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If you have been using Windows 11 for any amount of time and have come from a computer running Windows 10, then you have most likely noticed that you cannot customize or personalize Windows 11 as much as you could with Windows 10. This is especially true when it comes to the start menu and taskbar.
One thing that is nice about Windows 11 is the changes to File Explorer which is used to manage your files and folders. We now have the ability to use things like tabs to have multiple folders open at the same time within one File Explorer window. But if you are the type who is not happy with File Explorer, at least when it comes to how it looks, we will be showing you how to customize the Windows 11 File Explorer appearance.
To do so, we will be using the free Windhawk app. Windhawk is used to customize various aspects of how Windows looks and functions. This is done by adding mods to the Windhawk after you install it. The first step in the process is to download and install Windhawk which can be obtained from their website here.
Once you have Windhawk up and running, you can go to the Explore section and do a search for Windows 11 File Explorer Styler in the search box. Then you can click on the Details button and then on the Install button.
Every time you install a mod in Windhawk, you will be shown a warning that says to proceed with care, and you will need to click on the Accept Risk and Install button to continue.
Once the Windows 11 File Explorer Styler mod is installed, you can go to the Settings tab to choose one of the File Explorer appearance options.
Here is how each one of the settings will change the Windows 11 File Explorer appearance.
Normal – This will leave File Explorer as is and will not make any changes to its appearance. As you can see, you have the tabs, the address bar\search box and the command bar where you find the New button as well as the cut, copy and paste icons.
Minimal Explorer 11 – This view will remove the address bar and command bar and leave you only with tabs at the top of the File Explorer window.
Tabless – This will remove the ability to use tabs in File Explorer but leave everything else as is.
No Command Bar – This will remove the command bar which has your file action shortcuts such as cut, copy, paste and delete. It will leave the tabs and address bar though.
MicaBar – This does not make too big of a change to the File Explorer appearance and only makes the address bar section match the command bar when it comes to their color.
If you no longer want to use Windhawk to customize the Windows 11 File Explorer appearance, you can either set it back to None, disable the mod or remove the mod from Windhawk altogether.
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