Print this page
Sunday, 13 April 2025 13:29

Restore Windows 10 GUI functionality

Written by
Rate this item
(0 votes)

Open-Shell + RetroBar (with Dark themes from Tek Syndicate) + EarTrumpet + Winaero (context menu and Ribbon fixes) + WindHawk (Taskbar tray system icon tweaks - to hode unwanted system icons)

--------------

I finally upgraded to Windows 11 and discovered a lot of functionality had been removed and Microsoft was making restoring it difficult. In Windows 11 24H2 it is even worse.

I will be outlining my solutions I have found on the internet to restore my desktop to how it was. I will be using 3rd party tools as I did on Windows 10. Not all changes might be required or wanted by you so just do the ones you need.

As I find more solutions I will add them here.

Start Menu

Taskbar Replacement

This is optional at the minute as I have not test it, however the Quick Launch step would not be needed if this works.

  • Install GitHub - dremin/RetroBar (use the installer, not the portable version)
    • Set the quick launch folder to: %SystemDrive%\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

Quick Launch

You can employ more than one of the solutions below to get the work enviroment you need.

The Quick Launch folder

This is just for reference.

%SystemDrive%\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

Methods / Workarounds

  • Pinning Applications to the Taskbar
  • Creating Folders for Quick Access
  • Using the Start Menu for Quick Access
    • Open-Shell --> Settings --> Customize Start Menu
    • From thw `Available Commands`, add a `Custom` item at the top of the menu below the `COLUMN PADDING` item with the following values:
      • Link: %SystemDrive%\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
      • Label: Quick Launch
      • Icon: shell32.dll, 290 (or whatever icon you wnat)
  • ExplorerPatcher - Add a real Quick Launch
    • settings to be added when I have used this, i am waiting for a stable version to be released for Windows 24H2
    • 1-Click Quick Launch Toolbar #3774
      • Right-Click Taskbar--> Toolbars --> New Toolbar 
        %SystemDrive%\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
      • Right-Click Taskbar
        • Lock all toolbars
        • Show Text
        • Show title
      • Drag to left
      • Drag divider
    • The latest pre-release (22621.3880.66.7) works fine for me on 24H2. You just need to choose "Windows 10 (ExplorerPatcher)" instead of "Windows 10" as the taskbar style.
    • To move a toolbar to the area between the Start button and the Pinned area, you have to "snap" it there, i.e., drag it with your mouse by moving your mouse much faster than normal. (Snap is a UI feature that was introduced by Microsoft with the release of Windows 7.)
    • How to Add Quick Launch Toolbar to Taskbar in Windows 11 | The Geek Page - In this article, we have discussed in the detail the steps to add a quick launch custom toolbar to the taskbar by installing ExplorerPatcher in Windows 11.
  • Old Method (Pre Windows 11 24H2)
    • Turn off unwanted icons in the taskbar
    • Right click on taskbar: Toolbars --> New toolbar
    • Paste this into the address bar: %SystemDrive%\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
    • Select folder
    • Hide title + Hide text
    • Drag into the correct place.

Links

System Tray

Links

Taskbar ????

Links

  • Fully Customize Your Windows 11 Taskbar - Complete Guide | GeekFlare
    • If you are having trouble customizing the new Windows 11 taskbar, then we’ve got you covered. We will show you how to adjust the Window 11 taskbar to your liking and also share some hacks to access features that are no longer officially available in Windows 11.
    • Great article
    • Pin to Taskbar
    • Make the taskbar bigger/smaller via the registry

File Explorer

  • Restore the ribbon in File Explorer
    • Use Winaero
  • Restore straight edge Windows
  • Get rid of the weird 3D font on icons

Context Menu  (might move this above and rename to explorer again)

  • Restore full right click menu (context menu)
    • Winaero --> Windows 11 --> Classic Full Context Menus --> Enable classic full context menus: ticked

Links

Notepad

  • Each file I open gets its own instance
    • Settings --> Opening Notepad --> Opening files: Open in a new window
  • When I close a file, I want to be prompted to save rather than silently storing the session
    • Settings --> Opening Notepad --> When Notepad starts: Start new session and discard unsaved changed
      • This setting's options are not the best description of their function.

Other Useful Settings (Non-Win 10 --> Win 11)

  • Personalisation --> Taskbar --> Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels: Never
  • Personalisation --> Taskbar --> Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels on other taskbars: Never
  • Make Taskbar icons smaller
    • There is no longer an inbuilt option for this.
  • Enable long file paths
  • Missing ‘Open with’ option in right-click context menu on Windows 11 / 10 | The Geek Page
    • NB: for me it only seems to be on zip files on the desktop
    • The right-click context menu in the File Explorer contains the ‘Open with’ which optimizes the right-click context menu in Windows 11. But, some users are complaining about a peculiar bug where the entire ‘Open with’ section is missing from the right-click context menu. If you are also witnessing this bug, you can easily solve the issue with a registry tweak.
  • Enable S3 Sleep.... see other notes
  • Make sure system restore is on. It might not be on by default.

Software

  • Start Menus
    • Open-Shell | Classic Shell Reborn
      • A collection of utilities bringing back classic features to Windows.
    • StartIsBack
      • Returns Windows 10 and Windows 8 a real fully featured start menu and start button, behaving exactly like the ones in Windows 7. It's totally awesome and easy solution for your new Windows woes.
      • Paid for but cheap.
    • StartAllBack
      • Restores taskbar, start menu, context menus, explorer, sanity, style and order!
      • Windows 11 only
      • Paid for, but cheap.
  • Tweakers
    • GitHub - valinet/ExplorerPatcher
      • This project aims to enhance the working environment on Windows.
      • With changes to Windows 11 24H2 it is important that you do not install it on a work or mission critical machine as the new framework has bugs. This will change in time.
      • This program currently gets flagged as being a virus because Microsoft does not want you to use it. it is important that you setup the antivirus exceptions as noted here
      • You must uninstall ExplorerPatcher when upgrading windows to prevent issues and file corruption. You settings will be maintained. The same applies when downgrading.
      • Open up EP Properties application, go to taskbar, and set taskbar style to Windows 10 (ExplorerPatcher), not Windows 10. We no longer offer more support on the stock Windows 10 taskbar.
      • Support for Windows 11 24H2 · Issue #3398 · valinet/ExplorerPatcher · GitHub
        • The following methods work for uninstalling it:
          • Run ep_setup.exe /uninstall.
          • Rename ep_setup.exe to ep_uninstall.exe and execute that.
          • also, try to delete dxgi.dll in C:\Windows after you uninstall EP and reboot.
      • Quick Launch with 24H2? | Page 2 | Windows 11 Forum
        • There's just one registry setting that I use to eliminate the potential risk of an endless loop in which the explorer process keeps crashing and automatically being restarted (and that could potentially happen regardless of whether you have installed EP). This will prevent the explorer process from automatically being restarted after it crashes: 
           reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v AutoRestartShell /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
      • How to Restore Classic Start Menu in Windows 11 with Classic Taskbar - If you have just updated Windows 10 to Windows 11 and are not impressed by all the new changes to the taskbar, here is how to restore the old classic Start menu in Windows 11.
      • How to Use Explorer Patcher to Bring Back Many Windows 10 Styles on Windows 11 - While Windows 11 introduces a fresh design, some users prefer the familiarity of the Windows 10 interface. If you're one of them, Explorer Patcher is a lightweight tool developed by Valentin-Gabriel Radu that lets you restore many Windows 10 styles without downgrading your operating system. This software is safe, straightforward to use, and immediately transforms your Taskbar to the Windows 10 style upon installation.
      Winaero
      • A free app for all versions of Windows that lets you adjust (i.e. tweak) hidden secret settings that Microsoft does not let you adjust from the user interface. In addition, it allows you to add extra value to existing Windows apps and tools with advanced context menus, options, and handy commands.
    • Windhawk
    • 7+ Taskbar Tweaker
      • Customize the Windows taskbar with dozens of exclusive options. Adapt the taskbar to your workflow, not the other way around.
  • Taskbar Replacements
    • GitHub - dremin/RetroBar
      • Classic Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, Vista taskbar for modern versions of Windows
      • RetroBar: Retro Taskbar Replacemet Tutorial (Windows 7-11) - YouTube | Tek Syndicate
        • Excellent video, watch all of it for some inspiration and solutions
        • RetroBar is a Windows taskbar replacement that works on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11. It works like the old taskbars on Vista (it was optional on 7) going all the way back to Windows 98 (or maybe 95).
        • The key difference here is the placement of the QuickLaunch area. It's on the left, then the tabs are on the taskbar to the right. See the video for a full demonstration.
        • I didn't realize how much I missed this layout. I currently use RetroBar on Windows and I use Plasma 6 on Fedora with a layout that is basically the same. It's awesome. Let me know what you think.
        • This guy made a load of dark themes
        • Uses EarTrumpet to give a better audio flyout.
        • This does not replace the start menu and works with Open-Shell
        • If you like Launchy, you should install microsoft PowerToys
      • Themes
  • Quick Launch
    • True Launch Bar
      • True Launch Bar is the superior replacement for standard Quick Launch
      • On Windows prior to 24H2 Windows 11 their was Taskbar integration but now only the floating dock works.
      • Installer and portable version are available.
      • It has a plugin feature with many available.
      • There is a `Standard Quick Launch Mode` which uses the `Quick Launch` folder for its root and straight out of the box they look like the classic quick launch icons but with the extra features you get with pinned icons.
      • You can enjoy all the advantages of True Launch Bar not only on the taskbar, but also as a side panel. The side panel can be snapped to any edge of the screen on any monitor.
      • The floating docking (or side panel)can be put on any monitor at the specified edge (Top, Bottom, Right, Left) except if the taskbar is present it will sit on top of it.
    • GitHub - brondavies/TrayToolbar
      • Provides a replacement for the custom toolbar functionality that was removed in Windows 11 by creating a System Tray item which then pops up a single column vertical menu when clicked.
      • Currently the options are basic but it is responsive.
      • You cannot re-order the icons.
    • GitHub - Hofknecht/SystemTrayMenu
      • Browse and open your files easily
      • A completely free flowing dock that ruins as a normal windows application.
      • The dock is a vertical list (icons and text) of the folder you have selected and I don't think this can be changed to icons only in a vertical mode.
      • You can pick a hot key to open and close the program.
      • It is portable and is available in the Microsoft store.
    • GitHub - Bastians-Bits/TrayTool
      • This programme makes it possible to create shortcuts within the System Tray (the little icon area in the bottom right).
      • This is old and not developed currently.
    • GitHub - rojarsmith/TrayToolbar
      • Provide the replacement of add new toolbar function that was cancelled in windows 11
      • Provides a replacement for the custom toolbar functionality that was removed in Windows 11 by creating a System Tray item which then pops up a single column vertical menu when clicked.
      • Currently the options are basic but it is responsive.
      • You cannot re-order the icons.
      • Will not parse system variables in the folder path.
  • Floating Docks
    • RocketDock
      • RocketDock is our classic app launcher loved by millions of people for almost 20 years. It lets you zoom through your shortcuts like a rocket with its buttery smooth interface. You can drag your favourite apps, files, and folders onto the dock to have quick access to them, then personalize with different skins, icons, and effects to match your desktop.
      • Puts icons at the top of your screen like MACs.
    • XWindows Dock - Wikipedia
      • XWindows Dock was a clone of the dock in Mac OS X Leopard for Windows. It is freely available under Creative Commons license.
      • Not developed since 2011
    • Stardock
      • Stardock is a cutting-edge innovator specializing in desktop utility software and PC entertainment.
    • Stardock Start11
      • The ultimate Start menu replacement for Windows 10 and 11. Restore the classic look and add new functionality.
      • Paid for, but cheap.
  • Launchers
    • GitHub - Wox-launcher/Wox A cross-platform launcher that simply works. It's an alternative to Alfred and Launchy
    • Alfred - Productivity App for macOS
      • MacOS only
      • Alfred is a productivity application for macOS, which boosts your efficiency with hotkeys, keywords and text expansion. Search your Mac and the web, and control your Mac using custom actions with the Powerpack.
    • Launchy: The Open Source Keystroke Launcher
      • A free cross-platform utility designed to help you forget about your start menu, the icons on your desktop, and even your file manager.
      • Launchy indexes the programs in your start menu and can launch your documents, project files, folders, and bookmarks with just a few keystrokes!
      • Not actively developed.
  • System Tray
    • GitHub - Aemony/NotifyIconPromote
      • Notification Icon Promoter for Windows 11.
      • This is a background application that auto-promotes all newly registered and unconfigured notification icons to be visible by default in the Windows 11 notification area.
      • This somewhat emulates the behavior of Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar from prior Windows versions, but also allows for individual apps to be toggled if so desired.
    • GitHub - File-New-Project/EarTrumpet
  • Shell Replacement
    • Cairo Desktop Environment - Enjoy a brand new Windows desktop experience with Cairo. With a dynamic desktop, folder stacks, and new ways to interact with your apps, Cairo is fast, productive, and easy to use.

 

Read 56 times Last modified on Sunday, 13 April 2025 17:24
Published in Windows 11
shoulders

Latest from shoulders