Create Themes for Windows Phone : Homebrew Tool

Native Theme support for Windows Phone ( Mango) is restricted to Colours and what comes by default with no option to allow custom image for apps you want or the default apps like Phone Calls etc. Though this is good for one reason that you might not get that accurate result when doing yourself but then thats where Devs comes into picture and photoshop guys do their magic. Thanks to Windows Phone Hacker Theme that we have a tool in place which can do this magic for you.

Before you start, you will need an unlocked phone either through App Hub or the ChevronWP7 Unlocker which costs only 9 $. You will also need the Windows Phone Support tools installed on your computer.

How this tool works ?

This tool lets you create create themes to change background images, Change Images on Live Tiles, Change Colour, Have Transparent Background, Custom Icons for Tiles etc and then lets you deploy it to your phone. There you can than add those tiles one by one on your start screen.

If you are aware how XAP app files are deployed thats pretty much about it else you can think it as any app installation. Download the tool from here and then follow the steps next.

How to use and Create Themes :

For creating the theme you do not need to connect your phone first. So feel free to first create your theme and then later on when you are done, deploy it.

Change Background Image / Colour

Click on Background Theme.
Click on Double Arrowed Button to expand.
Select an image which is at least 480 in width which covers up 8 Tiles but if you have more width.

Choose a Colour for Opacity Affect. Make sure to match it with background image.
Click on Render Image from Background.
You can also change the order of the tiles from there but this can be done later also.

Replacing Icons / Tiles of Default Apps :

Double click on any of the listed apps. This will open up another window with all properties listed for that app.

Under Image Label, change the image with something of yours. You are free to choose any size a it will be re-sized anyways.
For System Apps not listed here, you can select from System Application.
Click on Add and it will replace.

Replacing Icons / Tiles Homebrew Apps

Click on Add App
Under Homebrew XAM Label, click on Browse and select a XAP file.

This will fill up the name and GUID, next you need to select an image file
Next click on Add to include it in the theme.

Replacing Icons / Tiles Official Apps in Market Place

Click on Add App
Under Marketplace Lookup Section , Choose your marketplace language.
and then search for the app by name, once found select it.

This will fill in the GUID and Name, all you need is to select an image and add it.

How to Install This Theme

Click on Deploy button once you have connected your phone and the theme will be installed but you have to perform certain steps manually here for this version. As the devs said they are trying to automate it but then it is not working as it might be because of system restrictions.

First remove all the icons from your start screen by long press and then unpinning it. This is useful if you have chosen background themes

Next Deploy and you will see the app gets launched automatically. You can skip this pressing the back button and anytime later look for app named as Theme and launch again to use.

Now when the app launches, you will see list of apps which you configured in the theme. Tap on each and it will be sent to start menu.

Importing / Exporting Themes

Why do so much hardwork and why not just install and enjoy themes and have fun. These tool have options to import and export themes which you can use to deploy themes created by any other. Just click on the import button, select the theme file and deploy to your phone. If you want to change anything, you can do it the same way.

Features we would love to see :

Automation which replaces the start screen with the theme itself instead of manually pinning them to start screen.
Support Multiple Themes. As of now this is One App Per Theme which is replaced.
And Probably this tool as an App on Windows Phone!! I know that’s bit of too much!!