How to make Windows 11 look and feel more like Windows 10

Windows 11 brings a long-overdue makeover to Microsoft’s operating system. Everything from the Start menu to the taskbar is redesigned leaving little trace of Windows 10. However, to offer a simpler experience, Microsoft has altered several functions that longtime users are accustomed to, such as the tedious new volume controls. But, in case you’re finding it difficult to get used to Windows 11’s appearance, you can personalize it to look and feel more like Windows 10. 

Using third-party utilities and built-in options, you can restore many of Windows 11’s updated elements back to the Windows 10 style. Whether you’re looking to retrieve the classic Start menu or the expanded right-click menus, these hacks have you covered. Here’s how to get started. 

Remove Windows 11 bloatware from taskbar

Windows 11 adds a handful of new shortcuts to the taskbar, like Microsoft Teams and Widgets. That might be fine for some, but for others, the shortcuts are unnecessary bloatware. And right-clicking them, sadly, doesn’t offer any way to easily get rid of these options. In order to remove them and other offenders, you’ll have to dive deep into the system settings. 

Head over to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. Under the “Taskbar items” section, toggle off whichever icons you no longer want on your Taskbar. 

Clean up and relocate the Windows 11 start menu to the corner

The Start menu has gotten an overhaul with Windows 11. It’s also become a bit crowded. In addition to relocating to the center of the screen, it houses a bunch of new sections for your recently accessed files, most used apps, and more. There’s an easy fix to this. 

In order to restore the Start menu back to its original position in the left bottom corner, you need to return to the Settings menu and go to taskbar personalization settings, and inside “Taskbar behaviours,” select “Center” in the “Taskbar alignment” dropdown. 

Similarly, to clean up the Start menu, go to Settings >  Personalization > Start and turn off the folders you don’t need. 

Not feeling the Windows 11 look? It’s OK, with an app called Start11, it’s possible to restore the Windows 10 Start menu design on Windows 11. Start11, apart from the Windows 10 theme, lets you pick from a host of Start menu layouts, including Windows 7. 

What’s more, you can customize Start11’s themes down to the pixel. So once you have chosen, for instance, the Windows 10 scheme, you can adjust its transparency, size, icon spacing, and accent colors. Plus, Start11 allows you to apply a custom theme on the taskbar. You have the option to edit the taskbar’s background transparency, reposition it to the top, and more.