Windhawk's complete tutorial for customizing Windows

If you like tinkering with the system and customizing your PC "your way", Windhawk is going to become one of your best allies for customizing Windows beyond what the official options allow. We're talking about a tool designed to play with the system's interface and functions without having to wrestle with internal files or complicated configurations.

In the following lines you will find a very complete guide in which I explain What exactly is Windhawk, how do you install it, how do you use its mods, and which ones are the most interesting for Windows 11?You'll also see some important security and compatibility notices to help you get everything under control before you start modifying your equipment.

What is Windhawk and what is it used for?

Windhawk is an open-source project developed by Ramen Software that functions as a Windows mod center, especially useful in Windows 11Its purpose is to allow you to modify specific parts of the system and some applications using small modules called "mods".

These mods are responsible for altering the behavior of components such as explorer.exe or changing the design of interface elementsFor example, the taskbar, the start menu, the notification center, or even certain browser functions like Chrome and Edge.

At a conceptual level, Windhawk is quite reminiscent of power toys, although with important nuances: It is not an official Microsoft tool and offers much deeper and more advanced settings.This extra freedom also implies more risk, since you are applying changes made by third parties directly to system processes.

The program works as a kind of A centralized catalog where you can explore, install, configure, and deactivate mods whenever you wantAll of this is done through a fairly clear graphical interface, without the need to manually edit system files or apply patches by hand.

In addition, Windhawk incorporates a star rating system that It helps identify which mods are more reliable, stable, and popular within the community.So, if you're just starting out, you can play it safe by selecting the highest-rated and most popular options. downloads.

Advantages and risks of using Windhawk

The great appeal of Windhawk is that it offers you a level of Windows customization far superior to what you get with the system's built-in settingswithout needing to be an advanced user. Instead of delving into the registry or using scripts, simply choose mods and activate them.

On the other hand, the fact that All mods are centralized and managed from within the program itself. It makes it much more convenient to keep track of them: you can see what you have installed, disable or uninstall a specific mod in seconds, and generally organize your changes in an orderly fashion.

However, we must keep in mind the less pleasant side: Windhawk and its mods are not supervised by Microsoft nor do they have official support.These are community creations, and although many are very polished, there is always a possibility that they may cause instability, visual errors, or even more serious problems.

In practice, when a mod causes problems, it's usually that Simply deactivate or uninstall it to restore everything to normal.As an extra measure, in some cases it is advisable to restart the explorer.exe process from the Task Manager so that the changes are applied or completely undone.

You should also consider the security aspect: although the platform is quite reliable and has user feedback, It cannot be 100% ruled out that some malicious mod might slip in among the available onesThat's why it's recommended to have a good antivirus and always prioritize highly rated mods from well-known authors.

Windhawk Compatibility and Requirements

Before you start downloading anything, it's important to know that Windhawk is designed for Windows x86-64 systems, that is, traditional 64-bit processors.This includes most desktop computers and portable current with Windows 10 or Windows 11.

However, there is one key limitation: Windhawk does not work on devices running Windows on ARM.This includes, for example, Copilot+ PC computers based on Snapdragon X Elite or X Plus chips and other equipment that uses ARM architecture.

If your PC is a standard computer with a CPU Intel or AMD 64-bit, in principle You will have no problems installing and running Windhawk normallyIt is always recommended, however, that you keep your system relatively up-to-date to avoid strange incompatibilities with the components that the mods modify.

How to download and install Windhawk step by step

Installing Windhawk is much simpler than the fact that It is a mod platform capable of touching delicate parts of the system.In fact, the process is similar to installing any other typical Windows program.

To begin, you have to go to the official project page and click the download button (“Download”)You will get an executable file with the .exe extension, which is the Windhawk installer.

Once the file is downloaded, the next step is Run the .exe installer and follow the wizard that appears on the screenThe process is straightforward: choose your language, accept the terms, and keep clicking "Next" until you reach the "Install" button.

In summary, the typical flow would be Select language > Next > Next > Install > FinishThe installation may take a little longer than usual, because the program downloads some additional components needed for the mods to work correctly.

Once the installer finishes, you will be able to Open Windhawk from the shortcut created on the desktop or from the Windows Start menuThe first time it will take a few moments to load while it prepares the work environment.

How Windhawk works inside

Once opened, you'll see that Windhawk's interface is organized so that you can search, install and manage mods without getting lost among too many optionsThe idea is that, even if you don't have much experience, you can move around with relative ease.

One of the most useful sections is the mod exploration section, where The different available modifications are listed, usually grouped by popularity, new features, or relevance.From there you can review descriptions, ratings, and technical details before installing anything.

When you choose a mod, the application takes care of inject the changes into the appropriate processes, often explorer.exe, to alter the taskbar, start menu, or similar elementsAll of this happens in the background; you only see the result applied to the interface.

The program also acts as a change manager: It keeps track of the mods you have installed, which ones are active and which ones are deactivated.You can disable a mod you no longer want to use at any time, or uninstall it completely if you don't plan to use it again.

Finally, the rating and review system makes it It will be much easier to quickly distinguish which mods are stable, well-maintained, and have been tested by many usersThis is especially useful when you're starting out and don't yet know the most reliable authors.

How to install mods from Windhawk

The true heart of Windhawk is its mods, and the program ensures that Its installation is an almost automatic and quite quick process.The most laborious part is usually deciding which mod to try among so many options.

The first step is to Find the mod you're interested in within the Windhawk interface itself.You can find it in featured sections like "Mods in the Spotlight" or in the "Explore" section, where you have the complete catalog.

When you locate a specific mod, you will have to Enter its details page to see a description of what it does, sample screenshots, version, author, and other technical data.It is usually also indicated which component of the system is being modified.

On that same screen you will see the The "Install" button is the one that starts the process of adding the mod to your system. (see the guide to installing modsJust before applying the changes, a warning message appears reminding you that the mods are developed by third parties and that their use is at your own risk.

If you agree, you just have to Accept the warning by clicking on “Accept the risk and install” to download and activate the modThis step is key, because it makes it clear that Windhawk does not guarantee the safety of each mod individually.

After installation, it is very common for a Settings section within the mod's own details, where you can customize its behavior and appearanceHere you can change themes, colors, positions, shortcuts, or whatever the mod allows.

In many cases, the changes are applied instantly as soon as you click on “Save settings” or an equivalent button that confirms the configurationIf you see that something isn't responding, you can try restarting explorer.exe or disabling and reactivating the mod to force the update.

There are mods that also include Advanced controls or manual parameters for users who want to fine-tune every last detailIn such cases, the authors usually add documentation within the mod description itself, explaining what each setting means and how to use it.

When you want to stop using a specific modification, simply uncheck or disable it from the list of mods installed in WindhawkIf you notice that it leaves traces or doesn't behave properly when disabled, you can always uninstall it completely to make it disappear.

Practical examples of mods for the taskbar and start menu

To give you a clearer idea of ​​what Windhawk is capable of, it's worth reviewing Some very popular mods focused on the Windows 11 taskbar and start menuThese are very visual modifications and easy to appreciate.

One of the most striking is “Windows 11 Taskbar Styler”, which completely transforms the appearance of the taskbarWith it you can apply different predefined themes, change colors, borders or the general style, to the point that it looks like another version of Windows.

The settings section of this mod includes a list of themes that you can choose from a drop-down menu, so you can try them out until you find the style that suits you bestWhen you finish configuring, you save the changes and the bar updates instantly.

Among the available topics there is one that It replicates the aesthetics of the Windows XP taskbar, with that nostalgic and somewhat "retro" touch that many remember.It's a perfect example of how far you can go with the interface, even if you might find it more curious than beautiful.

Another highly valued feature within this mod is called DockLike, which It attempts to emulate the look of the macOS dock, with a more stylized bottom bar and a feel closer to the Apple environment.If you like that style, it's an easy way to bring your Windows closer to that design.

In addition to themes, “Windows 11 Taskbar Styler” usually includes a “Control Styles” section with more technical parameters for manually adjusting certain aspects of the designThis is intended for advanced users who want to go beyond the pre-configured themes.

Another interesting mod focused on the taskbar is “Vertical Taskbar for Windows 11”, which allows you to move the taskbar to one side of the screenThis way you achieve something similar to the layout of some desks. Linux, like GNOME in Ubuntu, or the old vertical bar in Windows.

It's important to keep in mind that, when touching the same area of ​​the system, This mod may conflict with other mods that also change the taskbar, such as Taskbar Styler.In those cases, it is usually necessary to disable one for the other to function correctly.

Sometimes, after applying a profound modification like this, it is advisable to Restart the explorer.exe process from Task Manager for the change to take effect without errors or visual artifacts.It's a simple trick that solves many small problems.

Finally, in the area of ​​the start menu, it stands out “Windows 11 Start Menu Styler”, which allows you to alter both the design and layout of the menu itself.You can, for example, remove the recommendations section and directly display the complete list of applications.

With these types of mods you achieve that The start menu is much more functional and closer to what we had in previous versions of Windows.avoiding items that you may not use or that take up space without contributing much.

Other recommended mods to get the most out of Windhawk

Beyond the examples above, within the Windhawk catalog there are A wide variety of mods that expand both the functions and customization of different areas of WindowsSome focus on small details that, once you get used to them, are hard to give up.

A good example is “Click on empty taskbar space”, which lets you assign a specific action when you click on an empty area of ​​the taskbar.You can configure it to show the desktop, mute the computer's sound, or even launch a specific application with a single tap.

If you're obsessed with having total control over the time and date, you'll be interested in this. “Taskbar Clock Customization”, a mod focused on adjusting the appearance and format of the taskbar clockIt supports different variables and formats so that it displays exactly as you want.

It is also very useful “Windows 11 Notification Center Styler”, designed to change the appearance of the system's notification centerIt includes several pre-designed themes, but also offers advanced configuration options to customize colors, borders, and other visual details.

In purely functional terms, it is worth mentioning “Taskbar Volume Control”, which allows you to control the system volume using the mouse wheel on the taskbarIt's a very convenient shortcut if you frequently adjust the audio while working or playing.

For those who manage many windows and need organization, there is “Taskbar Thumbnail Reorder”, which enables the ability to reorder the taskbar thumbnails to your likingThis way you can prioritize certain windows or groups of applications without depending on the order in which they were opened.

Finally, in terms of applications, one of the most practical mods is “Chrome/Edge scroll tabs with mouse wheel”, which modifies the behavior of browsers such as Chrome, Edge, Opera, or Brave.Thanks to it, you can scroll between tabs using the mouse wheel, making navigation with many open tabs smoother.

You can find all these mods by searching for its name directly within the “Explore” section of Windhawk and reviewing its details sheetFrom there you can see comments from other users, star ratings and author notes to decide if it's worth installing them.

Usage tips and best practices with Windhawk

To get the most out of Windhawk without unpleasant surprises, it is recommended Follow a few basic guidelines before you start installing mods without a filter.It's not complicated, but it will save you potential headaches.

One of the first things you should do is Always check the rating and the number of users who have tested a mod before installing it.Mods with many stars and a high number of downloads are usually more stable and better maintained.

It's also a good idea Install the modifications one at a time, testing their behavior before adding more changes to the system.That way, if something goes wrong, you'll quickly know what the culprit is and you can remove or deactivate it without any hassle.

In terms of security, it's worthwhile Keep a quality antivirus active and perform regular scans, especially if you are going to try lesser-known or experimental mods.Although Windhawk is a fairly clean platform, this extra layer of protection is always welcome.

If at any point you notice that Windows becomes unstable, graphical errors appear, or something stops working after installing a mod.The most sensible thing to do is go into Windhawk, disable it, and see if the problem disappears. If necessary, uninstall it completely.

When the modifications directly affect explorer.exe or other key processes, and you see that the changes don't fully take effect or are only partially applied, there's a trick to it: Restart the explorer.exe process from Task Manager to force all visual elements to reload..

As you become more familiar with Windhawk, you'll see that You can create your own combination of mods that will make your Windows much more comfortable and adapted to your way of working.The key is to go step by step, choosing well and taking advantage of community feedback.

After learning what Windhawk is, how to install it, how it manages mods, and what types of changes you can apply to Windows 11, It is clear that this tool is capable of taking system customization to a level that the official options don't even come close to.As long as you keep security warnings in mind, choose well-rated mods, and avoid unnecessary changes, you can enjoy a PC experience much more tailored to your taste and with added features that, once you try them, you'll find hard to give up.