Exchange 2007 came with four built-in themes and a flexibility to customize as well. Seattle Sky, Xbox 360, Zune and Carbon Black. Well, the settings are the same in Exchange 2010, but users can no longer change the theme. The option to change the theme within OWA is missing and Microsoft has confirmed that the feature is not available in this release.
In OWA 2007, you could change the theme to the one of your choice (if it is allowed by the admin in the first place), by navigating to Options –> General Settings –> Appearance Section.
But, this option is taken off from the Outlook Web App (OWA) 2010. The General Settings doesn’t have the “Appearance Section”.
I have to mention that you can change the theme centrally for all the users. But, the users can’t change it to something of their choice. You can argue that it will bring uniformity to the Outlook Web App look & feel.
2010 RC has the same themes and folder structure as in 2007. The themes folder has four sub folders (Base,1,2 and 3) which has the files for each theme.
I ran the following command to change the theme to 1.
The OWA theme 1 looks like a modified version of Carbon Black!
You can change the theme selection to the second one by running the following command, which is a different way of putting it.
Selection 2 gave me XBOX 360 theme.
Changing the theme to 3 gave me Zune.
And the base theme.
Now for the funny part! The feature complete RC edition of Exchange 2010 still has “Theme Selection” option available in the Shell, OWA properties and OWA Mailbox Policies.
The “Theme Selection” description clearly mentions that users can change the colour scheme if the feature is enabled. Either the team forgot to take the options out or they are planning to add the feature in the future service packs!
Deepak Khandelwal September 16, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Great post and information. I guess they would build this in RTM or SP release later. Again I don't think many people use it.
Do you know any date when will Exch 2010 will be released?
Rajith Jose Enchiparambil September 17, 2009 at 9:39 am
I agree that it isn't a feature that is used by many. I think the release date for 2010 is sometime in October.
Register for the launch event in Wembley, UK.
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/thenewefficiency/agenda.mspx
Jeroen November 13, 2009 at 3:23 pm
In Exchange 2010 RTM the option is still enabled on the Exchange management Console, but still isn't an option in OWA.
Very strange
Rajith Jose Enchiparambil November 13, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Probably, the product group missed to take it out. Or maybe they are planning to bring it back in the first service pack / updates. Who knows!
Fredrik November 15, 2009 at 9:25 am
I can't say I like the 2010 theme so much. Anybody know if it's possible to use the 2007 one?
Rajith Jose Enchiparambil November 16, 2009 at 9:34 am
Try copying the 2007 theme files into 2010 folder in a TEST environment and see whether it works. Take a backup of the original before you attempt.
Anonymous November 26, 2009 at 3:46 pm
I think that this will be a feature of a version yet to come. Take a look in the base folder and you'll find themepreview.png.
I think this is something they want to spend more time preparing.
Rajith Jose Enchiparambil November 26, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I do think that the option to change the theme will be back, as it is in 2007.
Anonymous January 30, 2010 at 2:11 am
I think that it is the option also for if you use other exchange servers in your organisation. Like you can edit the permission for the exchange 2007 (if someone still has his/her mailbox on the 2007 server including the mail client)
Anonymous April 14, 2010 at 12:57 pm
SP1 for Exchange 2010 is to reintroduce themes.
Rajith Jose Enchiparambil April 14, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Correct Anonymous & thanks for the comment.
Leigh July 5, 2010 at 1:54 am
Hi there I have just tried this and got an error not sure where to go from here…
Any help would be great..
Enable-MailUser -Identity -ExternalEmailAddress
VERBOSE: Connecting to bnw-dc.bnw.blacknwhite.co.nz
VERBOSE: Connected to bnw-dc.bnw.blacknwhite.co.nz.
[PS] C:Windowssystem32>set-OwaVirtualDirectory "owa " -DefaultTheme 1
The operation couldn't be performed because object 'bnw-dc.bnw.blacknwhite.co.nzowa ' couldn't be fo
und on 'bnw-dc.bnw.blacknwhite.co.nz'.
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (0:Int32) [Set-OwaVirtualDirectory], ManagementObjectNotFoundException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : 5C9461A8,Microsoft.Exchange.Management.SystemConfigurationTasks.SetOwaVirtualDirectory
[PS] C:Windowssystem32>get-OwaVirtualDirectory "owa " -DefaultTheme 1
A positional parameter cannot be found that accepts argument '-DefaultTheme'.
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidArgument: (:) [Get-OwaVirtualDirectory], ParameterBindingException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : PositionalParameterNotFound,Get-OwaVirtualDirectory
[PS] C:Windowssystem32>set-OwaVirtualDirectory "owa " -DefaultTheme 1
Rajith Jose Enchiparambil July 5, 2010 at 9:21 am
Hi Leigh,
You need to put in the correct name of OWA virtual directory. The command is Set-OWAVirtualDirectory "owa (Default web site)" -Defaulttheme 1
Anonymous August 2, 2010 at 5:44 am
Hi there
Great thanks Rajith Jose Enchiparambil
My bad I was using
instead of ()
ha lol
Thanks
Rajith Jose Enchiparambil August 2, 2010 at 10:16 am
Thanks Anonymous.
keagan oxford February 14, 2011 at 7:47 am
Can u still access your e-mail accounts if the server running exchang is turned off
Rajith Jose Enchiparambil February 14, 2011 at 5:54 pm
You can't Keagan. Both CAS & Mailbox server should be running to access the mailbox.
keagan oxford February 15, 2011 at 6:55 am
ksy iv been trying to find a way to do it cuz my boss hase been on my back to find a way to do it… but thnx i just needed to know if i could or couldent do it
thnx
keagan
Rajith Jose Enchiparambil February 15, 2011 at 7:58 am
Thanks Keagan.
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Rajith Enchiparambil September 19, 2012 at 8:01 am
Thanks Folieren. It is all about getting people excited about Exchange.
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Rajith Enchiparambil October 15, 2012 at 9:16 am
Thanks Alonzo
Mohammed Maulana February 25, 2013 at 12:23 pm
You are doing a good job Rajith. I was trying to change the theme from morning by following the different articles but I was able to do it by using your wonderful and friendly article. Keep up the good work.
Rajith Enchiparambil March 6, 2013 at 8:18 pm
Thanks Maulana