Extract Wallpapers from DeskThemePack and ThemePack Files

This article shows you different ways of extracting wallpaper images from a theme pack file in Windows.

A theme is a combination of desktop background pictures, window colors, and sounds. Windows themes come in the form of theme packs. Theme packs are essentially CAB files that enclose resources such as wallpapers, sounds, etc., along with the .theme file, which contains the instructions to apply the theme.

Theme packs come in two types: one with a .themepack file extension and the other with a .deskthemepack extension.

The .themepack file format was first introduced in Windows 7 to help users share themes. Later, Microsoft brought in another format (*.deskthemepack) for Windows 8 and higher. The Panoramic theme packs for dual-monitor systems come in .deskthemepack format.

If you need to extract wallpaper images from a .themepack or .deskthemepack file, one of the following methods in this post should help. The instructions apply to any Windows OS, including Windows 10.

Extract Wallpaper Images from a Theme Pack

Apply the theme pack and copy files from the Themes folder

The easiest way to extract resources from a theme pack is to apply it. First, you may want to save the current theme so that you can revert to it later.

(If you want to extract wallpapers and other resources in a theme pack file without applying it, try the other methods discussed in this article.)

When you double-click a .themepack or .deskthemepack file, Windows extracts the contents of the theme pack to the following folder and applies that theme.

%localappdata%\Microsoft\windows\themes

For example, I downloaded a theme pack from Microsoft and double-clicked the file to run it.

extract wallpapers from themepack and deskthemepack

The contents were unpacked to the themes folder from where I could copy the required wallpapers. Once done, I switched back to the original theme I was using.


Change theme pack file extension to .CAB and extract it

  1. Change the theme pack’s file extension to .CAB from .themepack or .deskthemepack.
  2. Double-click to open the file.
  3. Select all files and right-click on the selection. You’ll get the following warning.
  4. Click OK, and then click Extract in the context menu. Select the destination folder.
    extract wallpapers from themepack and deskthemepack
    Extract all files from the CAB folder

    extract wallpapers from themepack and deskthemepack


Using a 3rd party archiver like 7-Zip

If you’re using a 3rd party decompression tool such as 7-Zip, WinZip, or WinRAR, you can open the .themepack or .deskthemepack file in it and copy the contents to a folder.

extract wallpapers from themepack and deskthemepack




Extract theme pack using the Expand command

As theme packs are CAB files, you can extract the contents using the expand.exe console tool. Here is the command line you use to extract the complete contents of a theme pack file.

Open a Command Prompt window and type:

expand -F:* [themepackfile] [destination folder]

Note: The destination folder must be created before using the expand command to extract the theme pack file contents.

Example

expand -F:* "D:\ThemePacks\PanoramasEurope.themepack" "D:\Resources\Europe"

expand themepack deskthemepack wallpapers

That would extract all the contents of the theme pack file to the destination folder “D:\Resources\Europe,” preserving the directory structure as in the CAB file. The Expand command works for both .themepack and .deskthemepack files.

Tip: To extract all files without maintaining the directory structure, use the "-i" parameter with the Expand command.

Preserving the directory structure when extracting a theme pack

Of the above methods discussed, methods 1, 3, or 4 allow you to maintain the directory structure of the theme resources, exactly as in the CAB file. For example, the directory structure looks like this:


Folder     : D:\Community
Files      :
             D:\Community\Community.theme
             D:\Community\s_asterisk-error_seagull4.wav
             D:\Community\s_balloon_waterdrop2.wav
             D:\Community\s_batterycritical_seagull11.wav

Subfolder  : D:\Community\DesktopBackground
Files      :
             D:\Community\DesktopBackground\1_janapanfilova.jpg
             D:\Community\DesktopBackground\2_ivanbertusi-raindropletscountryside.jpg
             D:\Community\DesktopBackground\3_brianlaiphotography-waterfall4.jpg
             D:\Community\DesktopBackground\4_scottgward-poolsunset.jpg
             D:\Community\DesktopBackground\5_arnabchandra-pambanbridgerameswaramtamilnaduindia.jpg

Windows 8 and Windows 10 support both .themepack and .deskthemepack formats. And, these Operating Systems support specifying if the window color would be automatically selected based on the accent color of the current desktop wallpaper. That’s done using the “AutoColorization” directive in the .theme file, which the *.deskthemepack files usually make use of.


One small request: If you liked this post, please share this?

One "tiny" share from you would seriously help a lot with the growth of this blog. Some great suggestions:
  • Pin it!
  • Share it to your favorite blog + Facebook, Reddit
  • Tweet it!
So thank you so much for your support. It won't take more than 10 seconds of your time. The share buttons are right below. :)

Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

Leave a Comment