Windows 11 can’t switch to the Windows 7 design, but you can get close. Start with the built-in settings: move the taskbar icons to the left, bring back the desktop icons, and turn on accent colors for title bars. For a true Windows 7-style Start menu and taskbar, you need a third-party tool such as Open-Shell or StartAllBack.
Applies to: Windows 11. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 10, 2026.
What you can and can’t change
- Built in: taskbar alignment, which taskbar buttons show, desktop icons, colors, light or dark mode, wallpaper, and File Explorer layout.
- Needs a third-party tool: a Windows 7-style Start menu, a taskbar that can move to the side or top, and the old-style taskbar buttons.
- Not available at all: the Aero Glass transparent window borders, desktop gadgets, and the Windows 7 sound scheme.
Step 1: Move the taskbar icons to the left
- Right-click an empty part of the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
- Open Taskbar behaviors and set Taskbar alignment to Left.
- Under Taskbar items, set Search to Search icon only or Hide, and turn off Task view and Widgets.
The Start button now sits in the bottom-left corner, where it was in Windows 7.
Step 2: Bring back the desktop icons
Windows 7 showed Computer and Recycle Bin on the desktop. Windows 11 can show them too.
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Themes.
- Select Desktop icon settings.
- Check Computer, User’s Files, Recycle Bin, and any others you want, then select OK.
Step 3: Set Windows 7-style colors
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Colors.
- Set Choose your mode to Light.
- Under Accent color, pick a blue.
- Turn on Show accent color on title bars and window borders.
Windows 11 can’t make window borders see-through the way Aero Glass did. The Transparency effects switch on the same page only affects the taskbar, Start menu, and some app backgrounds.
To change the wallpaper, see how to change the desktop background in Windows 11. The classic Windows 7 wallpapers aren’t included in Windows 11, so use any image you like.
Step 4: Make File Explorer feel familiar
- Open to This PC: In File Explorer, select See more (three dots) > Options. Set Open File Explorer to to This PC.
- Show the full right-click menu: Select Show more options at the bottom of the menu, or press Shift + F10.
- Use Control Panel: It’s still in Windows 11. Type Control Panel in Start to open it.
For the classic Start menu with its two columns, you need a third-party app. These are the best-known options:
- Open-Shell: Free and open source. It replaces the Start menu with a Windows 7-style menu and lets you use a custom Start button.
- StartAllBack: A paid app with a free trial. It restores a Windows 7-style Start menu, taskbar, and File Explorer, and lets you move the taskbar to any edge.
- ExplorerPatcher: Free and open source. It gives you a Windows 10-style taskbar and Start menu, which is closer to Windows 7 than the Windows 11 versions.
Before you install one:
- Download it only from the developer’s official website or its official GitHub page. Copies on other download sites can be bundled with unwanted software.
- Create a restore point first, so you can undo the change if something goes wrong.
- Expect occasional breakage. These apps change parts of Windows, so a Windows update can stop them working until the developer releases a fix.
If you keep the Windows 11 Start menu, you can still make it simpler.
- Go to Settings > Personalization > Start.
- Turn off Show recently added apps, Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists, and Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more.
- Right-click apps you use often and select Pin to taskbar, as you would in Windows 7.
The exact names of these switches can vary slightly between Windows 11 versions.
How to undo the changes
- Set Taskbar alignment back to Center and turn the taskbar buttons back on in Taskbar settings.
- In Settings > Personalization > Themes, pick Windows (light) or Windows (dark) to reset colors and the wallpaper.
- Uninstall any Start menu or taskbar app from Installed apps.
If something goes wrong
- The taskbar or Start menu disappears after an update: Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, find Windows Explorer, and select Restart task. Then update the third-party app or uninstall it.
- You want the Windows 11 Start menu back: Uninstall the app in Settings > Apps > Installed apps, then restart the PC.
- Desktop icons don’t appear: Right-click the desktop, select View, and make sure Show desktop icons is checked.
- Accent color settings are greyed out: Windows 11 needs to be activated to change personalization settings.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get the Aero Glass effect in Windows 11?
Not with Windows’ own settings. Some third-party tools try to imitate it, but they change system files and often break after updates.
Can I use Windows 7 sounds?
Windows 11 doesn’t include the Windows 7 sound scheme. In Settings > System > Sound > More sound settings, the Sounds tab lets you assign your own .wav files to events instead.
Can I get the round Windows 7 Start button?
Open-Shell and StartAllBack both let you change the Start button image. Neither includes Microsoft’s original Windows 7 button, so you need to supply your own image.
Will Windows updates undo the built-in changes?
Usually not. Settings such as taskbar alignment and desktop icons stay the same after updates. Third-party apps are more likely to be affected.
Should I go back to Windows 7 instead?
No. Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020, so it no longer gets security updates. Making Windows 11 look like Windows 7 gives you the familiar look while keeping your PC protected.
Will these changes slow down my PC?
The built-in settings won’t. Start menu and taskbar apps use very little memory, so you’re unlikely to notice any difference.
If you’d rather have the Windows 10 look, see how to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10 and how to make the Windows 11 taskbar look like Windows 10. For more options, see how to customize the taskbar in Windows 11 and how to customize Windows 11.
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.