Klassic Shell

Klassic Shell is a continuation of Open-Shell-Menu, which continues Classic Shell by Ivo Beltchev. It is maintained by Keranik.

Open-Shell is not taking Windows 11 taskbar changes. This repository keeps that work on top of upstream Open-Shell.

What changed

• The Windows 11 taskbar can be fully transparent again. The existing opaque and glass looks apply to the XAML taskbar.
• A taskbar texture replaces the Windows background instead of being drawn on top of it.
• A custom start-button image replaces the Windows logo, including on other monitors that show their own taskbar.
• The custom image is centered in the Windows 11 start-button slot. The original Start button no longer stays clickable underneath it.

The program name and installer are still Open-Shell. Build from this repository to get the taskbar fix.

Later Open-Shell updates can be merged from upstream (https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu.git) into main with git fetch upstream and git merge upstream/master.

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Open-Shell

A collection of utilities bringing back classic features to Windows.

Originally Classic Shell by Ivo Beltchev

            

Open-Shell Homepage

Features

• Classic style Start menu for Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11
• Toolbar for Windows Explorer
• Explorer status bar with file size and disk space
• Classic copy UI (Windows 7 only)
• Title bar and status bar for Internet Explorer

Download

You can find the latest stable version here:

Important

Windows for ARM compatibility

Open-Shell is compatible with Windows for ARM since version 4.4.196.

If you install older one on a Windows for ARM installation (ex. using Parallels Desktop on an Apple Silicon Mac), you will no longer be able to log into your account the next time you reboot. Please refrain from installing Open-Shell on Windows for ARM.

Code signing

Free code signing provided by SignPath.io, certificate by SignPath Foundation

Temporary Translation/Language Solution

1. Download language DLL
2. Place it either in the Open-Shell's install folder or in the %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\OpenShell\Languages folder

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For archival reasons, we have a mirror of www.classicshell.net here.

How To Skin a Start Menu
Classic Shell: Custom Start Buttons
Questions? Ask on the Discussions section or on Discord
Submit a bug report/feature request