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

I have been utilizing Windows 11 day-after-day since upgrading my desktop PC from Windows 10 in 2021. Whereas I take pleasure in lots of its options, such because the improved File Explorer and snap layouts for multitasking, I’ve at all times been pissed off by the restricted customization choices for the taskbar, Begin menu, and desktop. For instance, not like Home windows 10, you may’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 referred to as Windhawk, which lets you simply obtain and handle mods that change the looks of Home windows 11, similar to fully overhauling the look of the taskbar and Begin menu. Not too long ago, the app acquired a serious replace, making it even higher to make use of.

Windhawk’s newest model, 1.7, is full of new options. Probably the most vital modifications is how the app manages downloading mods. Beforehand, Windhawk downloaded mods and compiled them domestically in your machine. 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 employ causes issues, you may rapidly revert to a earlier model.

Tips on how to obtain Windhawk and customise Home windows at no cost your self

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

In case you’re fascinated with attempting the most recent model of Windhawk, you may 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 totally different mods you may set up to customise Home windows 11 to your liking.

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

Moreover, due to the most recent 1.7 replace, the builders have added a search characteristic, filtering choices, and an inventory view to 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, every time a future Windhawk replace like this one is launched, you may replace it by going to the About part (situated on the prime proper of the app) as a substitute of visiting GitHub to obtain the most recent 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 comparable 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 could be good if Microsoft ultimately centered on giving customers extra methods to personalize the Begin menu, taskbar, File Explorer, and different options as a substitute of simply including extra Copilot options.