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How to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10?

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If you’re missing the look of Windows 10 and want to make your new Windows 11 look like Windows 10, you will be pleased to know that it is quite easy to do so.

Windows 11 is the latest operating system offered by Microsoft, with a new design and features. However, many people have been so adept at Windows 10 that they want to either return to Windows 10 or make Windows 11 look like its predecessor.

In this article, we’ll discuss how to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10. You have to tweak the following features to like those of Windows 10, and you’re good to go.


Change the taskbar

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The first thing you need to do is to change the taskbar settings. By default, Windows 11 centres the taskbar icons and the Start menu, which differs from Windows 10’s left-aligned layout.

To change this, right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Then, under Taskbar behaviours, choose Left from the Taskbar alignment dropdown menu.

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You can also turn off the Widgets and Chat buttons from the same page if you don’t use them.

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Change the Start menu

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Next, you need to change the Start menu settings. Windows 11’s Start menu is more compact and minimalist than Windows 10’s and doesn’t have live tiles or folders.

To change this, you can use a third-party app called StartAllBack, which lets you customise the Start menu to your liking. After that, you can choose from various to make the Start menu look like Windows 10, such as enabling live titles, adding folders, changing the colour scheme and more.

Other similar programs include Open-Shell and Start11.


Change File Explorer

Another thing you need to change is the File Explorer settings. Windows 11’s File Explorer has a new ribbon interface that replaces the old toolbar and menu bar. It also has rounded corners and new icons.

To change this, you can use another third-party app called OldNewExplorer, which restores the classic File Explorer look. You can download it from any trusted website and install it on your PC.

Once the program is installed, you can tweak various settings to make File Explorer look like Windows 10’s, such as enabling the toolbar and menu bar, disabling the ribbon interface, changing the icons, and more.

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Change rounded corners

Although this feature should not bother you, there is a fix to revert the rounded corners in Windows 11 back to the edged ones.

There is one alternative available. By disabling hardware graphics acceleration (which also disables other visual elements like transparency), Windows 11 will revert to its default square corners.

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Head to the Device Manager and expand the Display Adapters section. After that, right-click on the displayed adapter and choose the Disable Device option.

However, we must advise against this approach. Disabling your graphics hardware will result in a sluggish and unresponsive Windows user interface. Additionally, you won’t be able to utilize 3D applications or games until you re-enable the hardware. Considering this option cautiously is better, as it can negatively impact your overall system performance.


Change the wallpaper

The last step that you can take to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10 is changing the wallpaper.

The original Windows 10 wallpaper is found on many websites, such as Imgur. Download the picture and set it as wallpaper to get a more authentic look of Windows 10.

Following these steps, you can quickly make Windows 11 look like Windows 10. However, keep in mind that some of these changes may affect the performance or stability of your PC, so use them at your own risk.

Also, remember to back up your data before making any changes to your system. We hope this article was helpful to you.

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Kumar Hemant

Kumar Hemant

Deputy Editor at Candid.Technology. Hemant writes at the intersection of tech and culture and has a keen interest in science, social issues and international relations. You can contact him here: kumarhemant@pm.me

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