Method 1: Bring the Windows 10 Start Menu to Windows 11

The start menu is one of the first elements you interact with on a Windows device. However, since Windows 11 and 10 Start menus are remarkably contrasting, you may start by making Windows 11 start menu like Windows 10. The easiest way is by employing third-party tools, and we will show you how to do it using Start11.

Step 1: Visit the Start11 website and click the Try Free option.

Step 2: Double-click the downloaded file to begin the installation process and follow the installation wizard.

Step 3: Launch the app and click Start 30-Day Trial, then enter your email and verify it by clicking the link sent to your email.

Step 4: Click the Windows 10 style option to make the Windows 11 start menu like Windows 10.

Method 2: Use a Black Start Menu and Taskbar

The black background taskbar and the Start menu were the default for many years. While this is a more complex feature to mimic with Windows 11, you may get the closest look by combining dark and light mode options on the Settings app. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Open the Settings app by pressing Windows I.

Step 2: On the left pane, click the Personalization option, then on the right, click Colors.

Step 3: Click the Choose your mode dropdown and click Custom.

Step 3: To get the closest Windows 11 feel, set Choose your default Windows mode to Dark, and Choose your default app mode to Light.

3. Left Align Taskbar Icons

One prominent feature in Windows 11 is the center-aligned taskbar icon. This feature was aligned to the left in Windows 10, so you may revert it using the Settings app, as shown below.

Step 1: Open the Settings app by pressing Windows I.

Step 2: On the left pane, click the Personalization option, then on the right, click Taskbar.

Step 3: Expand Taskbar behaviors, then set Taskbar alignment to Left to make the Windows 11 Taskbar look like Windows 10.

4. Disable Taskbar Icons Exclusive to Windows 11

Windows 11 shares many Taskbar icons with Windows 10; however, a few are exclusive to the newest operating system. Some examples include the Widgets button, Task View, and Copilot. You may follow the steps below to disable them.

Step 1: Open the Settings app by pressing Windows I.

Step 2: On the left pane, click the Personalization option, then on the right, click Taskbar.

Step 3: Toggle off the options for Copilot (preview), Task view, and Widgets.

5. Set a Windows 10 Wallpaper as the Default

Another option to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10 is to get a Windows 10 theme/style in Windows 11. You may set a default Windows 10 wallpaper on your computer. You should first download a Windows 10 theme or wallpaper from a trusted vendor, then follow the steps below to update it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app by pressing Windows I.

Step 2: On the left pane, click the Personalization option, then on the right, click Background.

Step 3: Scroll down, then click the Browse photos button.

Step 4: Select a Windows 10 wallpaper from the prompt that follows.

6. Use the Windows 10 Context Menu

Another way to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10 is by using the Windows 10 context menu. You may reveal the context menu when you right-click an app, file, or folder on your computer. However, the options and layout differ in both operating systems. You may revert to a Windows 10 feel by tweaking registry options.

Step 1: Press Windows R, then type regedit in the text field and hit Enter.

Step 2: Navigate to the path below.

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID

Step 3: Right-click the CLSID folder, select New, and click Key, then name the new key {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}.

Step 4: On the newly created key, perform the same steps as in Step 3 to create a new key and name it InprocServer32.

Step 5: Double-click the newly created key, double-click Default on the right pane, and ensure the Value data is empty.

Step 6: Restart the computer.

7. Disable Rounded Corners for Apps

By default, all app windows on Windows 11 open with rounded corners. This is different from the older Windows 10 version that had straight corners. You may edit this feature using the Windows registry, as demonstrated below.

Step 1: Press Windows R, then type regedit in the text field and hit Enter.

Step 2: Navigate to the path below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM

Step 3: Right-click DWN, click New, then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Step 4: Name the new key UseWindowFrameStagingBuffer.

Step 5: Restart your computer for this change to take effect and make Windows 11 look like Windows 10.