The new Windows 10 operating system is full of small but useful features and enhancements. The one major visible feature of Windows 10 is the new Start menu, the feature which was missing from Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.
The Start menu in Windows 10 is a bit different from what we have seen and used to the Start menu of Windows 7 and Vista. The Start menu of Windows 10, as you likely know by now, includes elements from the traditional Start menu of Windows 7 and the modern Start screen of Windows 8. Frequently accessed apps and desktop programs appear on the left side of the menu and the right side space is reserved for app tiles but can be customized by removing or adding tiles.
The search box is located at the bottom left of the Start menu and can be used search with Bing, meaning you can search the web right from the Start menu. An option to turn off this Bing search is available under PC settings, just like in Windows 8.1.
The new Start menu of Windows 10 is definitely better than the Start screen of Windows 8.1 considering the fact that we can pin almost everything from Recycle Bin to Folders to the Start menu and can access them without leaving the desktop, but there are many users who still feel that the Start menu of Windows 7 was clean and simple.
Classic Shell features
If you have upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and missing the good old Start menu, you’ll be happy to know that you can get the familiar Windows 7 Start menu in Windows 10 as well with the help of a free tool called Classic Shell.
Classic Shell brings the Windows 7 style Start menu to Windows 10 without completely disabling the Start menu or Start screen feature of Windows 10, meaning you will have options to access the native Start menu of Windows 10 with a few clicks even after installing the Classic Shell Start menu.
As you can see in the above picture, the Classic Shell Start menu is identical to Windows 7’s Start menu.
With default settings, Classic Shell replaces the native Start menu of Windows 10 but clicking “Start screen” option on the Classic Shell Start menu will reveal the Start menu or Start screen of Windows 10.
If at any point of time, to turn off Classic Shell Start menu, please right-click on the Start menu and then click Exit button. And if you’re wondering how to access the power user menu that we usually access by right-clicking on the Start button, you can use Windows + X hotkey to access it without any issues.
In addition to the Start menu, Classic Shell setup also installs Classic Explorer and Classic IE with default settings. If you want to install only the Start menu, please select only the Classic Start menu during the installation.
Ewen Bogle says
I have just installed Classic/Open shell and the differece is amazing So easy to use,every thing at your fingertips, and if you want you can still use Win 10 Start. I love itE
Clyde Shaw says
Not much for comments, but, maybe will help me.
denis greener says
can I take Classic Shell App off my windows 10 pc. I have never use it. Will it cause any problems. Will it give me more space on my PC
Sonya says
Okay just want to ask will classic shell work on windows 10 if sihost is disabled from logon? I am trying to regain control of my personal files, disabled everything that is a remote service. But if I search in processexplorer for “clip” I find sihost, and search protocol host both have clipboard server open.
Having disabled the services and changing the logon account before doing a repair install of windows, I find absolutely nothing under the terminalservices registry entry so I cannot disable it via the registry.
I did find the registry entry for winlogon which has sihost allowed (local_machine\software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVerison\Winlogon) I changed the value for enableSihostintegration to 0 and rebooted. I discovered cortana and search protocol, applicationframehost, shellexperiencehost none of these annoyances were running (basically everything that uses remote access and launches that raspbk which randomly changes my session number from 1 to 2 with events like %sfrom%S #$%^), but I could not use the start menu, clicking on the taskbar is useless too, show desktop does not work rebooting has to be down through ctrl alt delete
steve says
All Desktops above Win XP are stupid and demand more actions !!! MS make things complicated ! Its only GUI that i talking about trough wich user communicate wit OS ! In compare to Win XP you make tasks with a litle as one or two mouse cliks in Win 10 is a 10 step and one command line call to make !!! How stupid is MS ???
MS is to mimic Linux making things even harder ! We have left DOS behind with a reason ! And now MS is force user back to cmd !!!
Stupid stupid stupid …
And one more thing Metro Start menu is UGLY and shott in a back of user !!!!
Win XP start menu was a best at the best – user can categorize and edit start menu links how its please ! In Win 10 you can edit how and what ! Why does MS not left choice how user wil use and curtomize GUI ??? Instead force stupid Metro that no user like it !!!
Classic Shell is welcome app but is it overlaping Metro not replacing it !!!
asdasd says
Thats windows 8.1,not windows 10 idiots
Jayman says
I like the features of Classic Shell. Windows 10 start isn’t as smooth Classic, Shell ?.
Mike Lopez says
What a great piece of soft ware for those of us who do not adapt to new windows versions easily.
Mike W says
Without this app, I’d be on Win7 until MS get the Start Menu right (meaning, fully customizable) – and that could be a LONG time.
Rolly says
Wow! Thanks! Although Windows 10 Start comes close, I still prefer the Classic Shell. :-D
admin says
Worry not, the developer will soon update the program to support the newest build Windows 10.
Rolly says
Classic Shell does not work with the latest build of Windows 10 :-(
admin says
Yup, one of the best free tools out there for Windows.
Kim says
Say what you want but Classic Shell is one app I will always have installed on my system. It just makes everything so easier, you can customize anything. It is like the best free desktop interface ever which you never got from Microsoft.