Open-Shell configuration for classic menus in Windows 11

If you're overwhelmed by the new , centered Start menu in Windows 11 , with its menu recommendations and modern look that doesn't quite appeal to you, know that you're not alone. Many users miss the classic style of Windows XP, Windows 7, or even Windows 10—more compact, straightforward, and without so much embellishment.

The good news is that you can restore a classic Start menu in Windows 11 (and even in Windows 10 if it's broken or disabled) using tools like OpenShell and similar programs. Furthermore, there are registry tweaks and several extra options for adjusting the position, the Start button, and even the appearance of the taskbar.

What is OpenShell and what can it do for your Start Menu?

Open-Shell is the evolution of Classic Shell, an open-source project aimed at bringing back Windows' classic Start Menu. It allows you to replace the default Windows 11 Start Menu (and also Windows 10, 8.1, and 7 Start Menus) with highly polished, feature-rich versions.

With this tool, you can choose between three main menu styles : a classic one-column menu, a classic two-column menu, and a clone of the Windows 7 menu. Each of these can be fully customized with skins, small or large icons, transparency, font type, and much more.

In addition to changing the menu, Open-Shell lets you replace the Start button with classic icons (like those from Windows 7 or Vista's Aero icon) or a custom image . You can even adjust the button's size, alignment, and how it integrates with the taskbar.

Another interesting point is that OpenShell includes optional components like Classic Explorer and Classic IE , which give File Explorer and the old Internet Explorer a more classic feel and provide additional shortcuts. They aren't essential to the menu, but they're there if you want a more "retro" experience across the system. If you want to go even further with Explorer, see how to revert to the old File Explorer menu.

Download and install Open-Shell step by step

To start using OpenShell on Windows 11, the first step is to download it from its official repository on GitHub. It's important not to download the installer from third-party websites to avoid modified installers or outdated versions.

Go to the project page at github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu . At the top, you'll see the releases section; there's usually a Downloads button or a list of versions where you'll find the latest stable or beta build.

In the latest version, scroll down to the Assets section . There you'll see several files, but the one you're interested in is the installer with a name similar to OpenShellSetup.exe . Click on that file to download it to your computer.

Once you have the executable file on your computer, open it with a double-click. The installation wizard will launch , which is quite simple: just keep clicking Next , accept the license, choose the installation path, and finally click Install to copy all the necessary files.

In one of the installer's intermediate steps, you'll see a list of components: Classic Explorer, Open-Shell Menu, Classic IE, and Open-Shell Update . If you only want to change the Start Menu, it's recommended to leave only Open-Shell Menu checked and uncheck the rest. If you prefer to try all the features, you can leave everything checked without any problem.

First settings: Classic menu styles available

After completing the installation, locate the Open-Shell Menu Settings tool . You can find it in the folder where you installed it, or simply type "Open-Shell" in the Windows 11 Start menu search bar.

When you open Settings, the Start Menu Style tab will appear by default . This is where you choose the type of menu that will replace the modern Windows Start menu. You'll see three clearly differentiated options, each with a preview.

The first is the classic single-column style , very similar to the one used in Windows 2000 and Windows XP in their simplest mode. It offers a compact column with programs and shortcuts, free of unnecessary visual elements.

The second option is the classic two-column layout. It maintains the same structure as the previous one but adds an extra column for fixed access points such as Documents, Computer, Control Panel, etc. It's ideal if you want to have everything at hand without having to navigate through submenus.

Finally, there's the Windows 7 style , which almost perfectly replicates the Start menu of that version: integrated search box, list of frequently used programs, folder shortcuts, and shutdown options at the bottom. It's a favorite among many users because it combines classic aesthetics with modern functionality.

Select the style that suits you best and click OK or apply the changes so that Windows 11 starts using that menu as soon as you press the Start button or the Windows key on your keyboard.

Customize the menu's appearance: skins, icons, and visual options

Once you've chosen the basic style, the fun begins: adjusting the menu's appearance to look exactly how you want it. Within the same settings window, you'll find the " Select Skin " section, which opens the Skin tab.

In this tab, you can choose from several "skins" that radically change the menu's appearance. Among the most common are Classic Skin, Metallic, Metro, Midnight, Windows 8, and Windows Aero , each with its own style of borders, colors, and effects.

In addition to the skin, Open-Shell allows you to activate options such as Show small icons to make everything more compact, use a larger font if you have trouble reading the text, or select Opaque mode to remove transparencies and gain contrast.

These options vary slightly depending on the menu style you selected earlier. For example, the Windows 7 style offers more controls related to transparency and brightness , while the classic one-column style focuses on simplicity and item size.

After modifying the skin and visual options, you can return to the Start Menu Style tab to see a preview of how everything will look. If you're happy with it, click OK ; if not, change the skin and try again until you find the look that suits you best.

Replace the Home button and adjust its alignment

One of OpenShell's most striking features is the ability to change the Start button icon . If you don't like the new flat Windows 11 logo, you can revert to the Windows 7 icon, Vista's Aero style, or even a button you create yourself from an image.

To do this, reopen the OpenShell settings and go to the Start Button tab (or equivalent). There you'll see options to use the system's default button or to select a custom image.

Click on Pick Image and select the file you want to use as your icon. Forums like Classic Shell have plenty of ready-made replacement buttons in various styles, sizes, and colors, specifically designed to integrate with Windows 11.

If, after applying the changes, you notice the button appears off-center, cropped, or misaligned, return to the settings and go to Advanced button options . From there, you can adjust the size, position, and vertical or horizontal alignment until it fits perfectly with the taskbar.

Remember that in Windows 11, it's crucial to move the taskbar icons to the left so that the Open-Shell button overlaps the original Start button. Otherwise, you'll still have a centered Start menu that doesn't match the classic look you're aiming for.

Place the Start menu on the left in Windows 11

By default, Windows 11 displays the Start button in the center of the taskbar, alongside the other pinned icons. Microsoft justifies this change by saying that most screens today are widescreen (16:9 aspect ratio), and placing the Start button in the center reduces eye movement.

While the explanation makes sense, many users are accustomed to having the Start menu in the bottom left corner , especially on large screens or multi-monitor setups. If you want OpenShell and the system to be aligned, the best solution is to move the icons back to that area.

To do this in Windows 11, go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar . There, find the Taskbar alignment option and select "Left" instead of "Center". This will move the native Start button to the left, allowing OpenShell to be placed above it.

Once you change the alignment, the Open-Shell button will visually replace the Windows 11 button. You will still have access to the classic menu whenever you click in that area, and the modern menu will be "hidden" behind the Open-Shell interface.

If in the future you want to return to the modern style, you can simply disable or uninstall Open-Shell and restore, if desired, the centered alignment of the taskbar from the same settings section.

Restore the classic menu using the Windows registry

Beyond OpenShell, there's a slightly more technical method to enable a classic-style menu by modifying the Windows Registry. This approach was widely used in early builds of Windows 11 to "force" something closer to the Windows 10 menu; if you're interested, here's a guide on how to do it by modifying the registry.

To test it, press Windows + R , type regedit , and confirm. This will open the Windows Registry Editor, a powerful tool that should be used with caution, as any incorrect changes can cause unusual system behavior.

Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/AdvancedIn the right-hand panel, right-click and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it Start_ShowClassicMode (respecting uppercase and lowercase letters).

Next, double-click on that new value and change the data to 1. This indicates that you want to display classic mode. Save the changes, close the Registry Editor, and restart your computer for Windows to apply the new settings.

This method isn't as flexible or powerful as OpenShell, but it can be useful in certain scenarios to restore an older startup environment without installing additional software. However, it's important to keep in mind that Microsoft changes things with each update, and this trick doesn't always guarantee that it will work consistently over time.

Other programs to restore classic menus in Windows 11

Although Open-Shell is the most popular free option, there are other tools designed to mimic the menus of Windows 7 or Windows 10 in Windows 11, and in some cases they add even more aesthetic options for the taskbar and the explorer.

One of the best-known is StartAllBack , a paid application (with a 30-day trial) that focuses on restoring a classic interface to the Start menu, taskbar, and other system elements. It allows you to choose Windows 10-style themes or a refined style based on Windows 7.

When you install StartAllBack, a settings panel appears where you can activate a classic theme and instantly see how the taskbar and Start menu change. From the "Start Menu" section, you can fine-tune the icon size, the number of rows, how programs are ordered, and even make the "All Programs" list expand like an XP-style menu.

Another fairly popular solution is Start11 , developed by Stardock, a well-known company in the world of Windows customization. This tool is also paid, although it offers a trial period, and allows you to emulate startup styles from Windows 7, Windows 10, a customized modern version, or maintain the Windows 11 aesthetic but with more control.

From its interface you can choose the menu style, align the taskbar to the left or keep it centered, change the start button logo among numerous designs, and even modify the transparency, blur, color and even apply custom textures to the taskbar.

Finally, there's Start Menu X , an app that offers a menu very similar to the one in Windows 10 and includes a very interesting feature: pressing Shift + Win lets you quickly switch between the modified menu and the native Windows Start menu. It's ideal if you want to see firsthand whether the new Start menu is really that bad or if you eventually get used to it.

Start Menu X includes a multitude of options to add themes, change the button icon , incorporate shortcuts to shut down, sleep, or restart, and simply restore the Windows 10 menu without touching anything else if you don't feel like tinkering too much.

Are apps like Open-Shell, StartAllBack, or Start11 safe?

It's understandable that, since these are third-party applications that modify the system interface, you might have security concerns. The key is to always use official sources , updated versions, and avoid any cracked or pirated versions.

In the specific case of OpenShell, it is an open-source project where the source code is publicly available. This allows the community to review and audit the program, greatly reducing the likelihood of it containing malicious elements.

StartAllBack and Start11, on the other hand, are commercial products developed by well-known companies , some of which have a good relationship with Microsoft and a long history in the Windows ecosystem. They frequently update their programs to fix bugs and strengthen security.

Start Menu X has also been on the market for many years and maintains a good reputation among users, as long as you download it from its official website. Most malware problems come from modified executables shared on unreliable download sites.

As an extra precaution, you can always upload any installer you download to VirusTotal to have it checked against dozens of antivirus engines simultaneously. Ideally, the file should have a zero or near-zero detection rate before you run it.

Some specialized media outlets also follow a strict validation protocol : verifying that the link points to the official website, analyzing the executable on services like VirusTotal and, when there are doubts, installing the program in a virtual machine to see if it behaves stably and without suspicious behavior.

Functional risks and precautions before modifying the Start menu

Even if the applications are malware-free, it's important to remember that they affect sensitive parts of the system . To achieve that classic, seamless look, many of them modify or connect to internal components of the Windows interface.

In certain configurations, this can cause visual glitches , unexpected browser crashes, taskbar issues, or unusual behavior after certain system updates. It's not common, but it can happen.

That's why it's highly recommended to create a system restore point before installing these types of programs. This way, if something goes wrong or the system starts having problems, you can always revert to the previous state without wasting time reinstalling everything.

Likewise, it's always a good idea to back up your most important data to another drive, the cloud, or a NAS. These apps won't delete your files, but if an incompatibility causes Windows to fail to boot correctly, you'll be glad to have your documents safe.

Keep in mind that many of these tools modify the Windows Registry and other internal components, which may also be affected by other customizations you already have. Combining multiple tweaks can lead to unexpected conflicts.

If you frequently install Windows 11 beta builds or make deep registry tweaks, consider testing these apps first in controlled environments like virtual machines before installing them on your main work or study computer.