One way to tame the ever changing Start menu
Microsoft can’t leave the Start menu alone.
It changed from Windows XP to Vista, from Vista to Windows 7, from 7 to 8 (dramatically!), from 8 to 10 (tamed down a little), and again from 10 to 11 (removing functionality, no less).
Just about the time 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, letting you customize your experience while keeping things comfortable.
Start is…
This is what most people react to.
Pinned programs across the top, “recommended” items down 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 has been integrated 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 re-visit your old Start menu, just hold down Shift as you click on the Start button. If you want the old alternate Start menu, hoild 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 as well.
Options, so many options!
To be honest, I’ve really only scratched the surface of Open-Shell’s capabilities.
Right-click on your Open-Shell start button and click on Settings, and 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.
Right click on an empty area of the taskbar, click on Taskbar Settings, now in the Settings app click on Taskbar behaviours:
Change “Taskbar alignment” to “Left”.
Do this
My true 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 downloaded here 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.