How Do I Make Windows 11 Look Like Windows 10

Are you a Windows 10 enthusiast who's not quite ready to embrace the new look of Windows 11? Don't worry, you're not alone. Many Windows users have found themselves wanting to make Windows 11 look more like its predecessor. While Windows 11 introduces exciting new features, some users prefer the familiarity of Windows 10's interface. So, how can you make Windows 11 look like Windows 10 without sacrificing the benefits of the latest version?

To make Windows 11 resemble Windows 10, there are a few key adjustments you can make. One option is to customize your taskbar by moving it to the bottom of the screen, just like in Windows 10. This can be easily done by right-clicking on the taskbar and choosing "Taskbar settings." Additionally, you can change the Start menu layout to the more traditional Windows 10 style by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting "Start settings." By making these simple tweaks, you can maintain the look and feel of Windows 10 while still enjoying the upgraded features of Windows 11.

Customizing the Windows 11 Interface to Resemble Windows 10

Windows 11 brings a fresh and modern interface to the table, but if you prefer the look and feel of Windows 10, you can customize your Windows 11 experience to resemble Windows 10. Whether it's the Start menu, taskbar, or overall aesthetic, there are several ways to make Windows 11 resemble its predecessor. In this article, we'll explore various methods to help you achieve a Windows 10-like appearance on your Windows 11 device.

1. Start Menu Customization

The Start menu underwent a significant transformation in Windows 11, featuring a centered layout and a more minimalist design. However, if you prefer the traditional left-aligned Start menu of Windows 10, you can make a few adjustments to customize it in Windows 11.

To start, right-click on the taskbar and select "Taskbar settings." In the settings menu, scroll down to the "Taskbar behaviors" section and toggle off the switch for "Center align taskbar." This will move the taskbar icons and the Start menu back to the left side of the screen, resembling the Windows 10 layout.

You can further customize the Start menu by right-clicking on it and selecting "Settings." In the Start settings menu, you can choose to show the most used apps, recently added apps, and pinned apps, similar to the Windows 10 Start menu. Additionally, you can enable the "Show app list in Start menu" option to display a list of all your installed apps in a compact view.

To complete the Windows 10-like Start menu customization, you can change the background or theme. Right-click on the desktop and select "Personalize." Under the "Background" tab, choose a solid color or a Windows 10 wallpaper to bring back the familiar look.

1.1 Pinning Frequently Used Apps

Pinning frequently used apps in the taskbar can enhance usability and replicate the Windows 10 experience. To pin apps to the taskbar, locate the desired app in the Start menu or the app list, right-click on it, and select "Pin to taskbar." The pinned apps will then appear in the taskbar for quick and easy access.

Additionally, you can rearrange the pinned apps on the taskbar by dragging and dropping them into your preferred order. Right-clicking on a pinned app will also present you with options to unpin the app, open a new instance, or access its settings. These customization options provide a familiar Windows 10-like experience in Windows 11.

Furthermore, for a more compact taskbar resembling Windows 10, you can right-click on any empty space in the taskbar, go to "Taskbar settings," and toggle on the "Use small taskbar buttons" option. This will reduce the size of the icons and create a similar visual aesthetic.

2. System Tray Customization

The system tray, located on the right end of the taskbar, contains icons for various system notifications and functions. By customizing the system tray in Windows 11, you can make it resemble Windows 10 and access the features you're accustomed to.

To customize the system tray, right-click on an empty area of the taskbar, choose "Taskbar settings," and scroll down to the "Notification area" section. Click on "Turn system icons on or off" to manage which icons appear in the system tray. In this menu, you can enable or disable system icons such as the clock, volume, network, and power.

If you want to keep the Windows 10 design more intact, you can hide the new app icons that appear in the system tray by going to "Taskbar settings" and under the "News and interests" section, toggling off the switch for "News and interests." This will remove the weather and news widget from the system tray.

To further customize the system tray, you can control which app icons appear by going to "Taskbar settings" and scrolling down to the "Select which icons appear on the taskbar" section. From here, you can individually toggle on or off the icons for various apps and customize the system tray to suit your preferences, similar to Windows 10.

2.1 Battery and Power Icon

If you want the battery and power icon to resemble the Windows 10 design, you can customize it under the "Turn system icons on or off" menu. Enable the switch for "Power" to display the power icon, and beneath it, enable the switch for "Battery" to show the battery percentage alongside the power icon, as seen in Windows 10.

By managing the system tray icons and configuring them to match the layout and functionality of Windows 10, you can recreate the familiar Windows 10 interface within Windows 11.

3. Window Management and Snap Assist

In Windows 11, there have been changes to window management and snap assist, making it important to understand how to utilize these features to achieve a similar experience to Windows 10.

To snap windows to the sides of the screen in Windows 11, you can use the new Snap Assist feature. Drag a window to one side of the screen until you see a transparent outline, then release the window to snap it. If you want a window to take up the full screen, drag it to the top edge until it expands to fill the screen.

Furthermore, if you prefer the Windows 10 snapping behavior, where windows automatically snap to the sides or corners of the screen, you can enable it by going to "Taskbar settings," scrolling down to the "Snap windows" section, and toggling on the switch for "When I snap a window, automatically size it to fill available space."

These adjustments allow you to maintain the efficient window management techniques of Windows 10 in Windows 11, ensuring a familiar and comfortable experience.

3.1 Virtual Desktops

An essential feature of both Windows 10 and Windows 11 is virtual desktops. This feature allows you to create multiple desktop environments, ideal for organizing different tasks or projects. To access virtual desktops in Windows 11, click on the "Task View" button on the taskbar or press Win + Tab. From there, you can add new desktops and switch between them.

By utilizing virtual desktops, you can replicate the productivity-enhancing aspect of Windows 10 in Windows 11 and have a seamless transition between the two operating systems.

4. File Explorer Customization

The File Explorer in Windows 11 has undergone visual updates, but you can still customize it to match the appearance of Windows 10.

To make File Explorer resemble its Windows 10 counterpart, open File Explorer, click on "View" in the top menu, and select "Options." In the "Folder Options" window that appears, go to the "View" tab. Here, you can choose to enable options such as "Show hidden files, folders, and drives," "Hide extensions for known file types," and "Display the full path in the title bar." These settings align File Explorer with the default options of Windows 10's File Explorer.

Additionally, in the "General" tab of the "Folder Options" window, you can choose to open File Explorer to "This PC" instead of the Quick Access view, which is similar to the default behavior in Windows 10.

By adjusting these settings, you can regain the familiar Windows 10 File Explorer experience in Windows 11.

A Familiar Windows 10 Experience on Windows 11

With the methods mentioned above, you can make the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 less jarring by customizing the user interface to resemble Windows 10. Whether it's modifying the Start menu, customizing the system tray, managing windows, or adjusting File Explorer, these tweaks can help you feel more at home in Windows 11 while preserving the familiarity of Windows 10.

Customizing Windows 11 to Resemble Windows 10

If you are accustomed to the look and feel of Windows 10 but have upgraded to Windows 11 and wish to make it resemble its predecessor, there are several customization options available. Follow these steps to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10:

• Taskbar: Right-click on the taskbar and select "Taskbar settings." Change the taskbar alignment to the bottom, enable the option to combine taskbar buttons, and choose the "Use small taskbar buttons" option.
• Start Menu: Right-click on the taskbar and select "Start settings." Enable the feature to "Show app list in Start menu" and change the layout to "Full screen."
• Notification Center: Access the "Notifications & Focus Assist" settings and enable the "Use notification banner" option to revert to the Windows 10 style.
• File Explorer: Right-click on the taskbar and select "News & interests" settings. Choose the "Hidden" option to remove the Windows 11 widget.

These changes will help you replicate the Windows 10 appearance on Windows 11, providing a familiar and comfortable experience. However, it's worth noting that some features and improvements introduced in Windows 11 may not be available or may not function optimally with these modifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you're looking to make your Windows 11 interface resemble the familiar Windows 10 appearance, here are some frequently asked questions to help you achieve that:

1. Can I change the taskbar position in Windows 11?

Yes, you can change the taskbar position in Windows 11 to resemble the Windows 10 layout. Right-click on the taskbar, go to "Taskbar settings," and toggle off the "Center the taskbar" option. This will move the taskbar to the left side of the screen, just like in Windows 10.

Furthermore, you can also resize the taskbar by dragging the edge. This allows you to customize the width according to your preference.

2. How can I bring back the Start Menu from Windows 10?

To bring back the Start Menu from Windows 10 in Windows 11, you can use a third-party tool such as "Classic Shell" or "Open Shell". These tools provide options to customize the Start Menu and make it resemble the Windows 10 version.

Alternatively, you can also try using the built-in "Windows 10" theme for Windows 11. This theme changes the appearance of various elements, including the Start Menu, to give it the Windows 10 look and feel.

3. Is it possible to disable the centered taskbar icons in Windows 11?

Yes, you can disable the centered taskbar icons in Windows 11 and make them align to the left side, similar to Windows 10. Right-click on the taskbar, go to "Taskbar settings," and toggle off the "Center icons on the taskbar" option.

This will align the taskbar icons to the left, making it resemble the Windows 10 taskbar style.

4. Can I change the Windows 11 Start button to look like the Windows 10 Start button?

While you can't directly change the Windows 11 Start button to look exactly like the Windows 10 Start button, you can make it resemble it by using third-party customization tools.

Tools like "StartIsBack" or "Open-Shell" allow you to customize the Start button appearance and behavior to replicate the Windows 10 style.

5. How can I switch back to the Windows 10 theme in Windows 11?

To switch back to the Windows 10 theme in Windows 11, you can install the "Windows 10" theme pack from the Microsoft Store. This theme pack changes the overall appearance of Windows 11 to resemble Windows 10, including the colors, icons, and visual elements.

Additionally, you can also customize various aspects manually, such as the accent color and wallpaper, to match the Windows 10 aesthetic.

In summary, if you're looking to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10, there are a few steps you can take.

First, you can customize the taskbar by moving it to the bottom of the screen and enabling the small icons option. Additionally, you can disable or hide the Windows 11 centered start menu and use a third-party start menu replacement that resembles the Windows 10 start menu. Finally, you can change the system theme and colors to match the Windows 10 aesthetic.

Remember that modifying the appearance of your operating system may involve downloading third-party software or making system adjustments, so always exercise caution and ensure you're taking appropriate steps to protect your computer. With these modifications, you can enjoy the familiarity and functionality of Windows 10 while still benefiting from some of the new features of Windows 11.