How to Use Rainmeter
Rainmeter Tutorial
How to install Rainmeter
Download the latest release from https://www.rainmeter.net/
Find the downloaded file and for this example, you can see the file on the desktop. Click "open" to install.
- Once you have opened it, it will bring to the Rainmeter Setup like the picture below and select the Standard Installation. Click the "Next" button and wait until it is fully installed on your computer.
How to open rainmeter
Once it's installed, it will automatically load a widget on your desktop, to open the settings, you need to Left-Click the Rainmeter icon in the Windows Notification Area on the taskbar.
From the Windows menu, you also can search the Rainmeter app via search tab. Otherwise, you also can Right-Click the Rainmeter icon and it will show the "Manage" tab and click this to bring to the Manage Rainmeter setting.
How to set up rainmeter
- From the Rainmeter's setting, you can click the "Skins" tab then you can take a look at the "Active Skins" and you can manage whatever widget to appear on your desktop.
- On the Settings tab, the best advice for a newbie you can stick to the default setting.
Skins
How to download skins
Select on VisualSkins.com and download the file. Also can be found on deviantArt and GitHub
How to install skins
- After you have downloaded the skin file, locate the file and click "Open" and install the file and it will auto-added into Rainmeter menu setting.
- Find the skin's name, open the folder and simply load or unload the skin the way you like it.
How to edit skins
Click the "Edit" tab from Rainmeter menu setting.
You can edit the skins via the notepad like shown in the picture below. You can see a lot of variable definition or the code that you can edit the way you like. You can change the colors (in RGB format). You also can change the fonts, the position, and so much more. Play around with the code, save file and click "Refresh".
How to uninstall and delete skins
- "Unload Skin" from the skin menu or from Rainmeter app menu.
You also can hover the mouse to any widget and Right-Click to unload the skins.
Alternatively, you can delete from the skin folder so as to remove it completely from Rainmeter menu setting, refer to the picture above or you can see here for the example folder path:
C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\Rainmeter\Skins
Uninstall Rainmeter
How to uninstall rainmeter
You can uninstall the Rainmeter just like any other application or software on your computer. For an example, click on the Window menu or search the Rainmeter app by typing on the search tab. You can Right-Click the Rainmeter app and click the "Uninstall" option.
FAQ
Rainmeter app and skins questions
How much ram does rainmeter use
In order to check the RAM consumption, you will need to open the Task Manager. Simply open the search tab on the Window menu and type in the "Task Manager" and it will bring to this setting.
Click on the "Processes" tab and you can see the consumption of RAM for each app like shown above. In order to see the "live" differences of RAM consumption, you load the skins or the widget and compare the "before and after" Rainmeter is used.
How to make rainmeter start on startup
Open the Task Manager, then click the "Startup" tab. Take a look at the Startup listing and click the status until it shows the "Enabled" function. Once you switch on your computer, the Rainmeter apps will automatically appear on the desktop screen.
How to stop rainmeter from opening on startup
Open the Task Manager, then click the "Startup" tab. Take a look at the Startup listing and click the status until it shows "Disabled" function. Once you switch on your computer, the Rainmeter apps will not automatically appear on the desktop screen.
How to change the size of rainmeter skins (make rainmeter skins bigger)
First method: Some skin pack have size variations (a few same skins but different size). It really depends on certain skin, for an example, you can take a look at the picture below. This skin has 3 different sizes and you can just simply pick any size that you like and load it to your desktop.
Second method: Sometimes it is possible to change size via edit skin .ini file. You can just simply click the "Edit" tab on the Rainmeter menu setting and it will bring to the notepad and you can find the code that state "Size of the skin" and then you can just simply change any value that you want. Save the notepad and click "refresh" on the desktop. You can monitor any size that most pleasant to your eyes.
How to restart rainmeter
After choosing your desired setting on the Rainmeter menu, you can see the immediate effect by clicking on the "refresh" tab like below. Whatever setting that you choose, make sure to click the "refresh" tab to see the result of the skin itself.
What language does rainmeter use
The Rainmeter app is multilanguage, but skins are not. Some skins support different language but not each and every skin because of it really depends on the developer on the skins. The original person behind each developer might become from different background and country. 
How to change rainmeter weather location
You can change the weather code via skin menu (unfortunately, some skin do not have a menu, so the code can be changed by editing .ini file). In order to get the info about the weather codes for locations, you can go to weather.codes website.
Where does rainmeter store skins
Sometimes you need to check the skins folder for your own preferences like to edit or delete some stuff, you can simply do that by following this folder path like below:
- Windows10:
- C:\Users\*UserName*\Documents\Rainmeter\Skins
Sources
Useful information
- Rainmeter Manual docs.rainmeter.net
- How to Use Rainmeter howtogeek.com
- How to Create Desktop HUD with Rainmeter lifehacker.com