Elevate Windows 11 Customization with Windhawk Mods

Windows 11 is a sleek, user-friendly operating system boasting a modern aesthetic. But let’s face it—out of the box, its customizability leaves room for improvement. Enter Windhawk, a community-driven platform for Windows mods that turns your operating system into a customizable playground. If you’ve ever found yourself yearning for features that just aren’t there or chafing under Microsoft’s rigid design choices, Windhawk might just be the answer you didn’t know you needed.

What is Windhawk, and Why Should You Care?​

Windhawk is essentially a modding platform for Windows. Think of it like a Chrome extensions hub but for your operating system. Powered by an active and enthusiastic community, this app brings together an array of mods designed to tweak, enhance, and reinvent your Windows experience—all while keeping your system stable and free of charge.
Windhawk mods are open-source and often lightweight, boasting simplicity and ease of installation. Whether you’re a minimalist looking to clean up your desktop or a power user who wants finer controls, the mods on Windhawk cater to just about everyone.
To get started, here’s a solid lineup of eight must-try mods that can transform the way you use Windows 11.

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1. Vertical Taskbar for Windows 11​

When Microsoft revamped the taskbar in Windows 11, it removed some classic features, including the ability to move your taskbar to the left, right, or top of the screen. Annoyed? So were a lot of users.
This mod brings back the dearly missed vertical taskbar customization, letting you pin the taskbar to either side of your screen. You can even change its width to fit more content or achieve the proportions that better suit your aesthetic.
One catch? It might not play nice if you layer several taskbar-related modifications. However, considering its sheer utility, this is a game changer for fans of vertical setups or productivity enthusiasts maximizing screen real estate.

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2. Taskbar Clock Customization​

Do you feel the taskbar clock is… boring? Enter Taskbar Clock Customization, which puts you in the driver’s seat for how your clock looks and operates. You can:

• Change the format of the time and date.
• Tweak the font and color.
• Add a second line under the clock for a bit more pizzazz. Feeling fancy? Use that second string to display a custom RSS feed headline.

Sure, it’s a little whimsical, but in the age of overcustomization, putting a personal stamp on your desktop is what makes it feel like yours.

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3. Chrome/Edge Mouse Scroll Tabs​

Switching tabs in Chrome or Edge is usually a click-based affair—unless you install this mod. With Chrome/Edge Mouse Scroll Tabs, a simple scroll of your mouse wheel lets you cycle through your open tabs when hovering over the browser’s tab bar.
This mod supports most Chromium-based browsers like Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Brave, but unfortunately misses other players like Firefox and Vivaldi. Still, for multitaskers, this brings a fluidity to web browsing akin to the ease of swiping through pages on a touchscreen. It’s understated, but once you get used to it, going back will feel like a step down.

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4. Taskbar Labels for Windows 11​

Windows 11 initially lacked taskbar labels, a feature later implemented but (let’s be real) not very well-executed. Enter Taskbar Labels for Windows 11, which supercharges this functionality with:

• Customizable font sizes for labels.
• Fixed widths for app icons and labels, ensuring visual consistency.
• Advanced display modes like “combine taskbar buttons but show labels” or “don’t combine buttons while hiding labels.”

It’s like taking a Microsoft feature, stripping away all the half-baked limitations, and building it out to a point that it actually satisfies users.

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5. Middle Click to Close Apps on Taskbar​

If you’ve used middle-click to close tabs in your browser, you already know how intuitive and fast it feels. Why not bring that functionality to your Windows taskbar? This mod lets you do that: middle-click on a taskbar app to close it instantly.
Pair it with a keyboard shortcut for even more efficiency—perfect for anyone juggling multiple windows. Note: This does alter the default middle-click taskbar behavior, so if you frequently use it to open new app instances, you may want to sit this one out.

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6. Taskbar Volume Control​

Adjusting volume with the Quick Settings menu is already relatively easy. But with the Taskbar Volume Control mod, it’s even easier: scroll your mouse wheel over the volume icon on your taskbar to tweak your PC’s volume directly.
This small efficiency boost saves gestures, clicks, and precious seconds. However, laptop touchpad users may find this less effective since trackpads often don’t handle scrolling the same way. If you’re running a mouse-based setup, though, this is a keeper.

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7. Windows 11 Taskbar Styler​

Pre-built themes breathe life into the plain, traditional taskbar we’ve come to know—and sometimes resent. Themes range from nostalgic (Windows XP vibes) to chic (a rounded design resembling ChromeOS). Feeling adventurous? You can dive under the hood and completely redesign it with manual tweaks.
While the mod isn’t exhaustive in style variety (yet), regular updates suggest more themes are on the way, making it a cost-free alternative to pricier software like Start11.

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8. Windows 11 Start Menu Styler​

Finally, the pièce de résistance: Windows 11 Start Menu Styler. This mod puts Microsoft’s limitations to shame, allowing you to:

• Remove the "Recommended" section entirely.
• Use the SidebySide layouts to display “Pinned Apps” next to “All Apps” in a single, more intuitive interface—reminiscent of the Windows 10 Start Menu.

While the existing options are compelling, more styles are in demand—a testament to how well-loved this kind of customizability is among Windows users.

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Why Windhawk is a Must-Have for Windows 11 Users​

Windows has always struck a balance between being user-friendly and rigid in its design. Windhawk disrupts that balance—in the best way possible—by giving users more say in how their operating system looks and behaves.
Here are some key takeaways about Windhawk mods:

• Open-Source and Free: Perfect for budget-conscious users.
• Non-Intrusive: Designed to minimize impact on system performance or stability.
• Customizable: Offers layers of customization, from pre-set themes to deep-dive tweaks.

The mods listed above are just the tip of the iceberg. What’s exciting is that the Windhawk community is always working on new mods, which means what’s available today could become even better tomorrow.
Find a mod you love? Share your experience on the WindowsForum.com threads—together, we’ll uncover even more gems buried within Windhawk!
What feature (or mod) are you dying to see next?

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Source: XDA 8 best Windhawk mods to make your Windows 11 PC more interesting