Not everyone likes the new look of Windows 11. If you miss the familiar look of Windows 10 , you can restore the Start menu, taskbar, and other familiar elements with a few simple tweaks.
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Windows 11’s new truncated context menu is annoying. While it’s more streamlined, you’ll constantly have to expand the menu to access options that aren’t visible in the default view. These extra clicks add up to a less efficient experience. So one of the first changes to make Windows 11 feel more like Windows 10 is to bring back the classic context menu.
To restore, first create a backup of the Registry. Then, follow these steps:
Note : The example is using Windows 11 21H2, so some Registry Editor tweaks may not work if you are using a newer build.
If you've never replaced the iconic glowing blue Windows 10 wallpaper, you might be surprised by Windows 11's new default wallpaper. While visually appealing, it takes away from the familiar Windows aesthetic. Luckily, you can quickly restore the classic Windows 10 wallpaper.
To bring back Windows 10 wallpaper on Windows 11, follow these steps:
Additionally, you can customize the Lock Screen screensaver by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen .
Like the context menu, Microsoft has redesigned File Explorer in Windows 11. While the new streamlined toolbar gives it a cleaner look, it also does away with the classic, familiar ribbon with all the options available. If you prefer the old layout—without having to expand the menu—you can bring it back.
To bring back the classic ribbon in File Explorer, follow these steps:
Another visual change in Windows 11 is that the taskbar is now centered, whereas in Windows 10 it was left-aligned. To move it back, right-click the taskbar, select Taskbar Settings , go to Taskbar Behaviors and select Left from the drop-down list.
You can also disable unnecessary taskbar elements like Widgets by disabling them in settings.
Microsoft has also refreshed Task Manager by moving the navigation menus to the left instead of the top. While the new design is cleaner and more modern, Windows 10’s layout is more compact and the menus are easier to navigate. If you prefer the classic Task Manager, there’s an easy way to open it in the old interface.
To open Task Manager in the old interface all the time, follow these steps:
To avoid having to type this command multiple times, you can create a desktop shortcut:
Windows has simplified the Start menu layout, and unlike the other tweaks on this list, there’s no quick Registry trick to restore the classic Windows 10-style menu. While some workarounds existed in earlier versions of Windows 11, they no longer work. This is one change you’ll likely need a third-party tool for.
OpenShell (downloadable from GitHub ) is a great free option. However, Start11 is recommended because it’s easy to use. It costs $9.99 per install, but you can try it for free.
To set up, follow these steps:
You can also customize further in the settings.
Windows 11 comes with Microsoft Copilot, an AI assistant designed to help with search, content creation, and task automation. However, it feels unnecessarily cluttered. Microsoft Copilot isn’t part of Windows 10 as a whole, although it’s there now. If you want a true Windows 10-like experience on Windows 11, you’ll have to disable Microsoft Copilot.
To turn off Microsoft Copilot, follow these steps:
Windows 11 introduces rounded corners to app windows and UI elements, a subtle design change that gives the interface a modern look. The corner radius varies across different elements, but if you prefer the classic crisp design, you can turn off rounded corners for a Windows 10-like look.
To restore sharper corners, follow these steps:
If you don’t like the new design, apply these changes for a more comfortable experience. If you don’t want to tweak the Registry manually, you can use third-party tools to make these changes much easier. However, sometimes the support for those tools isn’t the best, which is why many people prefer to rely on registry tweaks.
With a constant stream of notifications and alerts on your Windows 11 laptop, staying focused becomes a challenge. So take control and customize your notifications to suit your needs.
Although Microsoft promotes Windows 11 as the future of computing, many people have recently downgraded to Windows 10 on their main PCs. Here's why it might actually be worth it to go back to an older operating system.
Windows 11 is expected to receive two notable major updates this year.
If you don't have a working Internet connection or want to use a local user account, you can follow these methods to set up Windows 11.
When users try to install Windows 11 build 26058, the Setup file will give a message saying “This PCs processor doesnt support a critical feature (PopCnt)”
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced its decision to discontinue the Windows Subsystem for Android, which was designed to allow Android apps to run natively on Windows 11.
End Task is a feature in Windows Task Manager that allows users to close any responding or unresponsive program.
If you're using Windows, there are tools built into the operating system that allow you to quickly look up how much RAM, CPU, and GPU are being used by a particular process.
When troubleshooting network issues, you will need to look for your computer's WiFi drivers. If you determine that an invalid driver is causing your network issues, you can reinstall the WiFi driver to fix the problem.
Microsoft first started pushing the idea of an AI-powered Windows in 2024 under the name of the New Era of Work - but what is Windows 11 AI? It's a complex mix of innovations and includes AI-powered PCs, built-in Copilot, and Windows AI Studio.
Not long ago, Microsoft stopped providing support for Windows 10 version 21H2, which means version 22H2 becomes the only supported Windows 10 release at the moment.
Paint 3D is no longer available in the Microsoft Store, but that doesn't mean you won't have another chance to try it out.
This tutorial will show you how to rearrange columns for a folder (directory) when in details view in File Explorer for a personal account in Windows 11 and Windows 10.
In 2023, Windows 11 officially supported USB4 40Gbps, which was later expanded to support data transfer speeds up to 80 and 120Gbps.
God Mode in Windows 11 can take you to printer or Bluetooth settings with just one click.
Microsoft has made an important announcement for customers using the Remote Desktop for Windows app from the Microsoft Store. On May 27, 2025, this app will be officially discontinued and removed from the Microsoft Store.
With a constant stream of notifications and alerts on your Windows 11 laptop, staying focused becomes a challenge. So take control and customize your notifications to suit your needs.
Windows 12 is a potential future update to the Windows operating system. It is expected to be released in 2024, although there has been no official confirmation from Microsoft yet.
The nvlddmkm.sys blue screen error (also known as Video TDR Failure error) has been occurring to many Windows users, most of whom also happen to be using Nvidia GPUs.
You can enable Telnet on Windows 10 and 11 computers through the Command Prompt tool or the graphical user interface (GUI).
This guide will show you how to customize DLNA Media Streaming settings for your account on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
If an app has accessed your camera, it will show you the last time it accessed it. Here's how to find out when it last accessed your camera on Windows 11.
The green checkmarks on your Windows desktop icons show sync status with cloud services – usually Microsoft OneDrive since it’s built into Windows. While useful, these can be distracting.
With Windows 11 clipboard sync, you can instantly move images, links, and text between your PC, Windows laptop, or even your Android phone.
Accessing Control Panel on Windows 11 is extremely simple, but this article will guide you to add Control Panel to the Windows 11 context menu.
Recent Windows updates have changed the way the condensed date and time is displayed. If your computer is experiencing this, follow the article below to display the full date and time on the Windows 11 Taskbar.
Windows 11 version 24H2 — the only major Windows 11 update in 2024 — has been out for a few months and is slowly stabilizing.
The issue was first reported when users reported that some PCs were unable to complete the update and encountered a blue screen of death (BSOD) error.
Although Microsoft promotes Windows 11 as the future of computing, many people have recently downgraded to Windows 10 on their main PCs. Here's why it might actually be worth it to go back to an older operating system.
Windows 11 is expected to receive two notable major updates this year.
