Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised May 30, 2026

Rainmeter

Rainmeter is a free and open-source desktop customization utility for Windows released under the GNU GPL v2 license. It allows users to create and display user-generated customizable desktop widgets or applets called "skins" that display information. Ready to use collections of skins can be downloaded and installed in packages known as "suites".

Last revised
May 30, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
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453 w
Citations
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Source
Wikipedia ↗
Rainmeter
Initial release22 February 2001 (2001-02-22)
Stable release
4.5.26 / 20 May 2026 (2026-05-20)1
Written inC++ and C# used for plugins
Operating systemWindows 7 SP1 and later2
PlatformIA-32 and x64
Available in32 languages
LicenseGNU GPL v2
Websitewww.rainmeter.net
Repositorygithub.com/rainmeter/rainmeter

Rainmeter is a free and open-source desktop customization utility for Windows released under the GNU GPL v2 license. It allows users to create and display user-generated customizable desktop widgets or applets called "skins" that display information.34 Ready to use collections of skins can be downloaded and installed in packages known as "suites".5

Common functionalities of Rainmeter skins include desktop clocks, RSS readers, system monitors, weather widgets, application launchers and audio players.67

Development

The Rainmeter project was originally founded by Kimmo 'Rainy' Pekkola, the developer of Rainlendar, in 2001.8 The project is primarily written in C++, while plugins can be written in either C++ or C#.9

Usage

Rainmeter skins are written in Rainmeter code using a text editor and stored as INI configuration files.10 System resource values and other information such as weather or time are stored through "measure" values within a skin, which can then be shown through different kinds of customizable visual elements called "meters".4

Reception

CNET, in a 4 out of 5 star rating, praised the software's flexibility, wide variety of themes and "enthusiastic community", while noting the program "isn't as intuitive as it could be."11 Softpedia also gave the software a 4 out of 5 star rating, citing its comprehensive tutorials and low system resource usage, while criticizing its lack of cross-platform support.12

References

References

  1. "Releases· rainmeter/rainmeter". GitHub. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  2. "Setting Up - Rainmeter Docs". Rainmeter. Archived from the original on 2012-10-31. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  3. Patrizio, Andy. "Why you need Rainmeter even in a business setting". Computerworld. Archived from the original on 2024-04-15. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  4. "Rainmeter 3.1 review: Customize your desktop with". PCWorld. Archived from the original on 2018-06-02. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  5. Ravenscraft, Eric (2017-01-04). "How to Create an Attractive, Customized Desktop HUD with Rainmeter". Lifehacker. Archived from the original on 2018-02-15. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  6. Lavish, T (2017-05-25). "Rainmeter lets you customize your Windows desktop with widgets & skins". The Windows Club. Archived from the original on 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  7. "Create your own Windows themes with Rainmeter 4.0". TechRadar. Archived from the original on 2018-02-15. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  8. "Rainmeter: An Open Community". DeviantArt. 2013-11-15. Archived from the original on 2015-11-01. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
  9. "Developers - Rainmeter Docs". Rainmeter. Archived from the original on 2004-11-26. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
  10. "Creating Skins - Rainmeter Docs". Rainmeter. Archived from the original on 2012-10-31. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  11. "Rainmeter". Download.com. Archived from the original on 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  12. Opris, Elena (2014-01-30). "Rainmeter 3 Review". Softpedia. Archived from the original on 2018-05-14. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
External links