In the year of our Lord 2024, Microsoft did unveil its new creation, Windows 11. Yet, after three long years, the Start menu and Taskbar remained trapped in the shackles of limited customization. While Rainmeter stands as a beacon of hope for the advanced user, its labyrinthine ways confound the common folk. But lo and behold, a program dubbed Windhawk emerged from the digital ether, an open-source champion allowing swift modification of the Windows 11 UI elements with ease and grace.
Crafted by the virtuoso Michael Maltsev, Windhawk presents itself as a “customization marketplace” for the Windows 11 denizens. Here, a cornucopia of mods, both from its creator and other artisans, are on offer. These mods, once installed upon Windhawk’s broad shoulders, bestow effortless customization upon the Taskbar and Start menu. A plethora of pre-made styles await your gaze, while the adept may finely tune the UI with precision.
To test the mettle of Windhawk, I embarked on a journey, installing the program on my Windows 11 steed. With the aid of the “Windows 11 Start Menu Styler” mod, I selected the “SidebySideMinimal” theme from its depths, banishing the Recommended section from the Start menu. Behold, the visage that greeted me was akin to the fabled Start menu of Windows 10, reminiscent of days long past.
Intrigued by the possibilities, I delved deeper, opting for a custom theme forged by a Redditor, a sight to behold indeed. All labels vanished, leaving the Start menu cloaked in minimalism. Yet, the Advanced tab beckoned, where I could inscribe the mod’s settings with a stroke of my hand.
Turning my attention to the Taskbar, I summoned the Windows 11 Taskbar Styler mod within Windhawk’s halls. Embracing the “DockLike” style, the Taskbar assumed the countenance of the macOS dock. Another mod, known as “Taskbar height and icon size”, allowed for the enlargement of icons and the Taskbar, completing the transformation in but a few moments.
Beyond the realms of Start menu and Taskbar lie myriad other mods within Windhawk’s embrace, each holding the power to alter Windows 11’s behavior. One may traverse tabs in Edge or Chrome with a mere flick of the mouse wheel. The new Windows 11 context menu may be replaced with the classic visage, while icons on the Taskbar may roam free.
Curious minds may question the toll Windhawk takes on performance. Yet fear not, for my own observations revealed that Windhawk comports itself with grace, leaving no trace of slowdown on my PC. And for those seeking to extract even more performance from their Windows 11 abode, a guide stands at the ready, promising swifter speeds and smoother operations, a feat indeed.
Some may wonder of Windhawk’s safety, a legitimate concern in this digital age. Though one vendor cast a shadow upon it, the developer reassures that all is well, with the project’s open-source nature basking in the light of transparency. Cautionary words are spoken, urging users to select mods from trusted authors, yet my own Windows 11 guardian, clad in the 24H2 vestment, detected no foul play. Let us then, dear readers, embark on this journey together. Shall Windhawk be your guide in the land of Windows 11 customization? The tale unfolds in the comments below.
