desktop customization

For millions of Windows users and IT professionals, the Start menu is more than just a launcher—it’s an organizing principle, a comfort zone, and, at times, a battleground of new ideas. Microsoft’s latest announcement regarding significant updates to the Windows 11 Start menu and a suite of...

With more than a billion PCs in the world and StatCounter data indicating that 71 percent run Windows, Microsoft’s stranglehold on the desktop remains robust—but not unshakeable. As of this writing, around 4 percent of desktops worldwide operate on Linux, representing tens of millions of users...

Microsoft has officially unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the Windows 11 Start menu, promising to deliver a more customizable, intuitive, and integrated user experience than ever before. This update, which is already generating significant attention within tech circles, aims to reshape how users...

For Windows users seeking to rejuvenate their daily digital workspace, the quest for a vibrant, functional, and interactive desktop often leads to third-party wallpaper engines. Among the most noteworthy entrants to this realm is Sucrose—a free, fully open-source wallpaper engine designed...

Minimalism and Windows have not always been synonymous in the software world, yet the evolution of the Windows ecosystem combined with a flourishing open-source community has led to a new era where streamlined computing does not have to mean sacrificing power or control. For users seeking a...

The debate around desktop cleanliness is nearly as old as the Windows operating system itself. Conventional wisdom—and many IT best-practice guides—lean heavily in favor of a pristine, icon-free desktop. Minimalism is touted as efficient, professional, and conducive to productivity. But an...

For many Windows users, getting the most out of their operating system is about more than simply working within Microsoft’s stock workflow tools. Power users, productivity enthusiasts, and even casual tinkerers often find themselves searching for solutions to stubborn inefficiencies and...

Here’s a summary of the Gearrice article “Forget Windows 11: Commodore OS Vision 3.0 is the retro system you’ve been waiting for”: Commodore OS Vision 3.0 is a Linux-based operating system revived to emulate classic Commodore systems while bringing them to the modern era. Originally started by...

Microsoft has introduced a new feature in Windows 11 that dynamically adjusts the size of taskbar icons based on the number of open applications. This functionality aims to enhance taskbar space management by offering three configurations: Permanent: Icons remain small at all times. Never...

I am looking for a ribbon for Windows 11 for all versions

Few utilities for Windows power users attract as much enduring loyalty as Stardock’s Fences, and with the newly-launched Fences 6, the company is reaffirming its reputation as a leader in Windows 11 desktop customization. The latest beta drop brings both design polish and workflow efficiency to...

If you’ve spent any time with Windows 11, you’re probably already familiar with the curious bar of content that insists on popping up from the left side of your screen. Sports scores, the weather, trending drama you didn’t know you cared about—Widgets are Microsoft’s answer to that question...

For the longest time, Microsoft treated the Windows Taskbar as if it were the dashboard of a spaceship—clunky, information-rich, and somehow both essential and confusing. Then Windows 11 landed with its super-sleek, minimalist Taskbar, and users around the globe collectively scratched their...

It’s been a long, drawn-out battle between Windows users and that most revered—or reviled—of computer features: the Start menu. For years, Windows 11’s glossy but restrictive menu has annoyed power users, casual clickers, and start-up tinkerers alike. But change, much like a Windows update...

When it comes to kickstarting a whirlwind of productivity on Windows 11, few things spark as much passion—and, yes, even controversy—as the Start menu. Even if you don’t typically find yourself locked in philosophical debates about UI placement, there’s something universally relatable about...

If there's a metric for just how exciting a week can be in the world of Windows utilities, then this one deserves at least several fireworks. Windows 10 and 11 users are spoiled yet again with a parade of clever tools, dazzling desktop enhancements, and a little bit of nostalgia thrown in for...

It’s amazing how a change of scenery—virtual or otherwise—can lift the spirit. With spring in full bloom and Easter waving its cheerful, pastel-splashed banner, there’s never been a better excuse to liven up your desktop. Whether you’re working from home, binge-watching nature documentaries, or...

Windows 11’s recent 24H2 update marks a turning point for users who love to personalize their desktops with animated, customized wallpapers. An initial compatibility hold—originally imposed before the Windows 11 24H2 release—has now been gradually lifted, allowing many of these popular...

Reinventing the Desktop Experience Ever felt that your Windows 10 or Windows 11 desktop looked more utilitarian than inspiring? It’s a common gripe among users who believe that while Microsoft’s OS is highly functional, it often lacks that extra spark of design elegance. Enter Seelen UI—a free...

Stardock has just upped the ante in Windows personalization with the beta launch of Fences 6—a leap forward for anyone who loves to fine-tune their Windows 11 desktop. Known for its robust customization utilities like Start11 and an ever-improving suite of productivity apps, Stardock’s Fences is...