The solution is to modify the manifest file and add the version 6.0 Common Control Library specification there instead of relying on Enabling Visual Styles.For example here is how I was able to get this to work for the MapControl Template.- Create a new MapControl Template.- Right-click on the project, select add new item- Add an Application Manifest File- Add the following to the Manifest: <dependency> <dependentAssembly> <assemblyIdentity type="win32" name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls" version="6.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="X86" publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df" language="*" /> </dependentAssembly> </dependency> So your full manifest would look like this:<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><asmv1:assembly manifestVersion="1.0" xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" xmlns:asmv1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" xmlns:asmv2="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v2" xmlns:xsi="<a href="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" target="_blank">http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance</a>"> <assemblyIdentity version="1.0.0.0" name="MyApplication.app"/> <dependency> <dependentAssembly> <assemblyIdentity type="win32" name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls" version="6.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="X86" publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df" language="*" /> </dependentAssembly> </dependency> <trustInfo xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v2"> <security> <requestedPrivileges xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3"> <!-- UAC Manifest Options If you want to change the Windows User Account Control level replace the requestedExecutionLevel node with one of the following. <requestedExecutionLevel level="asInvoker" uiAccess="false" /> <requestedExecutionLevel level="requireAdministrator" uiAccess="false" /> <requestedExecutionLevel level="highestAvailable" uiAccess="false" /> If you want to utilize File and Registry Virtualization for backward compatibility then delete the requestedExecutionLevel node. --> <requestedExecutionLevel level="asInvoker" uiAccess="false" /> </requestedPrivileges> </security> </trustInfo></asmv1:assembly>