How can I make Windows 11 look like Windows 10?

I love customizing my operating system, and when I transitioned to Windows 11, I found myself yearning for the classic Windows 10 look. Here’s how I achieved it:

1. Taskbar Alignment: Right-click on the taskbar, select ‘Taskbar settings,’ and change the taskbar alignment from ‘Center’ to ‘Left.’
2. Start Menu: To get a more Windows 10-like Start Menu, I installed the Open-Shell Start Menu. It’s free and highly customizable. After installation, configure it as per your preferences.
3. Explorer Patcher: This tool effectively restores much of the Windows 10 functionality and visuals. Download and install it, then adjust the settings according to my needs.
4. Icons: I downloaded a Windows 10 icon pack and applied it using the ‘Icon Changer’ app to bring back familiar icons.

Switching to Windows 11 was a significant change, but I managed to mimic Windows 10 by doing the following:

1. Taskbar:
   • Right-click the taskbar, select ‘Taskbar settings,’ and set the alignment to ‘Left.’

2. Programs:

   • Use Open-Shell for the Start Menu.
   • Explorer Patcher restores the old File Explorer look and feel.

3. Registry Tweaks: I used the registry editor (Regedit) for advanced customizations, like bringing back the old context menus.

When I upgraded to Windows 11, its new design felt too modern for my taste. Here’s my step-by-step method to revert to a Windows 10-like interface:

1. Taskbar:
   • Move the taskbar icons to the left by right-clicking the taskbar and selecting ‘Taskbar settings.’
   • Change ‘Taskbar behaviors’ to ‘Left.’
2. Classic Start Menu:
   • Download and install Open-Shell.
   • Go to ‘Settings’ and choose the Windows 10 style.
   • Customize further by importing Windows 10 icons for the Start Menu.
3. Old Context Menus:
   • Open ‘Regedit’ and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell\Update.
   • Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value, name it Start_ShowClassicMode, and set the value to 1. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

I found the transition to Windows 11 challenging and yearned for the simplicity of Windows 10. Here’s what I did:

1. Taskbar Adjustment: I accessed the ‘Taskbar settings’ by right-clicking on the taskbar, then selected ‘Left’ alignment to restore the traditional layout.
2. Classic Menu: By installing Open-Shell, I easily reverted to a familiar Windows 10 Start Menu. Post-installation, I customized it to my exact preference.
3. Themes and Icons: I applied a Windows 10 theme and downloaded the old icon set to replace the default Windows 11 icons using third-party tools.

Transforming my Windows 11 to mimic Windows 10 wasn’t too complicated. Here’s what I did to achieve it:

1. Move Taskbar Icons Left:
   • Right-click the taskbar, go to ‘Taskbar settings,’ and set the alignment to ‘Left.’
2. Open-Shell:
   • Download Open-Shell from their official website.
   • Install and set the Start Menu to the Windows 10 layout.
3. Explorer Patcher:
   • Install Explorer Patcher to bring back Windows 10’s File Explorer and taskbar elements.
4. Windows 10 Themes:
   • Revert to a Windows 10 theme by downloading it online and applying it through the Themes settings.