How To Make Windows 10 Work

Microsoft knows how y'all want Windows to look. That, at least, seems to be the company'south message with Windows 11. Information technology makes big changes to the user interface and continues the trend of making user customization more difficult. It's not currently possible to fully revert Windows 11 to the look for Windows 10 and, given Microsoft'southward current attitude towards UI customization, information technology may never exist. However, there are several key tweaks that can make you lot more comfy.

Windows 11's near obvious design change is the relocation of the Windows Start menu from its traditional habitation nestled on the taskbar's left side to the heart of the taskbar. Fortunately, this modify is easy to revert.

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Open the Windows Start bill of fare and and then the Settings app. In Settings, navigate to Personalization, and so Taskbar, and open Taskbar behaviors. You'll run into a field labeled Taskbar alignment with a drop-downwards menu. Change the drib-dox carte du jour from Heart to Left.

The change takes place immediately.

Remove new icons

While we're here, allow's disable the new icons added by Windows 11. These are also in the Taskbar section of Personalization settings. You will encounter a list labeled "Taskbar items" that includes four options: Search, Task view, Widgets, and Chat. Use the toggles next to each to turn all 4 icons off.

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An important note about Search: there'south currently no style to restore the total Search field from the Windows 10 taskbar. Turning off the new Search icon means you tin can't admission Search by clicking a field or icon on the taskbar. It volition still exist available through the Windows + S keyboard shortcut, however.

Microsoft is kind enough to let yous hands change the Showtime menu'southward location and remove some icons, simply the First menu itself is a different story. You'll demand to utilise a third-party program.

The gratuitous option is Open-Shell, an open-source program (formerly known as Classic Shell) that tin replace the offset menu. Download the program and install it. Even so, make sure to disable Classic Explorer and Archetype IE during installation. If you don't, Open up-Crush will also modify Windows Explorer in a way that doesn't vibe with the look of Windows ten.

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In one case installed, open the program called Open up-Crush Menu Settings. Select the Windows 7 style menu and then open the Skin tab. I used the Fluent-Metro skin for this guide. In truth, it functions more like a Windows vii Start Menu with Windows 10 coat of pigment, but it was the best skin I could detect.

While Open-Vanquish works ok, it's not perfect. It tin't properly supervene upon the Start Carte and doesn't restore Windows x features.

Stardock's Start11 is an easier option. It doesn't have the Beginning menu icon problem of Open-Shell and requires no installation of additional files to deliver an attractive menu in the Metro blueprint way. Start11 costs $5, however, so you'll accept to decide if its ease-of-apply is worth the cost. We've tested Start11 (as well as alternative StartAllBack, another $v programme) and highly recommend both if you're interested in making Windows 11 wait more similar Windows x. Those programs can too help you skirt around some of Windows 11'south taskbar woes.

Change icons

The taskbar icons in Windows 11 are quite similar to Windows 10, then you might not experience the demand to change them. Other icons throughout the operating organization are significantly different.

Kickoff, download a Windows 10 icon pack. A variety of these can be found online: I used a Windows 10 Build 10125 icon pack. Place your icons in a binder you can conveniently think.

Let's starting time with desktop icons. Open the Settings app, select Personalization, open Themes, and so Desktop Icons. A menu will announced with the five usual desktop icons nowadays. Click an icon you want to change so tap Change icon. Navigate to where you placed the icon pack, select the icon you desire to use, and and then tap Open. I've replaced the Recycle Bin icons in the screenshot below.

Matt Smith/IDG

You can also change the icons of individual folders and shortcuts. Right-click on an item and open Backdrop, and so head to the Customize tab. At the bottom you lot'll meet the Change Icon button. Click information technology and select an icon you lot'd like to utilise equally described in the previous paragraph.

Unfortunately, Windows 11 doesn't permit you modify some icons, most notably the new icons for drives and user folders in Windows Explorer. You lot can employ Drive Icon Changer to change drive icons, withal.

Disable rounded corners

Round corners are key to the new look of Windows 11. Not anybody loves them, however, and there's more than bad news. It's not currently possible to alter them through Windows xi itself or a third-party solution.

You do have one option. Windows 11 will revert to square corners if you lot turn off hardware graphics acceleration (this volition too turn off other visual features similar transparency).

Matt Smith/IDG

Well, there is ane other selection: y'all tin disable your graphics hardware. Open Device Manager, expand Display Adapters, and right-click the brandish adapter listed. Select Disable Device. Your screen will flicker a moment but, when Windows returns, the rounded corners will exist gone.

I don't recommend this, still. Disabling your graphics hardware volition cause the Windows UI to feel wearisome and stilted, and you lot won't be able to utilise 3D apps or games until you lot turn the hardware back on.

Change the wallpaper

Last, but least, you can restore the original Windows ten wallpaper. This is non included with Windows 11, but is available from a diverseness of sources online, such every bit this 4K sample on Imgur.

Correct-click the image afterwards yous download it and then select Set as desktop background. The modify will take effect immediately.

Where to become from here

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Windows 10 purists volition be disappointed to hear this leaves several features of Windows xi, like the new context menu and File Explorer, in the operating system. A variety of registry hacks circulating online claim to partially or fully disable these features, but in my testing they either caused side effects or, in many cases, didn't work at all—likely because Windows 11 has received many updates over the past few months.

Keep an centre on projects that aim to aid users alter the look and feel of Windows eleven, such equally ThisIsWin11. This project isn't peculiarly useful for now because it more often than not replicates tweaks you tin accomplish manually, but it may evolve into a more feature-rich pick.

It also wouldn't hurt to let Microsoft know that you lot'd like more than customization options. Much of this ultimately falls on Microsoft, which has gradually eliminated options for customizing the Windows interface over time.

For at present, relish the changes you lot've made. It might not fully restore Windows ten, but hey—at to the lowest degree the Beginning bill of fare is fixed.

Editor'south note: This article originally published on October 7, 2021, but was updated to include links to our evaluations of Start11 and StartAllBack.

Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a pocket-sized commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/541452/make-windows-11-look-like-windows-10.html

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