ExplorerPatcher Pre-Release Restores File Explorer Title Bar & Classic Start/Taskbar Fixes

ExplorerPatcher’s latest pre-release restores the long-missed File Explorer title bar, patches several Start menu and taskbar regressions, and moves under-the-hood hooking to a new library — but it also ships with a short list of known quirks and a reminder that modifying core shell behavior carries real risk. (neowin.net)

Background​

ExplorerPatcher is the community-developed utility that lets Windows power users reclaim classic behaviors in Windows 11: the Windows 10 taskbar, legacy Start menus, File Explorer tweaks, and numerous small quality-of-life fixes that Microsoft has progressively changed or removed. The project patches explorer.exe and related shell components in memory, which is why it is immensely powerful — and why it must be treated with caution. The latest pre-release series for Windows 11 builds around the 26100 family introduces incremental but important fixes and compatibility updates. (github.com)
This update is being pushed as a pre-release for specific Windows 11 builds; it’s not a generic “one-size-fits-all” hotfix. Users running Insider or recent 24H2 preview builds are the primary audience for these builds: the maintainer explicitly tested files on several OS builds and calls out caveats for other configurations. (newreleases.io)

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What’s new in this release: a high-level summary​

• File Explorer title bar returns as a configurable option for Windows 11 builds starting with 22H2, addressing a longstanding complaint about the stripped-down explorer chrome. (newreleases.io)
• Weather widget connectivity problems that generated “Unable to load weather information” messages have been fixed. The patch was necessary because the upstream data flow changed on Google’s side; the community contributed fixes. (newreleases.io)
• Start menu and taskbar fixes for both Windows 10-style Start menus and Windows 11 Start menu interaction are included, restoring some behaviors broken on recent 24H2 builds. (newreleases.io)
• Hooking library migration to SlimDetours — intended to improve compatibility on ARM64 and with other mods that hook window creation APIs — is included. The release notes call out specific improvements for Windhawk-style mods and an edge-case crashfix. (newreleases.io)
• Several known issues remain, including icon-pack switching problems for the weather widget and crash loops when enabling Windows 10 taskbar variants with the new Windows 11 Start menu feature flag enabled on some older Windows releases. (newreleases.io)

These items are the load-bearing facts of the release and are corroborated by the project’s release notes and independent reporting. (newreleases.io)

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Deep dive: the changelog explained​

File Explorer: title bar comes back (GUI changes)​

The update reintroduces the File Explorer title bar option for Windows 11 builds starting with 22H2. Many users prefer seeing the classic title bar for window management, better drag behavior, and to reduce interface oddities introduced by the new immersive and Mica-driven chrome. The project credits a contributor for this restoration and marks the change as applicable to >= 22H2 builds. (newreleases.io)
Why this matters: The modern File Explorer UI in Windows 11 intentionally reduced some traditional chrome to create a cleaner experience, but power users found that change harmful for workflow. Restoring the title bar is a pragmatic compromise that provides classic affordances (draggable caption, close/minimize behaviors) without reversing other modern UI elements.

Weather widget and ep_weather: recovered connectivity​

The release fixes the “Unable to load weather information” dialog that many users saw in the Widgets and EP weather module. This was due to changes on the weather data provider side and was fixed through a community contribution. Users may need to run the EP option to Clear weather widget local data to fully refresh cached items. (newreleases.io)
Practical effect: Users who saw intermittent or persistent weather failures should see restored data after updating and clearing local widget state. However, changing the weather icon pack to Microsoft may not have any effect yet — that remains a known limitation in this release. (newreleases.io)

Hooking library migration: SlimDetours and ARM64 compatibility​

One of the more technical but important changes is the move to SlimDetours as the hooking backend. This change is targeted at resolving compatibility issues on ARM64 devices, especially those that use third-party modifications (such as Windhawk mods) that also hook APIs like CreateWindowExW. The release notes specifically call out Windhawk Taskbar Volume Control as an example of a conflicting mod that should now behave correctly. On ARM64, a rare crash that could occur until a reboot has also been addressed. (newreleases.io)
Why this matters: Hooking libraries are central to how ExplorerPatcher alters behavior at runtime. Migrating to an alternative detouring mechanism can reduce conflicts, reduce crash rates, and improve interoperability with other modding tools. For users on ARM64 hardware (Surface Pro X owners and other ARM notebooks), this is particularly relevant.

Taskbar and Start menu fixes​

This release contains several corrections across the taskbar and Start menu subsystems:

• ep_taskbar now statically links the private functions it relies on, improving reliability.
• The Windows 10 taskbar components had broken behavior on certain recent builds with a feature flag named TrayThreadBSTA (identified in the changelog). The update fixes folder toolbar menus and the “New toolbar” behavior on those builds. (newreleases.io)
• Start10/Start11 patches adjust for animation and feature-flag related regressions, and address a Windows 10 Start menu refusal to open when the new Windows 11 Start menu feature flag is enabled on certain builds. (newreleases.io)

These changes are aimed at reducing the friction people experience when they try to restore classic Start and taskbar behavior on modern Windows 11 releases.

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Known issues and risk profile — what still trips users up​

ExplorerPatcher’s developer is explicit about remaining problems. The most important ones to be aware of in this release are:

• Changing the weather icon pack to “Microsoft” does nothing — the UI appears to accept the change, but no effect is visible. This is a cosmetic regression that the team marked for follow-up. (newreleases.io)
• On some Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2 releases (nicknamed “Nickel” internally in the EP notes), enabling the Windows 10 taskbar — or the EP-supplied Windows 10 taskbar alternative — together with the new Windows 11 Start menu feature flag can cause explorer.exe crash loops. This is a high-risk condition because it affects the shell itself and may require safe-mode or an uninstall to recover. The release notes call this out as a known pain point to be addressed. (newreleases.io)
• The “Shrink address bar height” option for File Explorer previously produced broken graphics on recent 24H2 builds; the release includes a fix for that, but users who relied on prior workarounds should still be cautious. (newreleases.io)

Beyond feature-specific issues, there is a broader systemic risk: ExplorerPatcher modifies the Windows shell in memory. That behavior makes it more likely that Microsoft cumulative updates or other system changes will cause instability, or that antivirus products may flag the tool for its in-memory patching behavior. The project’s releases repeatedly warn users about potential false positives from Defender and other AV products and recommend exclusion entries for EP files. Treat those warnings as serious. (github.com)

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Community signals and testing footprint​

The project maintainers published pre-release builds and noted which OS builds they tested against: the change set references tests on builds such as 26100.4946, 26100.5074, 26200.5751, and 26220.6682. That indicates the release is targeted at a narrow set of recent Insider/preview releases rather than all Windows 11 installs. (newreleases.io)
Independent community threads on enthusiast forums and user reports reflect similar pain points — weather widget failures, missing title bars, taskbar oddities — which the release attempts to address. Those community reports help validate that the fixes are addressing real, widely experienced issues. However, community validation is an imperfect substitute for broad testing across hardware and OEM drivers. (elevenforum.com)

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Recommended approach for users: who should install, when, and how​

This release is useful for enthusiasts, testers, and those willing to accept modest risk to regain classic shell behaviors. For mainstream users and machines used for critical work, the safer posture is to wait for stable release tags and broader community confirmation.
If you decide to install ExplorerPatcher’s pre-release, follow these steps to minimize recovery pain:

• Create a full system restore point and, if possible, a full image backup of your system drive.
• Export ExplorerPatcher settings (use the app’s export option) so you can re-import them if you need to reinstall.
• Temporarily disable antivirus or add exclusions only if the installer is blocked; otherwise avoid turning off protection for long periods.
• Install the update and restart Explorer (the setup typically restarts explorer.exe). Observe system behavior for any sign of instability.
• If you rely on the weather widget, open EP Properties > Weather and run Clear weather widget local data after the update to refresh cached information. (newreleases.io)
• If you experience a crash loop or severe instability, boot to Safe Mode and uninstall ExplorerPatcher (or restore your image/restore point).

Additional practical tips:

• Avoid using the experimental Windows 10 taskbar option on machines running older Windows 11 releases while the new Windows 11 Start menu feature flag is enabled; this combination is explicitly flagged as crash-prone. (newreleases.io)
• For ARM64 devices, the SlimDetours move should help compatibility, but third-party mods that also detour window APIs may still introduce problems; test carefully. (newreleases.io)

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Technical analysis: why these changes matter​

ExplorerPatcher’s core functionality depends on runtime patching and API hooking. That model is powerful because it allows the software to restore removed behaviors without needing Microsoft to reintroduce them. However, it also means:

• Every OS patch or internal change to explorer.exe can break EP’s patches. The project thus continuously chases upstream changes and ships frequent updates. (github.com)
• The choice of hooking library (Detours variants, SlimDetours, etc.) is significant. Hooking involves intercepting API calls and redirecting them to patched handlers; different detouring implementations trade off performance, compatibility, and complexity. Moving to SlimDetours in this release was a compatibility-first decision, especially for ARM64. (newreleases.io)
• Interoperability with other mods that also hook APIs (e.g., Windhawk plugins) is a realistic, recurring problem. The EP changelog calls out fixes for such conflicts, which reduces the likelihood of the “both mods hook the same API” deadlock that can lead to crashes. (newreleases.io)

From a security posture perspective, any tool that injects into system processes — even for benign reasons — increases the attack surface and complicates threat detection. Antivirus vendors may flag such behavior because the heuristics can’t easily differentiate benign UI patching from malwares that employ similar techniques. EP’s maintainers acknowledge this repeatedly and recommend exclusions for their binaries in AV settings. This is pragmatic but underlines the need for caution. (github.com)

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Strengths: what the release does well​

• Targeted fixes for real user pain: The title bar restoration and weather fixes map directly to user complaints and improve day-to-day usability for those who prefer classic chrome. (newreleases.io)
• Active maintenance and rapid response: The maintainer and contributors are releasing frequent pre-releases to address regressions, showing a high level of project responsiveness. (newreleases.io)
• Improved ARM64 compatibility: The switch to SlimDetours and explicit ARM64 fixes acknowledge the growing prevalence of ARM Windows devices. (newreleases.io)
• Granular opt-in behavior: EP’s design lets users enable only the features they want (taskbar, Start menu, GUI tweaks), minimizing unnecessary risk if carefully configured.

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Weaknesses and hazards: what to watch out for​

• Potential for shell instability: Enabling conflicting features (Windows 10 taskbar with the new Windows 11 Start menu flag) can cause explorer.exe crash loops, which can be disruptive and require technical recovery. (newreleases.io)
• Antivirus flags and corporate policies: The tool’s runtime patching model means Defender or other AVs may flag EP components. This creates friction on managed or enterprise systems where exclusions may not be permitted. (github.com)
• Limited test matrix: Although the maintainer lists tested builds, the diversity of OEM drivers, custom shell extensions, and third-party mods means that even well-intentioned fixes can have unintended consequences.
• Pre-release status: Some builds are pre-releases. Enthusiasts get the benefit of early fixes but also accept incompletely tested code paths and outstanding known issues. (newreleases.io)

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Verdict and practical takeaway​

ExplorerPatcher’s latest pre-release is a meaningful step toward stabilizing classic shell features on recent Windows 11 builds. The return of the File Explorer title bar and the ep_weather fixes address practical day-to-day annoyances for many users. The move to SlimDetours and the ARM64-specific fixes show maturity in the project’s approach to cross-platform modding. (newreleases.io)
That said, this is not a carefree update. The combination of shell-level modifications, AV detection risk, and a few known crash scenarios means this release is best deployed by experienced users who can recover from shell instability. Those using machines for mission-critical work or within managed enterprise environments should wait for a stable release or for additional community confirmation that the fixes are safe across their hardware and software stacks. (github.com)

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Installation checklist (quick reference)​

• Backup: create a restore point or complete system image.
• Export EP settings before updating.
• Install the pre-release (download from the project’s releases).
• After install: open EP Properties > Weather and run Clear weather widget local data if you rely on Widgets. (newreleases.io)
• Monitor for explorer.exe instability for at least one reboot cycle.
• If things go wrong: uninstall EP in Safe Mode or restore your backup.

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ExplorerPatcher remains one of the most consequential third-party tools in the Windows customization ecosystem: it can restore lost functionality and fix regressions faster than waiting for Microsoft, but it does so by intervening in the shell. This release continues that pattern: it provides tangible fixes and compatibility improvements, while reminding users that they are operating outside the intended OS boundaries. Enthusiasts who keep careful backups and understand the recovery steps will benefit; casual users should approach with restraint. (newreleases.io)

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Source: Neowin New ExplorerPatcher update brings back File Explorer title bars, fixes Start menu bugs, more