My favourite free Home windows 11 customization app simply received 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 all the time been annoyed by the restricted customization choices for the taskbar, Begin menu, and desktop. For instance, in contrast to Home windows 10, you’ll be able to’t even make the taskbar vertical.

That is why customization apps have change 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, resembling utterly overhauling the look of the taskbar and Begin menu. Not too long ago, the app acquired a significant replace, making it even higher to make use of.

Windhawk’s newest model, 1.7, is filled with new options. One of the crucial necessary adjustments 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. Once 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 power to view and set up older variations of mods, so if a brand new replace to a mod you employ causes issues, you’ll be able to shortly revert to a earlier model.

obtain Windhawk and customise Home windows without spending a dime your self

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

In the event you’re thinking about attempting the newest model of Windhawk, you’ll be able to obtain it without spending a dime 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 considered one of my favorites that allows you to take away the “really useful apps” part from the Begin menu utterly. One other one I take advantage of is the Home windows 11 Taskbar Styler, which helps you to change the taskbar’s look, resembling making it utterly clear or reworking it right into a macOS-style dock.

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

One other helpful function on this new Windhawk replace is the power to replace the app straight from the About part. Now, each time 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 a substitute 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 comparable issues with the few mods I’ve put in, and every part has been easy. Whereas Windhawk addresses my complaints about Home windows 11’s restricted customization choices, it will be good if Microsoft finally targeted 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.