Alternatives to Start11
Replace the Windows Start menu with customizable layouts and organization. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Start11
Replace the Windows Start menu with customizable layouts and organization.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Start11.
StartAllBack
Customize the Windows 11 Start menu, taskbar and Explorer interface.
StartAllBack is also paid and closed source, covering the Windows 11 Start menu, taskbar, context menus and Explorer, with a focus on restoring familiar layouts.
Open-Shell
The continuation of Classic Shell, bringing a classic Start menu and Explorer toolbar back to Windows 7 through 11.
Open-Shell is free and MIT-licensed, providing a classic hierarchical Start menu in several skinnable styles on Windows 7 through 11, but Windows updates occasionally break it.
ExplorerPatcher
Brings the Windows 10 taskbar, Start menu and Alt+Tab back to Windows 11, along with a lot of other interface options.
ExplorerPatcher is free under GPL-2.0 and restores the Windows 10 Start menu, taskbar and Alt+Tab on Windows 11, but it patches Explorer and needs elevation to install.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Seelen UI
Customize the Windows desktop with replacement interface components.
TranslucentTB
Makes the Windows taskbar transparent, blurred or tinted, and changes it depending on what is on screen.
7+ Taskbar Tweaker
Change grouping, clicking and other behavior of the classic Windows taskbar.
SmartTaskbar
Hide the Windows taskbar automatically when it overlaps a window.
SecureUxTheme
Load custom Windows visual styles with an in-memory theme patcher.
