Tweaking Windows 11 to look more like Windows 10 isn’t crazy, and honestly, it’s kind of weird how many little things change with each update. Sometimes, the new UI feels sleek, but then you realize certain features or layouts are totally different—like the Start menu or taskbar placement. If the new look feels a bit too alien or if you just prefer the old-school familiarity, there are ways to dial it back without losing performance or breaking stuff. The goal here is to bring back that Windows 10 vibe—classic, straightforward, and easy to navigate—while keeping your system running smoothly. Basically, making your Windows 11 feel more “homey” again, but through some tweaks and third-party tools that won’t mess everything up.
Step by Step Tutorial to Make Windows 11 Look Like Windows 10
Follow these rough steps, and you should get a pretty decent Windows 10 lookalike without going totally manual or messing with deep system files. The trick is to focus on the taskbar, start menu, icons, theme, and File Explorer—those are the big visual clues that make Windows 10 feel so familiar.
Adjust the Taskbar
First, taskbar customization—because the default Windows 11 taskbar is centered and different. If you prefer the classic left-aligned icons, right-click on the taskbar and pick Taskbar settings. Then go to “Taskbar behaviors” and find Taskbar alignment drop-down. Choose Left. If you’re feeling really retro, you can also turn off the new widgets and search icons—just toggle those off here. It’s weird how Windows made the taskbar so customizable, but after a few tries, this step just kinda clicks. On some setups, this change might need a quick reboot or restart explorer.exe through the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc, find Windows Explorer, then hit Restart)—sometimes it’s the only way to see the change immediately. Because Windows loves to make simple tweaks a pain sometimes.
Get the Classic Start Menu
This one’s the game changer. The default Windows 11 start menu is more centered and modern-looking, but if you want that old Windows 10 style—square, list-based, no fancy rounded corners—then grab a third-party app.Winhance or StartAllBack (or Start11 from Stardock if you’re willing to pay) will do the trick. Install it, set the layout to Windows 10 style, and customize it a bit—probably need to restart the explorer process or your PC for full rollout. Honestly, on some machines it took a couple of tries or a reboot, but it’s super worth it because this really makes it feel like Windows 10 again, even if the inside is still Windows 11.
Replace the Icons
Icons are a big part of that nostalgic vibe. You can download a Windows 10 icon pack—just do a quick Google search for “Windows 10 icon pack” from trusted sites. Use an app like IconPackager or manually change them. To swap icons, right-click the shortcut, select Properties, then under the Shortcut tab, click on Change Icon. Browse for the new icons you downloaded. This is kinda tedious if you want to do them all, but it’s so worth the effort for that familiar look. You might find that Windows sometimes resets custom icons after some updates, so keep the pack handy.
Hook Up a Windows 10-Like Theme
Next, themes. Navigate to Settings > Personalization > Themes. Pick one that resembles Windows 10, or even better, search for custom themes online (just make sure they’re from trusted sources).Installing themes is usually just double-clicking the file or using a third-party app if you want more choices. Also, consider matching your wallpapers and sounds to that Windows 10 style. File explorer themed icons and backgrounds help with the overall vibe.
Bring Back the Old File Explorer
The new Windows 11 File Explorer ribbon is more minimal, but if you want that classic Windows 10 ribbon, you’ll need ExplorerPatcher (https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher).Download and install it, then select “Restore Ribbon” in the options. Easy peasy. That classic look helps make navigation feel familiar again, plus it’s actually more efficient if you’re used to the old layout. On some PCs, you might need to restart your PC or restart explorer.exe after installing this, but overall, it’s straightforward.
After doing these, your Windows 11 will look way more like Windows 10. You get the familiar UI, the same start menu style, and those little visual cues that make the old OS feel like home. Just remember—these tweaks aren’t baked into Windows, so occasional reverts or updates can mess with your customizations. Be prepared to reapply a theme or tweak icons if necessary. But in the end, it’s all about making your PC feel right for you.