My favourite free Home windows 11 customization app simply bought even higher

I have been utilizing Windows 11 daily since upgrading my desktop PC from Windows 10 in 2021. Whereas I get pleasure from a lot of its options, such because the improved File Explorer and snap layouts for multitasking, I’ve all the time been annoyed by the restricted customization choices for the taskbar, Begin menu, and desktop. For instance, not like Home windows 10, you’ll be able to’t even make the taskbar vertical.

That is why customization apps have turn into important to my Home windows 11 expertise. The one I depend on most is a free app known as Windhawk, which lets you simply obtain and handle mods that change the looks of Home windows 11, comparable to utterly overhauling the look of the taskbar and Begin menu. Lately, the app acquired a serious replace, making it even higher to make use of.

Windhawk’s newest model, 1.7, is filled with new options. Some of the vital modifications is how the app manages downloading mods. Beforehand, Windhawk downloaded mods and compiled them regionally in your gadget. Now, it downloads precompiled mods, making set up and updates a lot faster. After I up to date all of the mods I’ve put in after the replace, it took simply seconds, so it undoubtedly works. The replace additionally provides the flexibility to view and set up older variations of mods, so if a brand new replace to a mod you utilize causes issues, you’ll be able to shortly revert to a earlier model.

How you can obtain Windhawk and customise Home windows at no cost your self

My two favourite mods change the look of the Begin menu and taskbar

When you’re desirous about attempting the newest model of Windhawk, you’ll be able to obtain it at no cost from GitHub. As soon as you put in it in your PC, open the Discover tab within the app to see all of the completely different mods you’ll be able to set up to customise Home windows 11 to your liking.

There are tons of various mods obtainable on Windhawk, together with certainly one of my favorites that allows you to take away the “advisable apps” part from the Begin menu utterly. One other one I exploit is the Home windows 11 Taskbar Styler, which helps you to change the taskbar’s look, comparable to making it utterly clear or remodeling it right into a macOS-style dock.

Moreover, due to the newest 1.7 replace, the builders have added a search characteristic, filtering choices, and a listing view in your put in mods, making it even simpler to handle them.

One other helpful characteristic on this new Windhawk replace is the flexibility to replace the app instantly from the About part. Now, at any time when a future Windhawk replace like this one is launched, you’ll be able to replace it by going to the About part (positioned on the prime proper of the app) as an alternative of visiting GitHub to obtain the newest launch.

I have been utilizing Windhawk on my Home windows 11 laptop computer for a number of months, and I have not had any points with my Home windows breaking or related issues with the few mods I’ve put in, and all the pieces has been clean. Whereas Windhawk addresses my complaints about Home windows 11’s restricted customization choices, it will be good if Microsoft ultimately centered on giving customers extra methods to personalize the Begin menu, taskbar, File Explorer, and different options as an alternative of simply including extra Copilot options.