Are you looking to give your Windows 11 desktop a fresh new look? If so, you’re in the right place! This guide will walk you through the steps to customize Windows 11 to achieve the stunning Pixel UI aesthetic, similar to what you find on Google Pixel devices. By utilizing Rainmeter and a special skin called MD3, you can create a visually appealing and cohesive desktop experience. Let’s dive in!
Understanding Material You and Pixel UI
Google Pixel phones are known for their unique UI design called stock Android, featuring a style known as Material You. This design adapts the colors of UI widgets and icons to match your home screen wallpaper, creating a beautifully cohesive look. The idea behind this customization is to bring that same aesthetic to your Windows desktop.
Getting Started: What You Need
Before you can customize Windows 11, you need to ensure you have a few key components installed:
- Rainmeter: This is the primary application that will allow you to use skins to customize your desktop.
- MD3 Skin: This GitHub-developed skin brings the Material You widgets to Windows.
Installing Rainmeter
Installing Rainmeter is straightforward. Follow these steps:
- Open your web browser and search for “Rainmeter”.
- Go to the official Rainmeter website (rainmeter.net).
- Click on the download button to get the .exe application.
- Run the installer to complete the setup.
Downloading the MD3 Skin
Now that Rainmeter is installed, you need to download the MD3 skin:
- Download “MD3 GitHub” in your browser.
- Find the first link and click on it.
- Scroll down and download the basic version of the MD3 skin by selecting the .zip file.
Installing the MD3 Skin
Once you have the MD3 skin downloaded, here’s how to install it:
- Go to your downloads folder and extract the .zip file.
- Open the extracted folder and double-click on the installer file.
- Make sure to select every single skin in the installer and click on “Install”.
Configuring Your Desktop
With Rainmeter and the MD3 skin installed, it’s time to configure your desktop:
Setting Up the Taskbar
To add the taskbar to your desktop:
- Click on the taskbar option in the MD3 skin settings.
- Choose one of the available styles (Style 1 for free users or Style 2 for pro users).
Make sure your Windows color mode is set to dark for optimal compatibility. You can do this by going to Settings > Personalization > Colors and selecting “Dark”.
Power Button Widget
The MD3 skin includes a power button widget that allows you to easily shut down or restart your computer. You can position this widget anywhere you like on your desktop.
Hiding the Original Taskbar
To avoid clutter, you can hide the original Windows taskbar:
- Right-click on the original taskbar and select “Taskbar settings”.
- Enable the option to “Automatically hide the taskbar”.
Customizing Widgets
The MD3 skin offers a variety of widgets. Here’s how to customize them:
Clock Widget
To add a clock widget:
- Navigate to the widgets section in the MD3 settings.
- Select the clock widget style you prefer.
Date and Weather Widgets
Adding date and weather widgets is just as easy:
- Select the date widget style you want.
- For the weather widget, you’ll need to configure it to show your location:
- Right-click on the weather widget and select “Edit weather variables”.
- Input your location based on Google Maps coordinates.
Music Widget
If you want to add a music widget:
- Right-click on the music widget and choose “Settings”.
- Specify your preferred music player and follow the setup instructions.
Final Touches
Once you have all your widgets set up and positioned, take a moment to adjust their placement to your liking. You can always remove or refresh any widget as needed.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You now have a beautifully customized Windows 11 desktop that resembles the Google Pixel UI. This setup not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your desktop but also provides you with functional widgets that can improve your productivity. If you enjoyed this guide and want to explore more customization options for Windows, be sure to check out other tutorials and resources.
Have fun customizing Windows 11! If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out.
