Customizing the graphical environment in Windows with OpenShell, StartIsBack, and ExplorerPatcher

The Windows customization ecosystem is more alive than ever: from Open‑Shell and StartIsBack to ExplorerPatcher, RetroBar, Start10 or Radial MenuThere are options for all tastes. Whether you're coming from Windows 10, like its aesthetics, or simply want to control every detail of the Start menu, taskbar, and Explorer, here's a comprehensive guide with everything you need to know, straightforward and with practical examples and resources. Personalize Windows with ThisIsWin11.

In the community, it's common to see users combining solutions, like someone using OpenShell for the Start menu and RetroBar for a retro taskbar with themes like Vista Aero, Longhorn, or XP Zune. Even very specific questions arise, such as whether it's possible to change the text color in RetroBar when a light theme makes it difficult to read. These concerns highlight a reality: Windows 11 has changed enough that many want to bring back "classic" controls. or, at the very least, adjust them to their liking.

What's changed in Windows 11 and why do so many people want to customize it?

One of the most visible transformations in Windows 11 has been to center the taskbar and alter the Start menu. Microsoft has been making changes from Windows 8 to the current Windows 11.moving from program lists to tiles and, later, to a Start menu with recommendations and integrated search. For those more comfortable with the Windows 10 approach, this breaks routines and reduces the feeling of control.

Meanwhile, Windows 10 is starting to lose prominence. The new computers come with Windows 11 pre-installed. And major new features no longer arrive in the previous version. That doesn't mean you can't recreate the look and feel of Windows 10: this is where a huge community comes in, one that has given rise to projects like ExplorerPatcher, OpenShell, StartIsBack, and more.

ExplorerPatcher shines because It allows the recovery of key elements from the "classic" environment In Windows 11: the taskbar, the Windows 10-style Start menu, the previous context menus in Explorer, and a multitude of fine-tuning options. And it does so for free and with open source code.

If you prefer to pay for a more polished experience, StartIsBack or Start10 provide cohesion between the Start menu and the taskbar with styles inspired by Windows 7/10 and 30-day free trials. For those who want something more groundbreaking, Start Menu Reviver or Radial Menu completely reimagine the launcher. apps.

ExplorerPatcher: what it is, where to download it, important notices, and how to configure it

ExplorerPatcher is a free project, maintained by a community of developers, whose goal is “improving the working environment in Windows”It was created to bring back to Windows 11 behaviors and visual elements closer to Windows 10 (or even 7), without heavy background processes and with deep integration into explorer.exe.

Where to download it: Only download it from its official GitHub repository (author: Valinet). Avoid third-party websites. Any executable outside of GitHub is suspicious.Since it's open source, you can review the code if you have the knowledge.

Warnings from the developers themselves (as explained on GitHub):

• Recommended use on personal devices: avoid critical or business environments; no liability for damages.
• Limited original features: Don't expect absolute feature parity with everything that "pure" Windows 11 does.
• Risk with future updates: A Windows update can break the integration, especially alerts about Windows 11 24H2.
• Unstable implementation in some scenarios: certain functions may occasionally fail.
• In isolated cases, it may increase the CPU usage of explorer.exe: monitor temperature and battery life if you are using a laptop and, if necessary, Monitor processes with Process Hacker.

Installation and first BootIf SmartScreen appears, press Request More Information and then Run anywayOnce installed, open Properties (ExplorerPatcher) From the Start menu, a panel with categories will be displayed for Taskbar, File Explorer, Start Menu, Window Switcher (Alt+Tab), Weather and moreThe language does not include Spanish for now, but the interface is understandable.

Recommended settings that are generally popular with the community:

• Taskbar > Combine taskbar icons (primary/secondary): Decide whether to combine windows and Include text labels next to the icon.
• File Explorer > Disable the Windows 11 context menu: recover the "Classic" right-click context menu (equivalent to pressing “Show more options”).
• Windows switcher: adjusts the Alt + Tab switch.
• Start menu: set the default Windows 10 style home screen and hides the "Recommended" section.

After tapping options, press Restart File Explorer To restart explorer.exe and apply changes. If you want to revert or uninstall the tool, in Settings and uninstall you have Restore default settings y Uninstall ExplorerPatcherIn ARM/ARM64 there are optimized binaries, included for Copilot+ PC.

What ExplorerPatcher really offers (and why so many people are convinced by it)

Beyond the classic “look”, ExplorerPatcher brings together practical improvements to work comfortably:

• Windows 10-style taskbar in Windows 11, with options for ungroup icons, move them to the top or sides and use smaller icons.
• Classic Home Menu: Restore the Windows 10 Start menu or variants that fit with Open-Shell or StartIsBack.
• "Old" notification center and calendar: restore familiar volume, network, and calendar interfaces as in Windows 10.
• File Explorer: Remove the new context menu and adjust the ribbon, the Home button on the side panel and other details.
• possibility of Disable modern features of Windows 11 that you are not interested in (Snap Layouts, Widgets...).

Furthermore, it is a lightweight application, without unnecessary resident processesHowever, be sure to create a system restore point before installing, especially if you're going to tweak many settings or if you rely on your PC for work.

Open-Shell (formerly Classic Shell): The Start Menu That Never Fails

OpenShell is the open-source successor to Classic Shell. Its purpose is Replace the Windows 10/11 Start menu with a menu style Windows 7with the option to use skins and columns. First, you choose the style (single or double column) and apply a skin (Metallic is a classic).

In Basic Settings and Customize, you select which buttons and folders appear, the behavior of the right click and the Windows keyAnd you can change the Home button to a custom image. If you enable “Show all options,” a whole host of tabs will appear for adjusting the layout, animations, language, search box, main menu items and more.

Fun fact for nostalgics: the original creators also developed Classic Explorer and IE Classic, so You could "revive" File Explorer and the old Internet Explorer visually, in a way that is consistent with the menu.

StartIsBack, Start10, TileCreator, Start Menu 8, Start Menu X, Radial Menu, Start Menu Reviver and ViStart

If you want alternatives with a highly integrated visual approach, StartIsBack nails it. It features styles inspired by Windows 7 and synchronizes changes between the Start menu and taskbar. It allows you to change the color of both, choose the Start button, and fine-tune their behavior (which apps to show, how the power button works, searches that are routed to Cortana when there are no local results, etc.). 30 day trial and a very reasonable cost (approx. 3–4 €/$ (depending on site/version).

• Start10 (from Stardock) takes a mixed approach: It modernizes the aesthetics of Windows 10 and offers a style inspired by Windows 7.It allows you to use images as the background for the Start menu and taskbar (even your own photos), adjust icons, pin apps, show recent apps, and configure whether the Windows button opens Start 10 or the native Start menu. 30-day trialThe price is around 3–5 €/$ depending on promotions.
• TileCreator fulfills a specific mission: Create and customize tiles on the Windows 10 Start Menu Customize the size, image, and color to your liking. Ideal if you liked "live tiles" and want to arrange them your way.
• Start Menu 8 (from IObit) replicates the style of Windows 7/8 and is very customizableIt's free with ads (there's a paid version with automatic updates). It offers several very well-designed Home buttons. icon size settings and an experience similar to the native menu.
• Start Menu X redefines the Start menu for access applications and folder data on the flyturning any folder into a hover-navigable menu. It has skins, timer-based power options (automatically shut down/restart/log out), and a paid version with launch with one click.
• Radial Menu proposes a circular launcher on the desktop, with unlimited groups and subgroups, drag/drop support, customizable colors, and access to documents, websites, or any file.
• Start Menu Revive blends the modern concept with customizable mosaics (up to 64), shortcuts to apps and settings, and a left panel with important folders. However, the menu size is small and it doesn't resize, which can make navigation difficult.
• ViStart is another free and open-source classic that It faithfully clones the styles of Windows 7 and Windows 8. For the Start menu, with the option to add skins. Although simple, it's still useful if you're only looking for aesthetics.

A small note from the community: some users combine Open‑Shell for Home and RetroBar for the barIf you find the white text of RetroBar on a very light bar annoying, explore alternative themes or use a transparent or acrylic taskbar; Each skin defines its palette. And, depending on the topic, the contrast can vary considerably.

How to “bring” a Start design to an entire organization (Windows 10 and 11)

In managed environments, it's possible to enforce a custom startup design. The idea is to prepare a reference device, adjust the startup process, and... export configuration to apply it to the rest of the teams.

Windows 10 exports to XML and Windows 11 to JSON. General steps:

1. Log in to the reference device.
2. Personalize your Home screen: Pin apps, unpin what's unnecessary, reorder, and create groupsIn Windows 10 you can also change icon size and name groups.
3. Export with PowerShell.

Example Windows 10 (XML):

Export-StartLayout -UseDesktopApplicationID -Path "C:\\Layouts\\LayoutModification.xml"

Example Windows 11 (JSON):

Export-StartLayout -Path "C:\\Layouts\\LayoutModification.json"

In Windows 10, XML defines groups and positions with tags such as LayoutModificationTemplate, DefaultLayoutOverride, start:Tile (UWP apps), start:DesktopApplicationTile (Win32 apps via .lnk or AUMID path), start:SecondaryTile (web links via Edge), in addition to collections such as RequiredStartGroups y AppendGroup with coordinates (Size, Row, Columnand the cell/column width. A attribute Region to apply country groups (e.g., DE|ES|FR|GB|IT|US). There are also tags for AppendOfficeSuite y AppendDownloadOfficeTile (add the Office suite or the trial installer “Download Office”).

Key rules for proper anchoring:

• Shortcuts that are pinned to the Home tab must be in %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs.
• The executables must live in % ProgramFiles% or where the setup installs them.
• If you're targeting third-party Win32 apps before the first start, places the .lnk file in the legacy menu locations (%APPDATA% or %ALLUSERSPROFILE%).

Design application methods:

• Full design: The user cannot pin, unpin, or uninstall from the Start menu. (Yes, you can see “All apps”).
• Partial design: the defined groups are locked, but the user You can move them and create your ownFor partial use in Windows 10, adjust LayoutCustomizationRestrictionType=»OnlySpecifiedGroups» in DefaultLayoutOverride.

In Windows 11, the export generates a JSON file with the pinnedList (UWP apps by packagedAppId or .lnk access by desktopAppLink) and admits secondaryTile to anchor sites (with arguments and icons). The goal is the same: standardize the Startup across multiple computers in a reproducible manner.

Explorer Patcher and antivirus: what you should know

Some security suites, including Microsoft Defender, have ExplorerPatcher was identified as “malware”The common understanding within the community is that this is due to how it integrates with explorer.exe to change the interface, not because it contains malicious code. In any case, if you trust the official repository and want to avoid false positives, exclude these paths:

• C:\\Program Files\\ExplorerPatcher
• %APPDATA%\\ExplorerPatcher
• C:\\Windows\\dxgi.dll
• C:\\Windows\\SystemApps\\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy
• C:\\Windows\\SystemApps\\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy

In Microsoft Defender, you can run in PowerShell (Administrator):

Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "C:\\Program Files\\ExplorerPatcher"
Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "$env:APPDATA\\ExplorerPatcher"
Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "C:\\Windows\\dxgi.dll"
Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "C:\\Windows\\SystemApps\\Microsoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy"
Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "C:\\Windows\\SystemApps\\ShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy"

This will prevent blockages and cuts in functionality through heuristic detection. Even so, it creates a restore point and, if something goes wrong after a Windows update, Uninstall ExplorerPatcher and wait for a review compatible.

Recent changes to ExplorerPatcher: improvements, fixes, and known issues

ExplorerPatcher has recently introduced important adjustments:

• Weather: Fixed “Unable to load weather information” and button without icon; if it persists, use the “Clear local data from weather widget” option.
• Start Menu: Start11 support to hide “Recommended” in Windows 11 24H2; animation and Windows 10 style menu opening fixes on x64/ARM64 (22H2/23H2).
• Taskbar: the one from Windows 10 (ep_taskbar) is used by default in 22H2+; statically linked to private functions; fixes in menus and Alt+Tab and Win+X shortcuts on ARM64.
• Explorer: Restored title bar in 22H2+; fixed list jumps when receiving WM_SETTINGCHANGE; visual fixes in 24H2 by reducing address bar height and button size.
• ARM64: Improved compatibility with Windhawk modules and attachments in CreateWindowExW; fixes for infrequent failures until restart.
• Internal changes: migration to SlimDetours; reduction of glitches and removal of the “Windows 8 Network flyout” due to dependencies removed in current builds.

Known issues: changing the weather icon pack to “Microsoft” It has no effect at present.. In Windows 11 (Nickel 22H2/23H2), if you use New Start menu next to Windows 10 style bar/menuThis could cause a blocking loop in explorer.exe. Watch out for these combinations.

If you're looking for a desk that's right for you, today it's easy and affordable: with ExplorerPatcher, Open‑Shell, StartIsBack, Start10, TileCreator, Start Menu 8/Reviver/X, Radial Menu or ViStart You can reclaim the best of Windows 10/7 or explore new approaches. For businesses, exporting the Startup layout in XML/JSON and deploying it facilitates a consistent user base. In any case, the sensible thing to do is proceed step by step, create restore points, and Stay tuned for Windows updatesBecause the rules of the game change from time to time.

Related article:

How to customize Windows with ThisIsWin11: tricks, modules, and alternatives

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.