Windows Mod: Windows Border Size

Exploring Windows Border Size Modification

Introduction

Welcome to our exploration of a subtle yet impactful customization in the Windows operating system. Today, we'll delve into the world of Windows Border size modification and how a few Registry Keys can unlock a realm of personalization.

What is Windows Border Size?

Windows Border Size refers to the width of the borders around application windows in the Windows operating system. This seemingly minor visual aspect can significantly influence the overall aesthetic and user experience.

Where to Make the Change?

The tweak involves adjusting specific Registry Keys. Here are the keys related to Windows Border Size:

HKU\S-1-5-21-<SID>-<RID>\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics\BorderWidth

HKU\S-1-5-21-<SID>-<RID>\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics\PaddedBorderWidth

These keys can be found in the Registry Editor.

Implementing Changes

RegEdit:

1. Open the Registry Editor by pressing Win + R, typing regedit, and hitting Enter.
2. Navigate to the specified key path.
3. Modify the values of BorderWidth and PaddedBorderWidth as needed.

Policy Editor:

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor by pressing Win + R, typing gpedit.msc, and hitting Enter.
2. Navigate to User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Control Panel -> Personalization.

Find and open the "Do not use the search-based method when resolving shell shortcuts" policy.

Set it to "Enabled" and apply the changes.

PowerShell

powershell
# Adjust BorderWidth
Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKU\S-1-5-21-685282480-2200850043-2854793132-1001\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics\' -Name 'BorderWidth' -Value '-150'

# Adjust PaddedBorderWidth
Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKU\S-1-5-21-685282480-2200850043-2854793132-1001\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics\' -Name 'PaddedBorderWidth' -Value '-105'

Python

python
import winreg

key_path = r'S-1-5-21-685282480-2200850043-2854793132-1001\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics'
key_name = 'BorderWidth'
new_value = '-150'

# Open the registry key
with winreg.OpenKey(winreg.HKEY_USERS, key_path, 0, winreg.KEY_SET_VALUE) as key:
    winreg.SetValueEx(key, key_name, 0, winreg.REG_SZ, new_value)

Potential Risks

While customization is a great aspect of personalizing your computing experience, these changes could be misused. Malicious actors might exploit modified Windows Borders to disguise dialog boxes or mimic system alerts, potentially leading to social engineering attacks.