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You can swap Windows 11 shell and bring back the old Taskbar and context menu
This trick requires you to have an old Windows Explorer .exe file
2 min. read
Published onMay 14, 2024
published onMay 14, 2024
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Windows 11 brought many changes in terms of user interface, but the old Windows interface is still available, and it still works.
Tech-savvy users have found a way to swap Windows 11 shell and use the one from the previous version, and it’s easier than you think.
You can easily swap the Windows 11 shell with the one from Windows 10
This discovery comes from X user Bob Pony, and he has managed to swap his Windows 11 shell.
It’s possible to swap the Explorer shell in Windows 11 Version 24H2 with the one from Windows 10 (20H1-22H2, Server 2022 works too). Half of it works such as the taskbar from Windows 10 and tray area, but there’s quirks such as non-working task view and improperly aligned menus.https://t.co/a0RcS5oDXXpic.twitter.com/wEqNkvphX1
As you can see, the process is incredibly simple, and it requires you to shut down Windows Explorer entirely.
Then you need to open Windows Explorer from an older version of Windows, such as Windows 10 20H1-22H2 or Server 2022.
During his demonstration, Bob used version 10.0.19041.4355 of Windows Explorer. Once you do that, you’ll get the old Taskbar back as well as the old context menu.
Do keep in mind that some components won’t work properly, such as Task View, and there are also issues with the alignment of certain menus.
While it’s great to see that Windows 11 version 24H2 can handle the old shell, this isn’t something that you should use daily.
If you’re nostalgic about previous versions of Windows, don’t be, asAMD Zen 5 CPU architecture won’t support Windows 10 drivers.
In addition,Windows 10 21H2 Enterprise and Education editions are reaching the end of support, and Microsoft advises them to upgrade as soon as possible.
More about the topics:File Explorer,windows 10,Windows 11
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
