ExplorerPatcher: customization options for the Windows taskbar, Start and File Explorer

ExplorerPatcher is an open supply program for Home windows 10 and 11 that provides an enormous variety of customization choices to the desktop atmosphere. From restoring the basic Home windows 10 taskbar on Home windows 11 gadgets to including or eradicating options that Microsoft doesn’t need customers to have entry to.

The appliance is tiny and might be run proper after obtain. Observe that the display screen could flip a stable colour for a second earlier than the adjustments that it makes take impact. There may additionally be a Home windows SmartScreen warning concerning the app.

Home windows 11 customers will discover taskbar adjustments immediately, because the Home windows 10 taskbar model is loaded by default by the appliance. All of this may be custom-made by right-clicking on the taskbar and choosing properties from the menu.

Talking of which, the context menu shows “misplaced” choices once more, together with the flexibility to point out home windows side-by-side or stacked. There’s additionally the Job Supervisor hyperlink, which Microsoft eliminated initially however has restored currently once more on Home windows 11.

The preferences home windows of ExplorerPatcher divides customizations into completely different subsections. There are sections for the taskbar, Begin Menu, File Explorer and the System Tray, and a number of other others.

Every part lists numerous tweaks and adjustments that customers could make to customise the Home windows desktop atmosphere. Taskbar alone holds a number of necessary choices. There, customers could swap between Home windows 10 and 11 taskbar types. Relying on that choice, different choices grow to be out there.

Home windows 10 is the default, and it permits customers so as to add or take away objects, change the Begin button model and taskbar alignment, and transfer the taskbar from the underside location to the highest or the edges of the display screen. There are additionally choices to vary the large icon dimension to small and outline whether or not icons ought to be mixed or not. The Home windows 11 taskbar model has much less choices, e.g., the flexibility to put it on the sides or prime will not be out there.

This system’s different settings are equally in depth. System Tray, as an example, lists a great dozen choices that outline conduct; this is determined by the chosen taskbar model, with Home windows 10’s taskbar model providing extra choices than Home windows 11’s.

For Home windows 10, customers could present or take away choices. There’s an choice to point out seconds on the clock, one thing on which Microsoft continues to be engaged on getting restored on Home windows 11. Different choices embody defining actions when clicking on system tray icons or hiding the present desktop button.

The File Explorer sections affords an analogous set of customization choices. The default set of adjustments skips the brand new Home windows 11 context menu by default to show the basic one robotically. Different choices embody enabling legacy file switch dialogs, shrinking the handle bar top, or disabling the trendy search bar.

The Begin Menu part permits customers to cover the really helpful part totally. Whereas it removes it from the Begin menu, it doesn’t unlock the house that it occupies for packages.

Customers who explorer the opposite sections discover the choice to put a climate widget on the taskbar; this widget will not be associated to the Home windows 11 Widgets characteristic, however a relict of Home windows 10, which Microsoft by no means rolled out absolutely. It could be enabled to show climate info on the taskbar. A customized location and styale could also be chosen for it.

Verdict

ExplorerPatcher is a mighty device, particularly for customers of Home windows 11 who need entry to extra customization choices (which Home windows 10 supplied). This system labored effectively throughout exams, however there have been occasional glitches, resembling the shortcoming to maneuver the taskbar from the left place again to the underside, or that the brand new window show choices had been seen over the beginning menu space. All in all although, it labored positive and is really helpful.

Now You: have you ever tried ExplorerPatcher or different tweakers? (by way of Caschy)

Creator Ranking

Software program Title

ExplorerPatcher

Working System

Home windows

Software program Class

Customization

Touchdown Web page

Commercial