START11 FREE ALTERNATIVE WINDOWS 10

You can download both Open-Shell and Start11 now on your Windows 11 PC. If you'd like to explore the possibility of using Open-Shell in place of the Windows 11 Start button, see this forum post for more details. For example, after enabling it and choosing your icon, you’ll see it simply places its own button in the bottom left-hand corner, meaning you can only use it alongside the existing Start menu rather than as a replacement. Open-Shell will appeal to those looking for a Windows 7-style menu, but is not as elegant a solution as Start11.

Open-Shell will work in Windows 11, but it adds its own menu alongside the existing Start menu as opposed to replacing it If you’re unable - or unwilling - to pay for a Start menu replacement, then the good news is that Open-Shell is a free and open-source alternative that continues to work in Windows 11. You get 30 days to try out - and see if you get along with - the new features, and if you do, it costs a one-off $5.99 to keep.

Start11 also gives you more control over the Windows taskbar, restoring those missing options when right-clicking as well as allowing you to change its appearance. Click the down arrow next to your chosen style to tweak it further with options such as compact and grid available, or click the Settings button to fine-tune it further.

START11 FREE ALTERNATIVE WINDOWS 10

Work your way through the various options, starting with picking a style: Windows 7, Modern, Windows 10 or Windows 11. You’ll then find yourself at the program’s configuration screen. You can restore it to its original location on the left of the taskbar (you know, where all that wasted space now is), but more importantly, you get to choose what kind of Start menu you want.Īfter installing, Start11 will launch and once you’ve activated the 30-day trial, you’ll be taken through a configuration wizard: start by choosing whether to align the taskbar (and its icons) to the left or center of the screen. Like all good Start-menu replacement tools, Start11 aims to give you complete control over how the Start menu looks and behaves in Windows 11.

Start11 free alternative