Users who are running a non-activated version of Windows 11 can work around some of the cosmetic restrictions imposed by Microsoft without purchasing a license. While these versions lack certain features like security updates and official support, they still provide most of the core functionalities of the operating system. However, some visual customization options are limited, such as the ability to use the dark theme, choose accent colors, or change the desktop and lock screen backgrounds directly through the settings menu. To enable the dark theme on non-activated Windows 11, users can manually open the "dark.theme" file located in the C: > Windows > Resources > Themes folder. Alternatively, they can modify specific registry entries by navigating to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Themes > Personalize and changing the values of AppsUseLightTheme and SystemUsesLightTheme from 1 to 0. These changes will allow the dark theme to appear across the system, even without an activated license. Accent colors, which allow users to customize the interface with specific colors, are also disabled on non-activated versions. However, users can look for alternative themes in the same Themes folder to achieve a more personalized appearance. The selection of themes is more limited compared to activated versions, but it can still provide some level of customization. Changing the desktop and lock screen backgrounds is not possible through the standard settings on non-activated Windows 11. However, users can use the built-in Photos application to set an image as the lock screen or background by right-clicking on the image and selecting "Set as" from the context menu. Additionally, third-party applications like Wallpaper Engine offer effective alternatives, and users can also set an image as the desktop background directly from File Explorer by right-clicking on the image and selecting "Choose as desktop background." Despite these workarounds, non-activated Windows 11 still has notable disadvantages. A permanent watermark is displayed in the bottom right corner of the screen and cannot be removed, even when using full-screen applications. Activation warnings and banners also appear throughout the operating system. Most critically, non-activated versions do not receive support from Microsoft, meaning users must resolve any issues independently using online resources.