the transparency isnt working.

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting JoneeAL, reply 14

but the transparency isnt working.
End of JoneeAL's quote
You need to be more specific about that issue and the name and perhaps a link to the skin you are using.

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

right now iam using Aero7xSmall Top  when i set the transparency i see program flickering alot like it wants to set tranparency but it doesnt in the Modify style section