Raven Skin Ignores Exclusion Rules – Affects MS Office Apps' Backgrounds

Even when excluded, e.g., Word and Outlook display black message/document backgrounds under the Raven theme

from Stardock Forums

Issue Summary:
The Raven skin in WindowBlinds does not respect per-application exclusions. Even when, e.g., Microsoft Word and Outlook are added to the exclusion list, their background styling remains affected — resulting in black or dark backgrounds in new documents and emails.

 

 

Steps to Reproduce:

 

  1. Open WindowBlinds

  2. Exclude WINWORD.EXE and OUTLOOK.EXE from skinning via the Per Application settings

  3. Re-Apply the Raven skin

  4. Open Microsoft Word or start a new message in Outlook

 

 

Expected Behavior:
Office apps should remain unskinned with white document/message backgrounds.

 

Actual Behavior:
Even with exclusions, Word and Outlook show dark backgrounds.
This occurs regardless of:

 

  • Office theme setting (White or Colorful)

  • Registry values (UI Theme = 0 or 100, DisableDarkMode = 1)

  • Windows default appearance

 

 

Tested Workaround:
Switching to another theme such as Echo resolves the issue — excluded apps behave correctly. Reapplying Raven immediately reintroduces the dark background bug.

 

 

System Info:

 

  • Windows version: Windows 11 Pro x64 24H2

  • Microsoft Office version: Microsoft 365 (Version 2505)

  • WindowBlinds version: 11.06 (021 x64 Windows 11 Edition)

  • Skin: Raven (official version as per 8th of June 2025)

 

 

Request:
Please patch Raven or advise on disabling its bleed-through effects. Per-app exclusion is a critical feature for Office compatibility, and this skin appears to bypass it at the rendering layer.

 

windowblinds
5,833 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. This is known issue for any skin that change system color. It will effect everything that use system colors. Even for those application that can not be skin by Windowblinds such as MS Office applications. They still use system color, hence the effect on those part.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Greetings Basj,

Thank you for your prompt reply. 

Why does some skins then affect excluded programs? I'm pretty new to WindowBlinds, so I am wondering what is the function of total exclusion if it does not work as intended?

 

Sincerely,

miquito

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting miquito, reply 2

Why does some skins then affect excluded programs?
End of miquito's quote
All apps/programs are excluded from skinning if that option is chosen. However, that's the skin replacing elements in windows by replacing the graphics. The coloring is a global setting and can not be set for a single app/program. Hope that explains it.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello JanOscar,

Thank you for your message. 

Yes, this clarifies the matter in question. Thank you for taking the time to explain it to me. I am on the 30-day free period of trying new skins. I will then decide if I buy a license. 

I hope you have a relaxing Sunday evening |-)  

 

Sincerely,

miquito

+1 Loading…
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting miquito, reply 4

I hope you have a relaxing Sunday evening
End of miquito's quote
Thanks! You too, miquito!