How to Make Windows 11 Look and Feel Like Windows 10 Using Built-In Settings

When Windows 11 first arrived, its unapologetic embrace of minimalism and fresh design language divided the user base. Tweaks to the taskbar, Start menu, context menus, and File Explorer meant that even seasoned Windows 10 users faced a distinctly new—and for many, unfamiliar—environment. For enthusiasts who cherish the old-school layouts and straightforward customizations of prior Windows versions, the migration felt less like evolution and more like abrupt reinvention. However, not everyone wants to reverse these changes using extra software. Some avoid third-party apps for reasons of stability, privacy, or simply to reduce bloat. The good news: you can recapture much of the familiar Windows 10 look and feel using nothing but the settings already available in Windows 11. Here's how you can do it, which features have returned or changed, and why the process—while interesting—remains imperfect.

Moving the Start Menu to the Left​

One of the most divisive changes in Windows 11 was the centering of the Start menu and taskbar icons. On large, high-DPI displays, this arrangement can look elegant and modern, arguably reducing mouse travel for those with ultrawide monitors. But nostalgia—and decades of muscle memory—have many users yearning for the classic lower-left Start menu.
Microsoft didn’t utterly remove this feature: instead, it tucked the option into the depths of the Settings app. To shift the Start button and other taskbar icons back to the left edge, open the Settings app, navigate to Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors, and change the Taskbar alignment to Left.
This simple tweak restores a sense of homecoming for Windows 10 veterans. However, it's not a perfect facsimile—the Start button is left-justified, but additional pinned icons may appear spaced slightly differently, reflecting the new codebase. Moreover, while the setting is accessible, there’s no registry “hack” or Group Policy for a deeper reversion.
Critical Note: On very large displays, some users may find the default centered experience more ergonomic, since the Start menu stays within easier reach. If your workflow involves frequent trips to the Start button, consider whether complete fidelity to Windows 10 is worth a slight ergonomics hit.

Restoring the Classic File Explorer Feeling (Sort of)​

Arguably, File Explorer saw some of the most bothersome usability changes in Windows 11. The slimmed-down ribbons, compact context menus, and the absence of the old navigation pane affected both daily workflows and that sense of familiarity. While many tools exist to bring back the Windows 10 File Explorer, built-in options are limited—but not nonexistent.
A clever workaround involves leveraging Windows Tools. If you press the Windows key and search for “Windows Tools,” then open the app, you can navigate to This PC or Home from within that window to summon a more classic-looking File Explorer with the old navigation structure.
There’s an additional bonus: this method also appears to restore the legacy context menu, delivering a familiar right-click experience. However, this trick is temporary. Any newly opened File Explorer window reverts to the Windows 11 interface, and, of course, a reboot resets the experience. To regain fast access, right-click the Windows Tools entry and pin it to the taskbar.
Caveats:

• This workaround functions more like a shortcut than a setting. It doesn’t actually alter the system’s default File Explorer behavior; it merely lets you summon a classic instance when needed.
• There’s no guarantee this trick will remain in future Windows updates, given Microsoft’s ongoing UI consolidation.

The Return—and Limits—of App Labels on the Taskbar​

Microsoft’s approach to the taskbar has oscillated with user demand. One of Windows 10’s valued features was the ability to show or hide app labels next to open window icons. This option was removed in the early releases of Windows 11—a baffling absence for multitaskers who rely on labels to differentiate windows.
With recent Windows 11 updates, Microsoft quietly restored the capability. Navigate to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. Here, set Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels to Never. This setting forces each open app to display its label directly on the taskbar, just as it did on Windows 10.
Considerations:

• This setting comes at a cost: ungrouped windows can quickly fill up the taskbar, especially on small screens.
• The taskbar’s visual design is still fundamentally different than Windows 10, and not every former feature (such as full drag-and-drop customization) has returned.
• Some users may experience inconsistencies with certain Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, which behave differently from legacy Win32 applications in terms of taskbar grouping.

Always Visible Scrollbars: A Small but Pivotal Detail​

One of the more controversial UI “upgrades” in Windows 11 was the auto-hiding scrollbar. Meant to appear only on hover, the scrollbar’s disappearance irked many power users—especially those working on laptops or smaller touch devices. What looked modern in concept felt less accessible and, at times, simply harder to spot.
To address this complaint, head to Settings > Accessibility > Visual Effects and flip the Always show scrollbars switch to On. This simple change restores constant visibility to the scrollbars, easing navigation and improving accessibility—especially for users with visual impairments or motor difficulties.
Why It Matters:

• This feature, essential for those with slower pointing devices or accessibility challenges, reflects a growing trend: user pushback often encourages Microsoft to bring back formerly retired features in response to real-world feedback.
• While subtle, consistent UI elements vastly improve workflow efficiency and comfort over the lifetime of the OS.

Color Scheme Customization for a Windows 10 Vibe​

Recreating the visual spirit of Windows 10 isn’t just about layouts but also about color schemes and window accents. Windows 11 leans heavily into pastel hues, rounded corners, and high-contrast modes designed for a new era—but for those seeking the bolder, more familiar look of Windows 10, manual adjustment is necessary.
Within Settings > Personalization > Colors, you’ll find nuanced controls. Set Choose your mode to Custom, then pick Dark under Choose your Windows mode for that deep, inky background beloved by many. The next critical step: scroll to Accent color and manually select your preferred highlight—ideally, one reminiscent of the Windows 10 palette. Enable Show accent color on Start and taskbar and Show accent color on title bars and window borders for full effect.
Tip: Want to go all-out? You can even transplant the classic Windows 10 wallpaper. If you’re dual-booting or can access a device still running Windows 10, it lives at C:\Windows\Web\Wallpaper\Windows. Applying it on your Windows 11 desktop completes the illusion.
Limitations:

• The overall translucency and Mica effects inherent to Windows 11 remain. Some bundled themes don’t perfectly match the old flat look.
• The Settings app lacks deep, granular color controls compared to legacy Control Panel options, so results are close but not identical.

Restoring Legacy Desktop Icons for the Finishing Touch​

Classic desktop icons—This PC, Control Panel, Network, Recycle Bin—represent more than nostalgia. For many, these staples offer fast, intuitive navigation to core system features. In pursuit of that Windows 10 ambiance, you can still enable these on Windows 11.
Open Settings > Personalization > Themes > Desktop icon settings. Check the boxes for the icons you want to display on your desktop and click OK. Now, when you return to the desktop, those beloved shortcuts will be there—as they were in Windows 10, and versions stretching back decades.
Observation: Microsoft’s continued support for these icons demonstrates the company’s recognition of its enthusiast base. While Windows 11 is visually modern, concessions like this help bridge the gap between old and new.

Realistic Expectations: Where the Experience Falls Short​

The results of using only native Windows 11 settings to mimic Windows 10 are mixed. You can adjust the alignment of the Start menu and taskbar, restore app labels, and reinstate most of your favorite colors and icons. You can even open a “legacy” File Explorer with some persistence. But there are key aspects that resist tinkering.

The Start Menu: An Unyielding Evolution​

Perhaps the most jarring difference is the Start menu itself. Windows 10’s cascading, tile-rich menu has given way to Windows 11’s condensed, grid-based system. No amount of native tweaking can bring back the live tiles, the full-screen menu, or even much of the hierarchy that defined navigation in Windows 10.
To attain a truly classic Start menu, dedicated customization apps remain a necessity. StartAllBack and Start11 by Stardock are renowned for their fidelity—they not only resurrect the old menu but frequently introduce options unavailable in official builds. However, reliance on third-party utilities raises questions about system resource usage, compatibility with Windows Updates, and long-term support.

File Explorer Limitations and the Context Menu Dilemma​

While the “Windows Tools” workaround pops open a more classic File Explorer, it’s not a universal fix. Subsequent windows default back to the Windows 11 interface, and the hacky nature of this workaround suggests it may be removed in future builds. Moreover, right-click (context) menus, one of the more divisive changes in Windows 11, remain hard to fully revert. While you can access a secondary “Show more options” to bring up legacy menus, this is an extra step and not a default behavior.
Some registry tweaks purportedly restore legacy context menus, but their effectiveness is mixed—and, crucially, these tweaks may break or be reverted by cumulative updates.

The Case for Native Customization Versus Third-Party Tools​

There is an undeniable appeal in using official, built-in options. Not only does doing so keep your system lean and potentially more secure, but it also minimizes update headaches. Major Windows updates are notorious for breaking or outright disabling third-party customization utilities, and restoring a borked system can be time-consuming.
Strengths of Going Native:

• No risk of malware or bloatware, as you’re not installing unknown software.
• Future compatibility with Windows Updates is much greater.
• No demand on system resources beyond what the OS natively requires.
• No complicated rollbacks if something breaks; all changes are reversible within Settings.

Potential Risks and Weaknesses:

• Limited in scope—many legacy features are simply unavailable.
• Tedious: Instead of a one-click transformation, you must visit multiple Settings locations.
• No single setting restores the old Start menu, full classic File Explorer, or context menus.
• Changing back after future updates may require repeating the process, as Microsoft sometimes resets personalized options.

Security, Privacy, and System Stability Considerations​

Entrusting your desktop environment only to Microsoft’s own options is generally prudent. Third-party customization utilities, however popular, come with inherent risk. While reputable developers like Stardock and the Windhawk community have strong track records, the sheer variety of less-known customization tools has occasionally led to malware, privacy leaks, or severe system instability.
Further complicating matters: Microsoft’s semiannual update cadence often brings under-the-hood changes that may render even well-designed customizers temporarily nonfunctional. This can leave users with broken taskbars, missing Start menus, or worse—unbootable systems.
For enterprises, educational settings, or mission-critical applications, sticking with officially supported tweaks is the safest course.

The Future of Customization in Windows​

Feedback-driven development is reshaping Microsoft’s OS roadmap. As intensifying competition (from ChromeOS devices, macOS, and even Linux distributions) puts pressure on desktop OS vendors, there is evidence that Microsoft is responding more quickly to user demands for customizability.
Recent Windows 11 builds have begun restoring previously dropped features, such as app labels on the taskbar and expanded file operations. Some UI changes initially met with resistance have been rethought or made optional as part of cumulative updates. The lesson? Persistent, vocal user bases can and do influence design at the highest levels.
Yet, the direction remains clear: Microsoft’s vision prioritizes simplicity, uniformity across devices, and strong aesthetic branding. Although some classic features are making a comeback, true, deep customization—down to the pixel or behavior—will remain the province of third-party utilities and scripts for the foreseeable future.

Conclusion: A Worthwhile Experiment, With Clear Trade-offs​

Customizing Windows 11 to match the familiar embrace of Windows 10—without touching third-party software—is both easier and harder than you might think. Suspend expectations of perfection: you’ll get most of the way there with taskbar alignment, color themes, restored desktop icons, and even a functional, if temporary, classic File Explorer.
But the dream of a true one-click reversion remains elusive. Core interface components, like the Start menu and File Explorer’s context menus, have fundamentally changed—and only third-party tools can restore this experience in full.
Does it matter? For some, the answer is yes. Power users, productivity mavens, and those who crave the comfort of a time-tested environment will notice every absent button and shifted dialog. For others, native customizations are “good enough”—preserving the best of old and new without risking system stability or update headaches.
Ultimately, the willingness of Microsoft to reintroduce popular features shows that user preferences aren’t being ignored. But make no mistake: the future looks resolutely modern, and classic features will likely remain niche. For anyone seeking the feel of legacy Windows without bloat or hassle, the native changes detailed above deliver a healthy dose of continuity—just don’t expect a trip back in time to be completely seamless.

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Source: XDA I made Windows 11 look like 10 without tools