Windows 11 certainly brings something new and fresh to the table, but not everyone appreciates the change, more so once you get used to an operating system for over six years. The same goes for Windows 10 users who have upgraded to Windows 11 but find the new UI and design elements annoying and annoying. So if you want Windows 11 to be similar to Windows 10 in terms of user interface, look and function, follow this step-by-step guide and make the changes right away.
Make Windows 11 Look Like Windows 10 (2021)
In this guide, we’ve included all the ways to change the look of Windows 11 and match it with the aesthetics of Windows 10. You can expand the table below and move on to the relevant section you want.
Restore Old Start Menu Design
If you want your Windows 11 PC to look like Windows 10, you should start with the Start menu. The new Start menu in Windows 11 is a complete overhaul of what we’ve seen in previous versions of Windows. It is now centered and offers personalized recommendations and suggested apps. So, if you want to get the Windows 10 look on Windows 11, follow our steps below.
1. First of all, make sure you are on. Windows 11 build 22000.XXX. We will be using StartAllBack and it currently only supports 22000 builds. You can open the Windows Settings app and go to System -> About to know the operating system creation details.
2. Next, go ahead and StartAllBack (Mercenary, $4.95 per PC) software on your Windows 11 computer. It will automatically move the Start menu to the left corner right after installation – just like Windows 10. On top of that, it will change the icons and system tray to match the Windows 10 design.
3. Now, if you open the Start menu, it will be Windows 10 style Start menu. For further customization you can open StartAllBack and Go to the ‘Start Menu’ tab. Here you can customize the icon size, change the visual style, and more. Note that live tiles are no longer supported in Windows 11.
4. If you are not on Windows 11 build 22000, you can go for another similar customization program called Start11 (Mercenary, $4.99). It works on all Windows 11 builds and is also a paid software. It also comes with several Start menu layouts that are customizable and similar to Windows 10.
Move Start Menu Icons to Left Corner
Then, if you don’t want to install any additional programs and want to move the Windows 11 Start menu to the left corner, you can do it locally. Open Settings and navigate to: Personalization -> Taskbar -> Taskbar behaviors. Here, select “Taskbar alignment” on the left instead of the middle from the drop-down menu.
This much. All taskbar icons in Windows 11 will instantly move to the left corner when this setting is changed.
Make Windows 11 Taskbar look like Windows 10
As I mentioned above, you can only change the Taskbar alignment to the left from the Settings page in accordance with Windows 10. You will again have to rely on third-party software like StartAllBack for further customization.
1. With the help of this program, you can: increase the size of the taskbar additionally. Just open the StartAllBack program and go to the “Taskbar” tab.
2. Here, icon size S, M, L or XL, depending on your preference. You can also select the Windows 10 icon to be displayed on the taskbar to access the start menu. Sometimes you may need to restart Explorer to force changes.
3. The best part of this program is, disable grouping of similar apps in the Windows 11 Taskbar. Click the drop-down menu next to “Combine taskbar buttons” and select “Never” to make the change.
4. From now on, apps will not be merged. Similar to Windows 10, they will have their own personal space in the Windows 11 Taskbar.
Move Windows 11 Taskbar to Top
Taskbar top, left or right edge On screen, you can do this with some Regedit tweaks. You can follow our dedicated guide on customizing the Windows 11 Taskbar. It will guide you how to change the Taskbar alignment similar to Windows 10.
Get Back Old File Explorer in Windows 11
If you don’t like the new File Explorer design in Windows 11 and want to replace it with the ribbon-style File Explorer available in Windows 10, we’ve got you covered. To bring back the old File Explorer design, follow these steps:
1. Press the Windows 11 keyboard shortcut “Windows + R” to open the Run window and type regedit. Then press Enter.
2. Next, Paste Enter the following command in the Registry Editor’s address bar and press Enter.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions
3. Now, “Shell Extensions” folder, create a new key named Blocked. Right click on “Shell Extensions” from the left pane and select New -> Key.
4. After that, go to the “Blocked” button and right-click on the empty space on the right. here, choose New -> String Value.
5. rename save and save the item in the string specified below. You don’t need to open it and set any values.
{e2bf9676-5f8f-435c-97eb-11607a5bedf7}
6. Now close Registry Editor and restart your PC. When your PC boots up, you will find the old Windows 10 style File Explorer on your Windows 11 PC.
Bring Windows 10 Context Menu Back to Windows 11
If you don’t like the new Windows 11 context menu with rounded corners and the “Show more options” button, it’s time to go back to the classic context menu we’re used to in Windows 10. To make things easier here is a Registry file that you can add to your Computer and have the old context menu in a few clicks.
1. So go ahead first and Download the log file from here.
2. Next, right-click on the file and select “To connect“. After that, click “Yes”.
3. Now, restart the computerand you’ll find your Windows 11 PC one step closer to being more like Windows 10 with its classic context menu.
4. If you want to undo the changes, press the “Windows + R” keyboard shortcut to open the Run window. Medicine regedit and press Enter.
5. Next, paste the following command Enter the Registry Editor’s address bar and press Enter.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\4
6. Now, right click “586118283” and delete it. Restart your computer and the Windows 11 context menu should be back.
Disable Windows 11 Widgets Panel
Widgets are a new addition to Windows 11, but many users do not like this feature because resource-heavy and a repackaged version of the News & Weather widget with MSN News, recently introduced in Windows 10. So, if you want to get rid of the Widgets panel and make Windows 11 more like Windows 10, follow these steps:
1. Open the Settings app and Personalization -> Taskbar.
2. Here, turn off toggle For “Widgets” under the taskbar items section and you’re done. You can also check our guide on how to disable Widgets in Windows 11 for detailed instructions. You can also choose to disable Teams Chat integration in the Windows 11 taskbar via the linked article.
Turn Off Transparency Effects in Windows 11
Windows 11 comes with a Mica transparency effect that looks really cool. But some users do not like transparent windows and want a solid background. So if you are one of those users, you can disable the transparency effects and make Windows 11 more like Windows 10.
1. To do this, open Settings and Personalization -> Colors.
2. Under the “Colors” section, click “Transparency effects“.
3. Next, navigate to: Settings -> Accessibility -> Visual Effects. Again, disable the “Transparency effects” toggle. You’re done.
Extreme Measures: Downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10
Finally, if you have installed Windows 11 and realized that the new Mica UI, taskbar and redesigned Start menu are not for you, you can choose to switch from Windows 11 to Windows 10. the dreadful and lengthy process of installing third-party apps and turning off a number of features. Instead, you can return to Windows 10 for a familiar experience and feel right at home.
We will not expand this tutorial any further by including the entire process to downgrade your Windows 11 PC to Windows 10. We have compiled a handy guide on how to go back to Windows 10 from Windows 11 and you can check it out in the linked article.
Get Windows 10 Skin on Your Windows 11 PC!
So you can make some major changes in Windows 11 and experience a Windows 10 style UI and UX in Microsoft’s latest desktop operating system. From the Start menu to the Taskbar and File Explorer, I’ve tried to cover all the settings you might want to adjust to enjoy a familiar experience. If you still miss Windows 10, you can revert to Windows 10 from Windows 11. Anyway, that’s it for us. If you have any questions or suggestions for further changes, let us know in the comments section below. We will definitely try to help you.
