Alternative Windows 11 start menus

Slavic · Apr 23, 2026

spapakons said:
So my PC is up and running now, "downgraded" to build 8039 and with perfectly working Classic Explorer Bar!

Here is my Explorer in 26200.8246, all modifications are made by ExplorerPatcher. Context menu is also classic (sorry, not on screenshot).

spapakons · Apr 23, 2026

Here is mine. Enclosed in red rectangle the Classic Explorer Bar. Windows 10 style File Explorer is courtesy of Explorer Patcher.

File Explorer with Classic Explorer Bar.webp

dacrone · Apr 23, 2026

spapakons said:
I was just notified there is a new version of Open Shell 4.4.197 and of course I upgraded. However, I would not dare to also upgrade Windows 11 to build 8246 again just to test if the Classic Explorer Bar will disappear or keep working. Maybe I will test it in a virtual machine, just in case. If everyone has newer build than 8039 and Classic Explorer Bar is working properly, please post here!

just tested on a 25h2 pc that has kb5083769 installed and 4.4.197 still doesn't apply the toolbar to FE. just fyi

spapakons · Apr 24, 2026

Just as I thought. Thanks for the info.

PS: I just tested Open Shell 4.4.197 on a virtual machine running Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build 8246. I confirm that Classic Explorer Bar DOESN'T work. In fact when I visited Github website to download it I realized it is a pre-release version that doesn't focus on fixing the issue. Hopefully when the standard release is available? "Hope dies last", as we say in Greek.

I repeat it again, if any Open Shell Developer reads this forum, please fix the issue. I don't think it is to hard too modify your code and make it work after Microsoft's changes to File Explorer, or at least embed the appropriate code to undo these changes in the installer. So we won't have to run Vive Tool commands to undo the changes and even a novice can use Open Shell. No matter what others think, I find Classic Explorer Bar a very useful feature and I wouldn't like to not be able to use it if I upgrade to a newer Windows 11 build. I cannot stay on the same build forever!

Slavic · Apr 24, 2026

spapakons said:
In fact when I visited Github website to download it I realized it is a pre-release version that doesn't focus on fixing the issue. Hopefully when the standard release is available?

If you have an account on GitHub, you can write a bugreport or suggestion to authors, at least they will be informed. Whether they fix this bug in the next release, depends on their good will. The best case, if you have some programming skills, you can look at the code and try to find a possible place of error.

Edwin · Apr 24, 2026

spapakons said:
Here is mine. Enclosed in red rectangle the Classic Explorer Bar. Windows 10 style File Explorer is courtesy of Explorer Patcher.

Here's mine with the Truly Classic Command Bar!

Explorer in Windows 7 Mode courtesy of StartAllBack.
Tabs and all other enhancements courtesy of QTTabBar.
Windows 11 25H2 - 26200.8039, and I'm staying there!

cereberus · Apr 24, 2026

I use an alternative to all the alternatives. It called Windows Start Menu and it is built in to Windows.

I discovered decades ago, menus are pretty much an item only used for a minute or two at most in any day.

I never have to worry about menu alternative updates failing etc.

The KISS principle 100% applies.

spapakons · Apr 24, 2026

Slavic said:
If you have an account on GitHub, you can write a bugreport or suggestion to authors, at least they will be informed. Whether they fix this bug in the next release, depends on their good will. The best case, if you have some programming skills, you can look at the code and try to find a possible place of error.

I did post a bug report on Github and 15 minute ago was closed as duplicate! I could not even reply to explain what is the issue. They didn't even provide a link to the duplicate post.

Kees · Apr 24, 2026

spapakons said:
I did post a bug report on Github and 15 minute ago was closed as duplicate!

I think that's because in this thread on Github the problem has been reported and discussed quite intensively:

Toolbar disappeared in Windows Explorer · Open-Shell Open-Shell-Menu · Discussion #2373

Open Shell Vers.4.4.196, Windows 11 Prof. Hello, The toolbar in Windows Explorer has disappeared for a few days. I did the repair method and I removed and reinstalled Open Shell, and checked all th...

github.com

Possibly you could post a comment in that thread.

spapakons · Apr 24, 2026

cereberus said:
I use an alternative to all the alternatives. It called Windows Start Menu and it is built in to Windows.

I discovered decades ago, menus are pretty much an item only used for a minute or two at most in any day.

I never have to worry about menu alternative updates failing etc.

The KISS principle 100% applies.

I think you misunderstood. Open Shell classic start button and start menu are still working fine. There is one component, a "legacy" toolbar called Classic Explorer Bar which shows cut/copy/paste and other icons (can be customized) top left of a File Explorer window. See my screenshot in post #62. This toolbar disappears with every Windows 2026 update due to Microsoft turning off some "legacy" components in File Explorer. Using Vive Tool or otherwise we can issue commands that undo changes to File Explorer, so our "legacy" toolbars keep working (see my earlier posts to this thread). However that was the case until build 8037/8039. Newer builds, including 8246 have some new changes in File Explorer that there is no any workaround to undo them yet. Until there is another workaround, we either downgrade to 8037/8039 by uninstalling the latest Windows update, or we use File Explorer without the convenience of Classic Explorer Bar. I know there are alternatives for the start menu, but I haven't found a WORKING alternative for Open Shell's Classic Explorer Bar component. I tried QTTABBAR but this is also "legacy" toolbar and doesn't appear after upgrading to 8117 or newer build. I also tried Windhawk, but I didn't manage to create a custom toolbar with cut/copy/paste and other icons. It seems too difficult to use, unlike Classic Explorer Bar which is straightforward.

spapakons · Apr 24, 2026

Kees said:
I think that's because in this thread on Github the problem has been reported and discussed quite intensively:

Toolbar disappeared in Windows Explorer · Open-Shell Open-Shell-Menu · Discussion #2373

Open Shell Vers.4.4.196, Windows 11 Prof. Hello, The toolbar in Windows Explorer has disappeared for a few days. I did the repair method and I removed and reinstalled Open Shell, and checked all th...

github.com

Possibly you could post a comment in that thread.

That is assuming I knew which thread was the original. They didn't bother to tell me, they just locked my thread as duplicate. Thanks for the link, I will have a look.

Slavic · Apr 24, 2026

spapakons said:
That is assuming I knew which thread was the original.

I saw your comment, thanks for detailed explanation of unsuccessful attempts to avoid this problem, I hope it may help the devs. Until the fix, the classic 10-style Ribbon and the quick access icons on the window title, even far from complete set, may be a temporary solution. As for stopping system updates, I did that couple of times in the past with a heavy heart, but eventually resumed after some fixes from Microsoft and some changes of my habits...

hdmi · Apr 24, 2026

spapakons said:
That is assuming I knew which thread was the original. They didn't bother to tell me, they just locked my thread as duplicate.

I feel ya. I've been wondering myself where on the ElevenForum is the original "Do I need to defrag my SSD" thread but they didn't bother to tell me.

Slavic · Apr 24, 2026

Even though the last pre-release of Open-Shell 4.4.197 was in this February and the release 4.4.196 was about a year ago, this project doesn't look abandoned. I looked at the code depository, the last change (bugfix) happened about a week ago and it was approved by ge0rdi who is currently the main developer. While I haven't found such nickname here, his co-developer Anixx is active on this forum (I guess he is the same person). If so, he could know more about the bugs and how to fix them.

Interestingly, the last changes in the code were implemented with the help of Claude AI. Whether it is good or not, I cannot say, never programmed anything with AI. But apparently this trend has arrived and cannot be stopped.

spapakons · Apr 24, 2026

If indeed an Open Shell Developer reads this forum, please let us know if there is a workaround to make Classic Explorer Bar work on latest Windows 11 builds.

dacrone · Apr 24, 2026

magic. i'll post the steps in a few. have to run an errand. just wanted to keep you posted that it is possible

spapakons · Apr 24, 2026

Take your time. Here is local time 1:20am, so I should go to bed. I will check your reply tomorrow. Thanks a lot.

dacrone · Apr 24, 2026

1) i am providing copies of system32\ExplorerFrame.dll and syswow64\ExplorerFrame.dll from 25h2 26200.6901 (you can use any you have pre-kb5083769)

2) i used @LesFerch Right Click Tools and opened cmd as Trusted Installer (not necessary if boot from install media or safe and use cmd)

3) open cmd as trusted installer and run:

Code:

cd C:\Windows\System32

Code:

ren ExplorerFrame.dll ExplorerFrame.dll.bak

Code:

cd..

Code:

cd SysWOW64

Code:

ren ExplorerFrame.dll ExplorerFrame.dll.bak

Code:

copy (path to the .dll i supplied for system32) C:\Windows\System32\ExplorerFrame.dll

Code:

copy (path to the .dll i supplied for syswow64) C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ExplorerFrame.dll

Code:

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

Code:

start explorer.exe

exit CMD

No logout or reboot required

this has survived a restart, hibernate, sleep and windows update (so far). i have had no explorer/file explorer crashes in hours now. if anyone @garlin or otherwise can tell me what i can test to be sure there are no terrible side-effects, i will do so but i have yet to run across any.

EDIT:
as a matter of fact, using windhawk to remove the win 11 command bar and using the fluent icons on this isn't half bad since you can make the custom commands and use ahk scripts to do anything you want...

Slavic · Apr 25, 2026

dacrone said:
1) i am providing copies of system32\ExplorerFrame.dll and syswow64\ExplorerFrame.dll from 25h2 26200.6901 (you can use any you have pre-kb5083769)

This reminds me the recent case with kb5086672, when Microsoft unexpectedly updated the library CRTDLL.DLL. As a result, the good old Cardfile refused to start because some required functions were missed. Copying the old DLL to Cardfile installation solved the problem.

Situation here may be more complex because replacing the Explorer DLLs with older versions in standard locations is a temporary solution until the next OS update. I hope developers will be able to reproduce missed functionality manually in the program's code... Until the next cleaning up the system DLLs.

spapakons · Apr 25, 2026

This reminds me of when a major upgrade replaces some system files and undoes my custom system icons. I have to replace the icons on the files again, take ownership and full access rights and then replace the original files with the modified. Thanks for the info, I will test it on my virtual machine and if it works I will do it in my main PC.

Alternative Windows 11 start menus

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