Windows 10 brings tons of improvements over its predecessors in terms of performance, functionality, and security, but the only area where people still miss Windows 7 is aesthetics. The Start Menu in particular remains an issue that many old-timers still fondly remember how the Windows 7 Start Menu looked less schizophrenic than the new version. Today we will show you how you can bring the Windows 7 Start Menu back to Windows 10. To do this, we’ve collected 4 apps to customize the look and feel of your Windows 10 PC.
Bring Windows 7 Start Menu Back to Windows 10
We don’t need to use any command line tools or poke around in the Windows registry to bring the Windows 7 Start Menu back to Windows 10. Instead, we will use third-party software, including free, free and paid apps, to bring some nostalgia to your Windows 10 PC. If that sounds interesting, read on to learn the best practices for customizing your Windows 10 device and bringing back the Windows 7 Start Menu.
Method 1: Open Shell (Free)
One of the best ways to bring back the look and feel of the classic Windows Start Menu was to use a free app called Classic Shell. Although its development stopped in 2017, the volunteers continue the program on GitHub under the name Open Shell. As of Feb 10, the latest stable build is 4.4,160 (Free), the latest nightly build 4.4.163 (Free). Download either one to get started. In this article, we will use the stable build for demo purposes.
- Install Open Shell and click the Start button in the toolbar. You will see a menu popup similar to the one in the screenshot below. Select the ‘Show All Settings’ checkbox to access advanced settings [1] At the top of the settings window. You can also change the start button style using the options at the bottom. [2]. Don’t forget to click ‘OK’ [3] after you finish changing the settings.
Note: The setup page will only appear the first time you click the Start Menu. After that, you get a normal Windows 7 style Start Menu every time you press the Start button. To access Open Shell settings again right click the Start button and select ‘Settings’.
- The default setting is for the Windows 7 style Start Menu, but you can also choose Classic (Windows XP style) and Classic with two lines. As for skins, the default is Metro (left), but you can also select Aero (right) and more.
There are loads of settings you can tweak to customize the Start Menu aesthetics and functionality to your heart’s content. The software is completely free, so you get all the features without any restrictions.
Method 2: StartIsBack (Free Trial)
If you’re ready to pay the price for your nostalgia, a little-known Windows 10 app called StartIsBack is an even better option to get your classic Windows 7 Start Menu back. It comes with a 30-day free trial, but costs $3.99 for a full license. It’s a great and inexpensive way to get back your Windows 7 Start Menu in Windows 10 and what I personally used on my Windows 8/8.1 installs back in the day.
- Download StartIsBack to get started (free trial) and install it on your computer. You can start customizing the Windows 7 style Start Menu by right-clicking on the Start button > Properties. In the configuration window, click the ‘Appearance’ tab to change the Start button to an exact copy of the Windows 7 design.
- By default it uses the StartIsBack system theme, so I have a dark Start Menu (screenshot on the left). However, you can manually configure the settings to use the dual-tone Start Menu, which appears directly from Windows 7 (screenshot to the right).
As the name suggests, StartIsBack brings the Windows 7 Start Menu back to Windows 10. I can personally vouch for using the software on multiple Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10 computers. It’s extremely lightweight, ad-free, and has zero bloat. I highly recommend this app to get back the Windows 7 Start Menu in Windows 10.
Method 3: Start Menu X (Freemium)
Another great app that you can use to bring the Windows 7 style Start Menu back to Windows 10 is Start Menu X. It comes with a free version that offers most of the features of the ‘pro’ version, but with a few exceptions we’ll discuss later. You can also opt for a 30-day free trial of the Pro version with all the features.
- Download and install StartMenu X (free). Once installed click on the Start Button and you will see an expanded Start menu as in the screenshot below.
- You can also reduce the size of the Start Menu to a single or double column to look more like Windows 7.
- Right click on the notification area icon to configure Start Menu X [1] and select ‘Options’ [2]. Note that the icon may be hidden behind the arrow. [3] next to the notification area.
- From the configuration window, you can control almost every aspect of the software in terms of aesthetics and functionality.
Note: The free version does not include a ‘one-click’ Start Menu; this means you have to click more than once to access it. It also has no tabs. Both features are available in the ‘Pro’ version which costs $9.99..
Method 4: Stardock Start10 (Free Trial)
Another popular program to get back the Windows 7 Start menu in Windows 10 is Start10 from Stardock. The developer is famous for making Windows customization programs and has been in the business for over twenty years. The program comes with a free 30-day trial, but the full version will cost you $4.99. Note that you will need a valid email address to complete the setup process.
- Download and install Start10 (Attempt). This is what your default Start10 Start Menu will look like when you have completed the setup setup by confirming your email id. Of course, you can also change the Metro UI look to the classic duotone Windows 7 style.
- Right-click the Start button > Configure to configure the software. You will see the following window where you can make all the configuration changes.
There are many ways to configure the Stardock Start10 Start Menu. You can choose the design for the Start button and icons and choose a custom texture for the Start Menu. There are also many other settings and options you can play with.
Bonus: Unpin Live Tiles in Windows 10 Start Menu
Another way to reduce clutter in your Windows 10 Start Menu is to unpin all large tiles. You can do unpin all Start Menu tiles, regardless of whether they are ‘alive’ or not. That way, you’ll have a more streamlined look similar to Windows 7.
- To disable Live Tiles in the Windows 10 Start Menu, right-click on such a tile and select ‘Pin from Start’. Unfortunately, there is currently no option to remove them all at once, so you have to remove them one by one.
- When you remove all tiles you will be left with only the ‘All Apps’ list on the left for a much cleaner and leaner Start Menu as you can see in the screenshot below. It’s not exactly Windows 7 style, but it’s still a huge improvement.
This is the easiest way to change the look of the Windows 10 Start Menu on your computer. It doesn’t require you to download any additional software or spend extra money. So go ahead and try this method before downloading any app to customize your Windows 10 machine.
Personalize Your Windows 10 PC with the Windows 7 Start Menu
The Windows 10 Start Menu is essentially a cleaner version of the Windows 8 Start Menu, keeping the same tile-based user interface that was a big controversy back in the day. It might make some sense on touchscreen devices, but on regular laptops and desktops it’s a waste of space. Multi-colored tiles are also an aesthetic nightmare and quite annoying when using a mouse and keyboard. If you like the old, modern aesthetic of the Windows 7 Start Menu as much as I do, now you know how to get it back.
Now that you know the best practices for customizing your Windows 10 computer by bringing back the Windows 7 Start Menu, you should check out our articles on how to disable notifications in Windows 10 and remove all ads from Windows 10. Also, be sure to keep your PC’s temperature under control to avoid slowdowns and unusual degradation in battery life. Finally, check out our tips and tricks for Windows beginners or advanced tips and tricks for advanced users, depending on your Windows experience.
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