How to bring the familiar Windows 10 interface to Windows 11

Windows 11 brings a modern interface with rounded corners and a centrally placed Start menu, but not everyone is comfortable with this change. Many still prefer the familiarity and efficiency of the Windows 10 interface. Fortunately, you can completely customize Windows 11 to bring the experience closer to its predecessor through a few system tweaks.

Tweak your taskbar and Start menu

These are two of the biggest changes in Windows 11. Bringing them back to the classic interface will make it easier to get used to the new operating system.

Move the taskbar to the left corner of the screen

The most noticeable change in Windows 11 is the centered taskbar. To move the icons back to the left corner like Windows 10, you just need to follow these simple steps:

1. Right-click an empty space on the Taskbar and selectTaskbar settings(Taskbar settings).
2. In the settings window, find and expand the itemTaskbar behaviors(Taskbar behavior).
3. At optionTaskbar alignment(Taskbar Alignment), selectLeft(Left) from the drop-down menu.

Additionally, in the Taskbar settings, you can also turn off unnecessary icons like Widgets for a neater interface.

Restore Windows 10 style Start menu

Completely restoring the Windows 10 Start menu cannot be done with the built-in customizations. You will need the help of third-party tools. Two popular and effective options are Start11 (paid) and OpenShell (free).

• Start11:This is a powerful tool for $9.99 that allows for deep customization of the Start menu and taskbar. Once installed, you can easily choose the Windows 10 style and left alignment.
• OpenShell:It is a free open source project that offers the ability to customize the Start menu in many classic styles, including Windows 7 and Windows 10.

Optimize File Explorer and right-click menu

Changes to Windows 11's File Explorer and right-click menus are intended to simplify the interface, but may reduce performance for power users.

Re-display full options right-click menu

The stripped-down right-click menu on Windows 11 often requires users to click "Show more options" one more time to see the full list of commands. To restore the classic menu, you can edit the Registry.

Important Note:Editing the Registry can cause system errors if done incorrectly. Always back up the Registry before making any changes.

1. Press the key combinationWin + R, typeregeditand press Enter to open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the path:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID
3. Right click on the folderCLSID, selectNew > Keyand name the new key{86CA1AA0-34AA-4E8B-A509-50C905BAE2A2}.
4. Inside the newly created key, continue to create a new key and name itInprocServer32.
5. Double-click the item(Default)In the InprocServer32 key, make sure the fieldValue dataleave blank and pressOK.
6. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Bring the classic Ribbon back to File Explorer

The new toolbar in Windows 11's File Explorer has replaced the detailed Ribbon from Windows 10. You can restore it by editing the Registry with the following steps:

1. Open Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the path:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions
3. Right clickShell Extensions, selectNew > Keyand named itBlocked(if not already available).
4. In the Blocked key, right click on the right pane, selectNew > String Valueand named it{e2bf9676-5f8f-435c-97eb-11607a5bedf7}.
5. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Other interface and functionality customizations

To complete the Windows 10-like experience, you can make a few small changes below.

Use Windows 10 default wallpaper

One of the easiest ways to get a feel for Windows 10 is to reuse the default wallpaper. You can find and download a high-resolution version of this wallpaper from online sources, then set it viaSettings > Personalization > Background.

Remove rounded window corners

If you like Windows 10's sharp window corners, make the following Registry edit:

1. Open Registry Editor and navigate to:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM
2. Right click on the right frame, selectNew > DWORD (32-bit) Valueand named itUseWindowFrameStagingBuffer.
3. Double click on the newly created value, setValue datawall0and pressOK.
4. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Turn off Microsoft Copilot virtual assistant

Copilot is an AI assistant that is deeply integrated into Windows 11. If you don't use it and want an experience closer to native Windows 10, you can disable it:

1. Open Registry Editor and navigate to:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
2. Right click on the folderWindows, selectNew > Keyand named itWindowsCopilot.
3. In the WindowsCopilot key, create aDWORD (32-bit) Valuenew and namedTurnOffWindowsCopilot.
4. Double click this value, setValue datawall1and pressOK.
5. Restart your computer.

By applying the above tweaks, you can combine the stability and new features of Windows 11 with the familiar, efficient interface of Windows 10, creating a more personalized and comfortable working environment.