The introduction of Windows 11 brought a fresh visual overhaul that many praised for its aesthetics, yet it left some users missing the functionality and familiarity of Windows 10 features. ExplorerPatcher, an open-source application, aims to address this by reintroducing beloved features from Windows 10 into the contemporary Windows 11 environment, preserving usability over mere appearance.
Reviving the Classic Context Menu
One of the most notable accommodations ExplorerPatcher offers is the return of the Windows 10 context menu. Windows 11 reformed the traditional context menu, replacing text entries with symbols and burying several options under the "Show more options" button. ExplorerPatcher overturns these changes, restoring a clear, labeled context menu accessible with a single click. Users can activate this by opening ExplorerPatcher, right-clicking on the taskbar, selecting Properties, navigating to File Explorer, and opting to "Disable the Windows 11 context menu".
Taskbar and Start Menu Restorations
In addition to context menu modifications, ExplorerPatcher grants users the capability to revert the taskbar to its past functionality. It allows the taskbar to be relocated to any screen edge, while system icons for Wi-Fi, volume, and battery revert to opening their individual menus, rather than triggering the centralized Action Center. Furthermore, the app restores the Windows 10 Start menu setup, complete with an alphabetical apps list and optional live tiles, foregoing the "recommended apps" clutter that some found unproductive.
File Explorer Ribbon and Limitations
The app also revamps File Explorer, reinstating the Windows 10-style ribbon that offers explicit commands and easy access to tools. This, however, comes with an existing caveat: users enabling the old ribbon might encounter issues with opening new tabs in File Explorer, urging caution for heavy tab users.
Beyond ExplorerPatcher
Despite the breadth of changes ExplorerPatcher makes, it's not a panacea for all Windows 11 qualms. Certain issues, such as the mandatory Microsoft account setup in some installations, remain untouched by the application. Realizing these limitations, some users are contemplating a gradual transition toward Linux, where they feel the constraints of Windows 11 are less pronounced. Nonetheless, many still elect to keep Windows for specific applications, highlighting the balance ExplorerPatcher provides in maintaining a familiar Windows experience without fully abandoning the platform.
