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How to Make Windows 10’s Start Menu Look Like Windows 7
Bring back the superior look to your Windows 10 PC
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
If you want to try theWindows 10Technical Preview, but you like your old interface (FromWindows 7or XP) more, you’re probably facing a dilemma if you should use it or not.
Since our site supports innovations, we’ll advise you to try the new OS, and we’ll show you how to make the newStart menulook like theStart menufromWindows 7(as much as possible).
How do I get Windows 10’s Start menu and taskbar to be like Windows 7’s?
1. Remove the Live Tiles feature
The main thing that separates theWindows 10Start menufrom the Start menus of previous versions of Windows operating systems is live tiles.
Live tiles were introduced in Windows 8 as a part of theStart Screen, and now they’re relocated to the Start menu.
Thoughts about live tiles being separated, some people think Microsoft should remove live tiles from Windows, because they remind us ofWindows 10, while some people think that live tiles are refreshments for theStart menu.
But if you’re reading this article, you probably belong to the first side.
So if you want to getWindows 7-likeStart menu, you’ll have to get rid of the live tiles. Luckily, that is very easy, and here’s all you should do to remove live tiles from yourWindows 10Start menu:
Once you’ve unpinned all live tiles from yourStart menu, you’ll get a nice and slimStart menu, that reminds (well, as much as possible) ofWindows 7.
Does yourStart Menu disappear? Don’t panic! Fix the problem like an expert with our guide.
2. Make the Windows 10 taskbar look like Windows 7’s
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Right click on the taskbar.
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UnderSearch, chooseHidden.
3.Now that the search box is now removed, you need to also remove the Task View button from the taskbar.
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Right click on the taskbar once more.
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Uncheck theShow Task Viewbutton.
You’ll need to customize thetaskbarin order to make it likeWindows 7’s. The first thing you need to do is to remove the search box or search button from yourtaskbar.
After you remove it,there’s only one thing left for you to do. If you really want your taskbar to look like Windows 7 as much as possible, you should also remove the Task View button, because Windows 7 Start menu didn’t have it.
I know it doesn’t look exactly like theStart menufromWindows 7or Windows XP, but you can’t do more than this.
Maybe some new builds ofWindows 10Technical Preview will bring more customization options to theStart menuand taskbar, and we’ll be able to change it even more, but that’s all for now.
We’ve written extensively onTaskbar issues. Check out our guide for more information.
3. Use software to make Windows 10 look like Windows 7
There is something else you can try in order to make yourWindows 10look likeWindows 7. There is a lot of software in the market right now, but one, in particular, got our attention.
Start10, a program developed by Stardock, can make big differences in your Windows appearance. After installing, if you want to return to the classicWindows 7style or just give your OS a modern makeover, it’s up to you.
However, you should know that there is a cost, around 4.99$, but you can try it for free.
Here are Start10’s main features:
Learn more about theStart10tool from our dedicated review.
Classic Shell is another third-party application that can help you bring back Windows 7 Start Menu to Windows 10. To use it, just do the following:
Note:Classic Shell is no longer actively developed, so you might encounter certain bugs while using it.Open Shellis a similar application, and it’s actually based on Classic Shell. Open Shell is actively maintained by the Git community so be sure to consider it instead of Classic Shell.
There you go, we hope that you found our guide helpful and that you managed to change the look of your Start menu and taskbar in Windows 10 to be like Windows 7’s.
More about the topics:Taskbar,windows 10,windows 7
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.
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Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
