One way to tame the ever-changing Start menu.
Microsoft can’t leave the Start menu alone.
It changed between Windows XP and Vista, Vista and Windows 7, 7 and 8 (dramatically!), 8 and 10 (tamed down a little), and again 10 and 11 (removing functionality, no less).
Just when we get used to what we have, the next version of Windows pulls the rug out from underneath us.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Open-Shell (formerly Classic Shell) is free software that gives you your favorite Start menu back.
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Microsoft Can't Leave the Start Menu Alone
Microsoft constantly revamps the Start menu, yanking familiar layouts just as users adjust. Open-Shell, a free program, brings back your favorite menu style from earlier Windows versions. It works alongside Windows 11 without removing features.
The Start menu
This is what most people react to.
This shows pinned programs across the top and “recommended” items below. If you look closely, you can see an “All >” item that opens a list of installed programs, not unlike “All Programs” from years past.
It’s different than Windows 10 and less flexible to boot.
With Open-Shell — also known as Open-Shell-Menu — you can get the old-style Start menu back.
Installing Open-Shell
Open-Shell is free open-source software available on GitHub.
Visit the Open-Shell homepage and look for the release button.
Click on that. On the resulting page, scroll down until you see the installer — OpenShellSetup_xxx.exe.
Click on that to download the installer and select “run” if prompted.1 You’ll be presented with a welcome message.
Click Next to view and agree to a license agreement; click Next again to view a menu of installation options. Click Next and then Install to complete the installation.
Open-Shell Menu
After installing Open-Shell (and making a choice or two, which I’ll cover in a moment), my Windows 11 Pro edition now has a Windows 7-style Start menu.
Using Open-Shell
Open-Shell integrates into Windows very well. It feels very natural and familiar in almost every circumstance.
Of particular note, however, is that Classic Start hasn’t removed anything. In fact, if you want to revisit your old Start menu, just hold down Shift as you click on the Start button. If you want the old alternate Start menu, hold down Shift as you CTRL+Click the Start button.
And, of course, if you decide you’d rather not use Open-Shell and want to run with the native Windows 11 interface, you can simply uninstall it.
Options, so many options!
I’ve only scratched the surface of Open-Shell’s capabilities.
Right-click on your Open-Shell start button and click on Settings; then make sure that the “Show all settings” checkbox is checked.
The options available allow you to customize just about every aspect of the Start menu.
Left-aligning the Start menu
Open-Shell doesn’t change the taskbar, so the Start Button remains in the center by default. We can complete our Windows 7 makeover by changing that in the Windows Settings app.
Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar and click on Taskbar Settings. The Settings app will open. Click on Taskbar behaviors.
Change “Taskbar alignment” to “Left”.
Do this
My recommendation is that you embrace the characteristics of the operating system you have. If you’re on Windows 11, learn to use the Windows 11 Start menu. That will serve you well into the future and keep you less dependent on third-party tools like Open-Shell.
However, particularly if you’re struggling with Windows 11’s Start menu and its changes, give Open-Shell a try before giving up.
It might change your mind.
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Footnotes & References
1: You may need to jump through a hoop or two to allow your browser to “keep” the downloaded file due to Windows/Edge download protection. The file indicated for download above is safe. (The accompanying video shows the steps in action.)
You claimed people should learn the nuances of the OS they are using. Why would anyone want to use crap when good apps like Open Shell are available. That’s like claiming people should use Internet Explorer, a piece of rubbish that has never improved since it was released initially. Microsoft screwed up with the design of Windows 8 and 10 and people reacted to the design. Microsoft changed the start menu a little but, in spite, they retained their own nonsense, which is geared at touch screen users.
Another thought on Useful Win 11 UI modifications like OpenShell
As background, I provide a LOT of free remote and on-site support for people with Windows computers, and the #1 request that I get from these folks that I provide support for is to “bring back the look and feel” of an earlier Windows version (typically Windows 7). Some folks are just set in their ways, others are not willing or are unable to devote the time and energy to learn the new Windows 11 (and Windows Explorer) UI and functionality, and some others just really dislike what Microsoft has done to the product. Especially the older folks that I support in particular find it increasingly difficult to navigate the pace and myriad of changes; consistency and reliability of their computers and other electronic devices at that stage in their life is their primary concern, and those feelings are well-founded.
OpenShell is one of my main “go to” products to address this challenge, because it’s free, legal, well-supported and meets some of the need that I hear from a lot of the folks that I support, for the features that Leo describes so well in his article. It can only meet some of the requirements to get back to a Windows 7-like UI, however.
Other utilities with the same criteria that causes me to choose OpenShell (free, legal and well-supported) are Classic Notepad and Explorer Patcher, plus the ability to restore the Quick Launch toolbar. I’ve found, over time, that these tools can pretty much bring back not only the “look and feel” of the Windows 7 UI, but also the basic functionality of that version of Windows!
When someone tells me that they don’t like Windows 11, I usually find that they’re referring to the changes to the UI and Windows Explorer, so OpenShell is definitely one of the tools that I use to try and overcome that resistance, because any new computer purchase these days is going to come with Windows 11, like it or not!
I’m an OpenShell convert for years now – love the customisability which you touch upon so well, and especially the recreatability by restoring from backups. I collect and make “orbs” to make both hovering and clicking the “Start” button a bit more interesting, and since you’ve gone “back to the future” of Windows 7 I’ve made one for you tonight. {removed}
All I can say after using it first “Classic Shell” and then “Open Shell”, is I LOVE IT and always have! Changing the Windows User Interface with every update to Windows only makes using Windows harder for people that just want a stable platform to get things done. I don’t want a screen full of chicklets (apps) and never did! Microsoft could have offered users the choice of user interfaces but chose instead to force their new ones on users if for no other reason than to confound them.
I installed OpenShell a few days ago to see how it worked on Windows 11. I worked fine, but I uninstalled it. I’m so used to the Windows 11 Start Menu, I actually prefer it. It’s highly customizable.
I’m running Windows 11 Pro. I used a combination of Local Group Policy and a registry hack to make Windows think I’m running Windows Education to remove everything except apps I have pinned to the Start menu and a search bar.
No more Recommended or Frequently Used apps. And no third party app needed. Now, if I can only find a way to make Windows think I’m joined to a domain, I can play around with Group Policy to tame Microsoft Edge.