Windhawk 1.6: The Ultimate Windows 11 Customization Platform for ARM64 Devices

For Windows 11 users, the drive for personalizing the desktop—particularly the much-discussed Start menu—has never been stronger. Ever since Microsoft launched its latest operating system, there has been a tug-of-war between streamlined, modern design and the cherished flexibility of classic Windows. While Microsoft's pathway appears set toward uniformity and simplicity, the community of power users and enthusiasts refuses to relinquish the right to tailor their experience. Enter Windhawk: a modular, open-source customization platform that has just taken a major leap forward with version 1.6—delivering native support for ARM64 devices powered by Snapdragon chips, including the new wave of Copilot+ PCs.

Windhawk and the Renaissance of Windows Customization​

Unlike traditional “tweaker” utilities that typically offer a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach, Windhawk is a dynamic, open-source marketplace for Windows modifications—commonly called mods. At its core, Windhawk empowers users to browse, apply, and experiment with dozens of tweaks, from subtle interface polish to notable functional changes, all while remaining relatively unobtrusive. Its framework allows for mixing and matching mods, mitigating the risks associated with older, bulkier “UX packs” or hacky registry edits.
A key appeal of Windhawk is its thriving, user-driven library—a constantly evolving repository of mods targeting not only the Start menu, but the taskbar, notification center, window behavior, and more. Mods are peer-reviewed and often ranked or discussed within the platform’s community, providing clear social proof to guide both newcomers and veterans.

Key Customization Highlights​

• Start Menu Styler: The area's poster child, letting users remove or reshape the much-maligned “Recommended” section—a change Microsoft itself is only just beginning to consider in official test builds.
• Taskbar Tweaks: Including adjustments to height, icon size, transparency, and custom behaviors like taskbar-wide volume controls.
• Retro Themes: Reimagining the look and feel of older Windows versions (e.g., Windows Vista or 7) without sacrificing the underlying security or features of Windows 11.

Windhawk’s emergence as a “mod marketplace”—as opposed to a closed system of bundled tweaks—sets it apart from legacy competitors such as Classic Shell (Open-Shell), Start11, and Rainmeter. It sits somewhere between the plug-and-play approach of commercial tools and the deep, sometimes complex creativity encouraged by platforms like Rainmeter or Open-Shell.

The ARM64 Breakthrough: Copilot+ PCs Enter the Modding Arena​

Up until recently, Windhawk—and other deeply integrated customization utilities—were primarily the purview of x86 hardware (Intel/AMD CPUs). This landscape changed dramatically with the release of Windhawk 1.6, as the tool now runs natively on ARM64 devices, most notably those sporting Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series chips.
For context, ARM-based devices running Windows have historically faced hurdles when it comes to third-party utilities and mods. Compatibility headaches, emulation slowdowns, and a lack of native apps often left even the most cutting-edge ARM laptops feeling limited from a power-user perspective. The new Windhawk release signals an inflection point: at last, owners of ARM-based Windows laptops—including the latest wave of Copilot+ PCs—gain access to a powerful suite of customizations entirely on par with their x86 counterparts.

What’s New in Windhawk 1.6?​

• Native ARM64 Support: Verified by community testers, Windhawk can now install and directly customize ARM64-native applications on Windows 11, bringing modding to the newest, most efficient hardware.
• Legacy App Caveats: While ARM64-native apps enjoy full support, legacy programs running under x86/x64 emulation may still face some limitations. Certain mods require updates from their authors to run flawlessly on ARM hardware. This is an acknowledged, ongoing area of improvement.
• Updated Exclusion Rules: To prevent potential conflicts—particularly with games featuring strong anti-cheat protections—default installation now auto-excludes known incompatible software. This enhances safety, but users should stay informed as new mods or applications enter the ecosystem.
• Quality-of-life Enhancements: Localized mod browsing, non-disruptive interface changes, improved debugging tools, and stability improvements (e.g., better handling of non-ASCII text and rare system file conflicts) are all included in the update.

A Case Study: Windhawk and Start Menu Liberation​

For many, the biggest draw isn’t visual flair, but regaining practical control over the Start menu—one of Windows 11’s most hotly contested changes. With Microsoft slow to respond to demands for deeper Start menu customization, it fell to third-party developers and the power-user community to pick up the slack. Windhawk’s “Start Menu Styler” mod not only removes controversial elements like the “Recommended” section but also empowers users to restore classic layouts, grouping, and legacy shortcuts. For some, this recaptures the workflow efficiency that Windows 11’s out-of-the-box experience lost.
But Windhawk does not stop there: users can also apply themes that emulate the entire look and feel of older Windows editions—from the classic Aero glass effect of Vista to the sharp, familiar lines of Windows 7. Unlike static themes or skin packs, these mods interweave with modern Windows audio, notifications, and accessibility features, pairing nostalgia with up-to-date security and usability features.

Risks, Realities, and Responsible Usage​

While the power of tools like Windhawk is clear, responsible customization requires users to be alert to risks. Modifying low-level OS components naturally introduces the possibility—however small—of system instability, incompatibility, or even corruption, especially after major updates to Windows 11. This is true regardless of platform, but is particularly salient on ARM64, where the ecosystem is still maturing.
Windhawk’s documentation, reinforced by security experts and the broader Windows enthusiast community, offers stern guidance:

• Backup First: Always create a restore point or full backup before applying new mods, particularly less-reviewed or newly updated ones.
• Test Gradually: Make changes one at a time and evaluate stability before layering multiple mods.
• Update Vigilantly: New Windows Updates can break compatibility with specific mods. Stay informed and check for updates both within Windhawk and for Windows itself.
• Mod Quality Varies: Given the open-source and community-driven approach, some mods are extremely polished, while others may require troubleshooting or may become unsupported without warning.
• Security Considerations: While Windhawk’s open-source development allows for transparent auditing (a blessing compared to opaque closed-source alternatives), the injection of code into desktop processes always comes with inherent risk. Users must weigh the minor—yet real—chance of exploit or data loss.

In particular, gaming remains a sticking point. Sophisticated anti-cheat systems can view system-level mods as tampering, potentially resulting in bans or crashes. Windhawk’s developers now explicitly exclude popular games from being modded, but the situation remains fluid as both game software and modding tools evolve.

Community, Development, and the Future of Windows Customization​

Windhawk’s greatest strength may well be its community. Mods are peer-reviewed, discussed, and sometimes co-developed on platforms like GitHub, speeding up response times for bugs and broadening the range of options available. New language support, accessibility tweaks, and compatibility workarounds are rolled out quickly, as evidenced by several mod updates arriving within days of feedback.
Of course, this openness has a downside: there are no guarantees of “official” long-term support for every mod, nor is there a promise that every update will be bug-free. Commercial tools like Stardock Start11 or StartIsBack offer a higher degree of predictability and support (for a fee), while Windhawk bets on the crowd for resilience and innovation.
As Microsoft continues to experiment with AI-powered Copilot integrations and incremental UI changes (with new Copilot+ features landing first on ARM-based devices due to their integrated NPUs), tools like Windhawk serve as a crucial check. They remind us that customization—functionality, not just aesthetics—remains a core part of the Windows DNA, even as the company pushes a more curated, less malleable vision for its OS.

Compared to the Competition​

When evaluating Windhawk, it is important to consider the broader landscape of Windows customization options:

• Open-Shell: Focuses almost exclusively on classic Start menu replacements and simple Explorer tweaks. It is lighter, but less expansive than Windhawk’s mod marketplace.
• Stardock Start11: A paid tool offering more polished, streamlined customization (especially for Start menu lovers), but less flexibility—and no support for ARM64 as of this writing.
• ExplorerPatcher and StartAllBack: Other respectable options for reverting Windows 11 to a more classic workflow, both with strong but sometimes brittle community support histories.
• Rainmeter: Famous for desktop widget overlays, Rainmeter sits at the other extreme, offering deep but often complex customizations suitable for advanced tinkerers rather than everyday users.

The main differentiator for Windhawk is its modular design and breadth; users can cherry-pick individual enhancements or themes, combine them in unique ways, and receive regular updates via a single, unified marketplace structure.

Conclusion: Empowered Users—With a Grain of Sensible Caution​

The Windhawk 1.6 release for ARM64 platforms is not just a technical milestone—it is a signal to the broader Windows community that desktop customization remains alive and well, even as Microsoft’s design pendulum swings toward streamlined minimalism. While the ARM64 modding experience isn’t yet perfect—limitations persist with x86/x64 emulated apps, and some mods require ongoing patching—the trajectory is toward broader compatibility, greater stability, and even more creative options in the months ahead.
For those who demand that their PC reflect their workflows, visual taste, or a nostalgic reverence for “Classic Windows,” Windhawk could become an indispensable tool. But, as always in the world of system-level enhancements, users must proceed with preparation, vigilance, and a supportive backup plan in place. With open-source innovation, community-driven troubleshooting, and a growing ARM64 user base, Windhawk is poised to keep the Windows modding spirit vibrant well into the Copilot+ era and beyond.

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Source: TechRadar Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon CPUs can now install popular tool that lets you customize Windows 11 and improve the Start menu in ways that Microsoft won’t entertain