ExplorerPatcher 22631.5335.68.2 Review: Unlock Deep Windows Customization & Classic Features

For advanced Windows power users and enthusiasts yearning for granular control over their desktop environment, ExplorerPatcher has cemented itself as an indispensable utility. With its ambitious goal of returning lost features and customization flexibility to Windows Explorer, ExplorerPatcher consistently builds a loyal following in the Windows modding community. The release of ExplorerPatcher 22631.5335.68.2, as highlighted on Neowin, continues this legacy, offering a robust suite of refinements for users who crave more than what vanilla Windows 11 or even Windows 10 provide out of the box.

What is ExplorerPatcher?​

ExplorerPatcher is a free, open-source tool designed for deep customization of the Windows shell—primarily the taskbar, Start menu, file explorer, and related UI elements. Initially borne from the frustration of missing classic features in post-Windows 10 releases, it now offers enhancements comparable to, and in some scenarios surpassing, third-party commercial products like StartIsBack or StartAllBack. With ExplorerPatcher, you can dial Windows back to a previous era’s ergonomics or push beyond what Microsoft officially allows.

Noteworthy Capabilities and Customization Power​

Taskbar Mastery: Windows 10, Windows 11, and Beyond​

A flagship feature of ExplorerPatcher is its ability to let users choose between the Windows 11-style and Windows 10-style taskbar—with granular controls layered atop. Want taskbar labels back? Small icons? Positioning tweaks? ExplorerPatcher delivers. Users frustrated by Windows 11’s minimalist taskbar will appreciate the option to restore full-featured taskbar functionality, including bringing back right-click menu entries removed by Microsoft.
Examples of what ExplorerPatcher unlocks:

• Switch between Windows 11, 10, or even Windows NT-era Alt-Tab experiences, complete with customization
• Restore Windows 7’s dedicated search box in File Explorer, side-stepping the (often maligned) modern search experience
• Disable the Windows 11 context menu and command bar in File Explorer, reverting to legacy right-clicks and toolbar familiarity
• Open the Start menu directly to "All apps" and control how many frequent apps appear
• Force the Start menu to display on the active monitor (in multi-monitor setups)

These improvements are underpinned by features that feel native because ExplorerPatcher skins tray menus to match Windows aesthetics, ensuring flyouts and contextual menus appear as if they belong.

Quality-of-Life Shell Improvements​

ExplorerPatcher is not content with simple GUI swaps. Under the hood, it introduces nuanced tweaks:

• Assign custom actions to left or right mouse clicks on the network icon
• Disable immersive menus, avoiding some of the jarring transitions that arrived with Windows 10/11
• Run "real classic" desktop themes, with built-in mitigations for common glitches
• Optionally disable Windows Search altogether—useful for those who rely on third-party search tools or need maximum privacy

Version 22631.5335.68.2: What’s New?​

This release, verified against Neowin and its changelog repository, ushers in compatibility and reliability enhancements alongside several fresh features. Notably:

• Fully tested on latest Windows builds: Compatibility confirmed for OS builds 22621.3296, 22631.5189, 22631.5335, and various 26xxx series builds—even on ARM64 devices.
• New Support for Windows 11 24H2: ExplorerPatcher now explicitly supports Windows 11 24H2, which is notable as this is the long-term servicing channel (LTSC) for Windows 11, slated to be the foundation for many enterprise deployments.
• Win+X Menu Fixes: The tool now prevents crashes when selecting Terminal entries on systems where Windows Terminal is not installed, ensuring a much smoother context menu experience on modern and legacy hardware.
• Multilingual Expansion: Taskbar module now supports over a dozen new languages, including German, French, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Lithuanian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Spanish (Spain), Turkish, Ukrainian, and Chinese (Simplified). This ensures accessibility for a global user base.
• Memory Leak and DPI Handling Fixes: Several memory leaks have been eliminated, and taskbar resizing logic has been improved to handle DPI changes flawlessly—a critical fix for anyone using high-res or multi-monitor setups.
• "Show Desktop" Button Improvements: The taskbar module now lets you fully hide the Show Desktop button if you wish, a small but oft-requested tweak.
• Extensive Bug and Incompatibility Fixes: Compatibility issues with recent Dev, Beta, and Release Preview builds of Windows have been resolved, including crucial workarounds for build-specific quirks (such as 26200.5603 and 26120.4151).
• Installer and Feedback Enhancements: Failure messages now include code line numbers in the installer, making community troubleshooting and developer support smoother.

For a full breakdown, the developers maintain a detailed change log and encourage users to consult the project’s wiki for historical context and technical specifics.

Security Concerns: False Positives and Defender​

A key caveat for prospective users is ExplorerPatcher’s ongoing battle with antivirus false positives. New releases have a history of being erroneously flagged by Microsoft Defender and other AV engines. According to the developers and validated by multiple user reports on discussion forums, these are almost always false flags, a common fate for unsigned, open-source tools which modify system UI components.
The official guidance, echoed across the project wiki and Neowin’s reporting:

• Add ExplorerPatcher’s key folders to your AV’s exclusion list (C:\Program Files\ExplorerPatcher, %APPDATA%\ExplorerPatcher, as well as specific SystemApps folders)
• For Defender, users can run a bundled PowerShell script to auto-exclude relevant paths. Failing to do so may render the application unusable, block installation/uninstallation, or prevent system startup with ExplorerPatcher active.

Cautionary Note: While this advice is widely reported, security-conscious users should remain cautious. Unsigned system-modification utilities inherently carry trust risks. As always, verify file integrity (preferably with a hash from the project’s official repository), download only from trusted sources, and monitor for updates related to security.

Strengths: Why Power Users Swear by ExplorerPatcher​

Extreme Customization Unlocked​

ExplorerPatcher’s strongest suit is its ability to bring back lost ergonomic functionality that Microsoft has, by design or neglect, removed from Windows 11 and late-stage Windows 10. For those who perform frequent window management, rely on legacy taskbar workflows, or deploy multi-monitor setups, ExplorerPatcher puts complete control back in the user’s hands.

Active, Fast-Moving Development​

The project’s developer team, led by @Valinet and recently joined by contributors like @Amrsatrio, has proven responsive to Windows Insider builds and rapid in fixing compatibility issues. This edge is especially critical as Microsoft pushes new Windows 11 features and UI tweaks onto users, often with little regard for enterprise or advanced hobbyist needs.

Lightweight and Open Source​

Despite the power on offer, ExplorerPatcher is a mere ~11 MB download, without the heavy payload or monetization hooks found in similar utilities. Its open-source status allows for communal vetting and forks, and users can provide direct feedback or submit patches for niche scenarios.

Broad Platform Support​

With explicit ARM64 support (highlighted in this release), ExplorerPatcher’s feature set is available even on the latest ARM-based laptops and tablets. This is rare among shell customization tools, many of which either lag far behind or exclusively target x64.

Weaknesses and Risks​

Security and Update Management​

While ExplorerPatcher is well-loved in the enthusiast community, it is inherently a workaround—a tool for circumventing Microsoft’s design changes. The required AV exclusions (“whitelisting” system folders against Defender or other products) should give pause to those in sensitive environments or where IT security policy is strict. If not sourced carefully (i.e., from the official GitHub or trusted mirrors), the likelihood of encountering malicious lookalikes increases.
Critical system updates from Microsoft can, and sometimes do, break compatibility—occasionally resulting in shell crashes, lost taskbar access, or system instability until an ExplorerPatcher update lands. Users keen on bleeding-edge Insider builds should be prepared for such scenarios.

No Official Support, Possible System Instability​

Microsoft offers zero support for third-party shell mods. If ExplorerPatcher causes boot or logon problems, the burden is entirely on the user to resolve (often via Safe Mode and manual removal). The project’s wiki and community provide ample troubleshooting guides, but inexperienced users may find themselves in over their heads.

False Positives Breed Distrust​

Despite repeated assurances, the ongoing challenge of antivirus false positives can erode user confidence—particularly for less tech-savvy adopters or within managed corporate settings.

Community Culture and Contributions​

The ExplorerPatcher community is vibrant, collaborative, and international. This release’s multilingual expansion is emblematic of constant community participation, with users volunteering translation strings and even patches for region-specific issues. The project’s developer is active on feedback threads, regularly updating the wiki and soliciting donations (transparently) for specialized hardware such as ARM64 test rigs.
Mainstream Windows blog coverage (like Neowin) and Reddit’s r/Windows11 regularly reference ExplorerPatcher in discussions about Windows “debloating,” power user setups, and organizations seeking to maintain continuity for workflows disrupted by forced UI migrations.

Installation, Download, and Best Practices​

Downloading Safely​

Always use the official ExplorerPatcher GitHub repository or trusted software directories linked from major Windows enthusiast sites. Avoid mirror links from unofficial sources, which may be stale or maliciously modified.

Installation Steps​

• Disable Real-Time AV Temporarily (Recommended): To avoid install failures, momentarily pause active protection or create required exclusions in Defender.
• Run Installer as Admin: This ensures all necessary system files and registry changes are applied.
• Configure Customizations: Launch the ExplorerPatcher configuration UI to set your preferences—switching taskbar styles, toggling context menu tweaks, or adjusting Start menu behavior.
• Set up Exclusions (Critical for Stability): Follow the developer’s PowerShell exclusion instructions to preempt AV lockouts or removal.

Staying Up-to-Date​

Monitor the project’s GitHub or associated Twitter alert channels for update notifications, critical when Windows receives cumulative or feature updates. Subscribing to update alerts minimizes the risk of running with a broken shell after OS upgrades.

Comparison with the Competition​

Other shell tailoring utilities exist, but ExplorerPatcher stands out due to its open-source pedigree, velocity of updates, and fidelity to classic Windows ergonomics. For example:

• StartAllBack offers similar Start/taskbar restoration but is paid software, and update lag is sometimes reported with Windows Insider builds.
• Open-Shell focuses on Start menu retrofits but lacks deep OS integration for context menus or system tray flyouts.
• ExplorerPatcher uniquely targets the holy grail for many: restoring not just individual widgets but the “whole shell feel” of classic Windows versions. Its ARM64 support is also more mature compared to some commercial competitors.

Use Cases: Who Should Use ExplorerPatcher?​

Ideal For:​

• Power users, IT admins, and advanced hobbyists frustrated by the “take it or leave it” design of newer Windows releases.
• Enterprise rollouts where workflow disruption by Windows 11’s default UI threatens productivity.
• Users of ARM64 Windows devices seeking parity with x64 desktop modding tools.

Probably Not For:​

• Absolute beginners, or those uncomfortable troubleshooting system-level problems.
• Highly security-sensitive environments where unsigned binaries and AV exclusions are off-limits.
• Systems where warranty, vendor support, or compliance policies prohibit non-Microsoft system modifications.

Final Thoughts: The Indispensable Power Tool for Windows Shell Enthusiasts​

ExplorerPatcher 22631.5335.68.2 remains a torchbearer for the user-driven customization ethos that underpins the best of the Windows enthusiast ecosystem. As Microsoft continues to abstract, simplify, and sometimes limit user access to system features, utilities like ExplorerPatcher provide a vital counterbalance—restoring both power and choice to those who care most.
Yet, with such power comes responsibility and risk. While the returns in productivity and comfort are significant for those who invest the time, ExplorerPatcher requires vigilance: matching version updates with Windows releases, maintaining system backups, and weighing the ever-present specter of AV false positives.
For the savvy, however, no other tool offers such deep, argus-eyed command over the look, feel, and behavior of the Windows desktop. Whether you’re seeking to restore a classic workflow, tame a clumsy redesign, or breathe new life into your desktop—ExplorerPatcher is arguably the most complete, and exciting, open-source tool available on the Windows modding frontier.

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Source: Neowin ExplorerPatcher 22631.5335.68.2