4 Best Apps to Bring Back Windows 7 Start Menu to Windows 10 (Free and Paid)
Feb. 15, 2021Windows 10 bringstons of improvements over its predecessorsin terms of performance, functionality, and security, but the one area where people still miss Windows 7 is aesthetics. The Start Menu, especially, remains a sore point, with many old-timers still fondly remembering how the Windows 7 Start Menu looked less schizophrenic than the new version. So today, we will show you how you can bring back the Windows 7 Start Menu to Windows 10. To do that, we’ve rounded up 4 apps to customize the look and feel of your Windows 10 PC.
Bring Back Windows 7 Start Menu to Windows 10
To bring back the Windows 7 Start Menu to Windows 10, we neither have to use any command-line tools, nor muck around in the Windows registry. Instead, we will use third-party software, including free, freemium and paid apps, to bring a bit of nostalgia to your Windows 10 PC. If that sounds interesting, read on to know about the best apps to customize your Windows 10 device and bring back the Windows 7 Start Menu.
Note:The setup page will appear only the first time you click on the Start Menu. Thereafter, you’ll get a regular Windows 7-style Start Menu every time you hit the Start button. To access Open Shell settings again, right-click on the Start button and select ‘Settings’.
There are a whole bunch of settings you can change to personalize the Start Menu aesthetics and functionality to your heart’s content. The software is fully free, which means you get all the features without any restrictions.
If you’re ready to pay for your nostalgia, a little-knownWindows 10 appcalled StartIsBack is an even better option to get back your classic Windows 7 Start Menu. It comes with a free 30-day trial, but costs $3.99 for a full license. It’s a great, inexpensive way to get back your Windows 7 Start Menu in Windows 10, and the one that I personally used in my Windows 8/8.1 installations back in the day.
As it’s name suggests, StartIsBack truly brings back the Windows 7 Start Menu to Windows 10. I can personally vouch for the software, having used it on multiple Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10 PCs. It is extremely lightweight, comes with no advertisements and has zero bloat. I highly recommend this app to get back the Windows 7 Start Menu in Windows 10.
Another cool app you can use to bring back the Windows 7-style Start Menu to Windows 10 is Start Menu X. It comes with a free version that offers most of the features of the ‘Pro’ version, but with a couple of exceptions that we’ll discuss later. You can also opt for a 30-day free trial of the Pro version with all the bells and whistles.
Note:The free version does not include a ‘one-click’ Start Menu, which means you have to click more than once to access it. It also does not have tabs. Both features are available in the ‘Pro’ version that costs $9.99.
Another popular program to get back the Windows 7 Start menu in Windows 10 is Start10 by Stardock. The developer is well-known for makingWindows customizationprograms and, has been in the business for the better part of two decades. The program comes with a free 30-day trial, but the full version will cost you $4.99. Note that you will need a valid email address to complete the setup process.
There are a whole host of ways to configure the Stardock Start10 Start Menu. You can choose the design for the Start button and the icons, as well as select a custom texture for the Start Menu. There are plenty of other settings and options for you to play around with as well.
Another way to reduce the clutter on your Windows 10 Start Menu is by unpinning all the massive tiles. You canunpin all Start Menu tiles, irrespective of whether they are ‘Live’ or not. That way, you will have a more streamlined look akin to Windows 7.
This is the easiest way to change the look and feel of the Windows 10 Start Menu on your computer. It doesn’t require you to download any additional software or spending any extra money. So go ahead and try out this method before downloading any apps to customize your Windows 10 machine.
The Windows 10 Start Menu is essentially a cleaner version of the Windows 8 Start Menu, and retains the same tile-based UI that created a massive controversy back in the day. It might make some sense in touchscreen devices, but is a waste of space on regular laptops and desktops. The multi-color tiles are also an aesthetic nightmare and are highly annoying when using a mouse and keyboard. So if you liked the older, streamlined aesthetics of the Windows 7 Start Menu as much as I did, you now know how to get it back.
Now that you know about the best apps to customize your Windows 10 PC by bringing back the Windows 7 Start Menu, you should check out our articles on how todisable notifications in Windows 10, as well ashow to remove all ads from Windows 10. Also, make sure tokeep your PC temperature in checkto prevent slowdowns and unusual degradation in battery life. Finally, depending on your experience with Windows, check out ourtips and tricks for Windows beginnersoradvanced tips and tricksfor power users.
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