Windows 11 brings a long-overdue makeover to Microsoft's operating system. From the beginning menu towards the taskbar is redesigned leaving little trace of Windows 10. However, to provide a simpler experience, Microsoft has altered several functions that longtime users are accustomed to, such as the tedious new volume controls. But, just in case you're discovering it difficult to get accustomed to Windows 11's appearance, you can personalize it to appear and feel a lot more like Windows 10.

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

Remove Windows 11 bloatware from taskbar

Windows 11 adds a number of new shortcuts to the taskbar, like Microsoft Teams and Widgets. That could be fine for some, but for others, the shortcuts are unnecessary bloatware. And right-clicking them, sadly, doesn't offer any way to simply get rid of these options. To be able to remove them and other offenders, you'll need to dive deep in to the system settings.

Check out Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. Underneath the "Taskbar items" section, toggle off whichever icons you no longer want on your Taskbar.

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

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

In order to restore the Start menu to its original position in the left bottom corner, you have 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 wash up the Start menu, visit Settings > Personalization > Start and turn from the folders you don't need.

Get the Windows 10 start menu on Windows 11

Not feeling the Windows 11 look? It's OK, with an app called Start11, it's easy to restore the Windows 10 Start menu design on Windows 11. Start11, in addition to the Windows 10 theme, enables you to select from a number of Start menu layouts, including Windows 7.

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

Alternatively, if you don't wish to pay, you can test Open Shell. Open Shell doesn't offer the same tools as Start11 and just comes with the classic Windows 7 Start menu theme.

Restore the Windows 10 taskbar on Windows 11

Windows 11 deploys a visually updated taskbar too. By doing this, though, Microsoft abandoned a bunch of handy functionality. Switching the amount output source, for instance, has become a multi-step process instead of just being a look away. If you're not really a fan of this, you can roll back many of Windows 11's taskbar changes using the StartAllBack program.

Like Start11, StartAllBack lets you swap the Windows 11 start menu because of its counterparts from Windows 7 and Windows 10. You are able to further adjust which apps are available in the beginning menu, including icon size and spacing and colors.

StartAllBack's highlight, though, is its taskbar personalization. It lets you patch most of the Windows 11 taskbar's shortcomings. You can refit it with the Windows 10 volume control, expanded context menu, the upcoming appointments view, and much more. Additionally, it offers a selection of customization tools to be able to affect the taskbar's look with custom themes.

Together with taskbar and Start menu settings, StartAllBack can undo Windows 11's updates for the file explorer too and switch the simplified command bar at the very top using the classic, expanded menu.

Obtain the classic context menu on Windows 11

Windows 11 no longer displays any pro options when you right-click personal files and compresses them in a new "Show more options" button. But if you're tired of dealing with that every time, you are able to restore the Windows 10 context menu with a quick registry hack.

Type "regedit" within the start menu and open the "Registry Editor" app. Within that, punch in "Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\" within the address bar at the very top and hit enter.

Right-click the "CLSID" folder and navigate to New > Key. Enter "86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2" within the key name field and save. Right-click this new entry you simply created, select New > Key again, and name it "InprocServer32."

Left-click "ImproServer32," as well as on the right pane, double-click the "default" item. In the following prompt, just click the "Ok" button without entering anything within the "Value data" field. Close the registry editor and reboot your computer. You're ready.