Windows 11 replaced the Windows 10 File Explorer ribbon with a simpler command bar, added tabs, and opens to Home instead of This PC. There is no official switch to bring the old design back, but you can get close: change a few built-in settings for a Windows 10-like layout, restore the classic right-click menu with one registry command, and, if you want the full ribbon back, use a trusted third-party tool such as ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack.
What Changed From Windows 10
- Ribbon: the tabbed Home, Share, and View ribbon became a single command bar with icons for cut, copy, rename, share, and delete, plus Sort, View, and See more menus.
- Home instead of Quick access: Explorer opens to Home, which mixes Quick access, Favorites, and Recent files.
- Tabs: you can open several folders as tabs in one window.
- Spacing: items have more padding to suit touch screens.
- Context menu: right-click shows a shorter menu with a Show more options entry.
Method 1: Built-in Settings That Make Explorer Feel Like Windows 10
These changes need no extra software and are easy to undo.
- Open to This PC: in File Explorer, select the See more (three dots) menu > Options. On the General tab, set Open File Explorer to This PC.
- Tighter spacing: select View > Show > Compact view to reduce the extra padding between items, like Windows 10.
- File extensions and hidden items: select View > Show and turn on File name extensions or Hidden items if you used those in Windows 10.
- Details pane and preview pane: select View > Show > Details pane or Preview pane.
- Navigation pane: in Folder Options, on the View tab, check Show all folders and Expand to open folder for a classic folder tree.
Method 2: Restore the Classic Right-Click Menu
Windows 11 hides many context-menu items behind Show more options. You can always press Shift + F10 or Shift + right-click to open the full classic menu once. To make it the default:
- Right-click Start and choose Terminal.
- Run this command:
reg add "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32" /f /ve - Restart File Explorer: open Task Manager, right-click Windows Explorer, and choose Restart.
To go back to the Windows 11 menu, run reg delete "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}" /f and restart Explorer again. This change only affects your user account.
Put Your Folders Back in Quick Access
Windows 10 users often relied on Quick access. In Windows 11, right-click any folder and choose Pin to Quick access; pinned folders appear at the top of the navigation pane and on the Home page. Drag them to reorder.
Keyboard Shortcuts That Replace Ribbon Buttons
- Ctrl + Shift + N: new folder
- F2: rename
- Alt + Enter: properties
- Alt + P / Alt + Shift + P: preview pane / details pane
- Ctrl + Shift + 1 to 8: change the view (extra large icons to content)
- Ctrl + C, Ctrl + X, Ctrl + V: copy, cut, paste
- Shift + F10: open the full classic right-click menu
Method 3: Bring Back the Ribbon With ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack
To restore the actual Windows 10 ribbon, you need a third-party tool:
- ExplorerPatcher is free and open source (on GitHub). In its properties, open the File Explorer section and choose the Windows 10 ribbon or the Windows 7 command bar. It can also restore the Windows 10 taskbar and Start menu.
- StartAllBack is a paid app with a free trial that restores the Windows 10 or Windows 7 Explorer, taskbar, and Start menu with a simple settings window.
Download them only from their official sites. Because they change how Windows Explorer works, major Windows updates can temporarily break them; update the tool or uninstall it if Explorer starts crashing after an update. Some antivirus programs flag ExplorerPatcher as a potentially unwanted program because it modifies system files.
The older Open-Shell app can add a classic toolbar and status bar to Explorer through its Classic Explorer settings, but it does not bring back the Windows 10 ribbon.
What About the Control Panel Trick?
In 2024, users found that opening Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Tools and then clicking a drive or folder in the left pane opened a File Explorer window with the old ribbon. Results vary between Windows 11 versions, and Microsoft can change this behavior in any update, so treat it as a curiosity rather than a reliable fix. Old registry tweaks that disabled the new Explorer also no longer work in current versions of Windows 11.
Troubleshooting
The registry command did nothing
Restart File Explorer or sign out and back in. Check that you copied the full command, including the curly braces and the /ve switch.
File Explorer crashes after installing a customization tool
Uninstall the tool from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, or start Windows in Safe Mode and remove it. Then check the tool’s site for an updated version.
Tabs still appear
Windows 11 does not let you turn off File Explorer tabs. Third-party tools that restore the old Explorer remove them as part of the classic layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the Windows 10 File Explorer back without third-party software?
Not completely. You can get a similar layout with built-in settings and the classic context menu, but the ribbon itself requires a tool like ExplorerPatcher or StartAllBack.
Is ExplorerPatcher safe?
It is a widely used open-source project, but it modifies Explorer, so download it only from its official GitHub page and keep a restore point.
Will these changes survive Windows updates?
Settings and the registry tweak usually do. Third-party tools may need updating after major Windows releases.
Can I make the rest of Windows 11 look like Windows 10?
Yes. See how to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10 and how to make the Windows 11 taskbar look like Windows 10.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.