I have this program called “Edge” (it is a game somewhere, can’t remember where). Every time I type “Edge” it would pop up with ONLY Microsoft Edge. It would not even appear in the other search options.
All of these tweaks, some of which are not free, make me wonder why people are still on Windows. Pretty much all of these features, and then some, have existed there for at least 2 decades.
I have been using WinAero Tweaker ever since I switched to Windows 10 from Windows 7 in 2015. Initially I used to do all those customization by editing the Group Policy/Registry but this program is a lifesaver for quick and ease of use.
winaero tweaker is an amazing program. i use it on both my windows 10 and windows 11 pc it is good for turning off or on telemetry and forced automatic updates. Classic start menu is another good program for changing the start menu/start bar and it is free and works on either windows 10 or 11.
Here's a suggestion if you're looking for interesting, unknown programs. StrokesPlus allows you to hold a mouse button and draw a gesture to activate a macro or Windows function. Basically, you can turn a comfy mouse with two buttons into a 20+ button mouse with just lines in each direction for gestures. If I hold mouse 1 and scroll up, I get alt tab. Left/right is back/forward. North-east closes a window. South brings up the task switcher. You can do quite alot with it, even set it up for particular applications like Photoshop. Used it for months now, feels weird to use a computer without it.
i can bet that would get very annoying if you accidently do a gesture when you didnt want to like if you did one where just dragging straight down or up for example you would accidently trigger it while trying to scroll or drag files about
There’s Rectify11 also, it’s like a must-have for everyone with 11. Replaces your normal theme with an actually finished one with WinUI elements, rounded corners truly everywhere, universal dark mode and if you want, Mica/Acrylic backdrop everywhere. Plus, changes all the icons that aren’t yet changed, changes the cursors to actually new ones, integrates ExplorerPatcher directly
Sadly, Stardock's Start11 doesn't allow for left ight taskbars positions (a must for me). StartAllBack does and it it also allows for non-combining and small icons (also a must). Honestly, the amount of options we lost from Win10 is staggering. The only good native GUI add was tabbed Explorer windows. Everything else was dumbed downed. The fact you have to click 2x just to get to Properties.. or Send to Desktop.. or Open With is nutz.
Not to mention how much slower everything is. In Windows 10 it would just be the new settings. Now it's almost everything (that's left). Old settings was super snappy on pretty much any system. It still is if you go into it. Sure, it's not pretty, but it pretty much never hangs. All these universal apps etc. are badly coded.
Notepad++ is a must for me. Like DirectoryOpus for replacing the Explorer, Notepad++ open so much possibilities. Macrium Reflect also; Scheduling a regular backup of my main drive on my network, and I can boot on Reflect directly for a quick full restore, or just opening a Reflect backup file as a drive to extract something back. Very convinient. Also; Never enough backups! I'm using a few more but those two, with those you mentionned, wraps up my essencial ones. 👍
I love Directory Opus. I have been using it 32 years now. I had the 1st version on the Amiga 500 and other Amiga s up to the Amiga 4000HD. I still use it. 👍😁👍
Just do a clean install of Windows 10 on the laptop. Not only will you get rid of Windows 11, you'll get rid of all the useless manufacturer bloatware that was pre-installed onto Windows 11 as well. Win win.
No, I'm just going to call you win10 boys on the nonsense. Like that was the play to do when windows 8 was on the market. Windows 11 also has a lot of ways to get rid of the bloat? I have everything unnecessary gone. Telling people in today's day and age to downgrade isn't the good option. Tech is only going to adapt and upgrade faster. Just because you might not like something at the onset should not mean downloading the previous version, which you'll just get forced to upgrade at some point soon anyway? Learn about the stuff you are using lmao
My first computer was windows 95 btw, I've been around for a while. I see the windows market trends. At least they upgrade the current OS more substantially than they used to on prior versions.
@@The_Loudmouths lmao what are you talking about? Oh no someone used more than a sentence online, must be mad. Nah I'm pointing out bad practices you should not be doing with the state of computers today, you are going to want the most recent operating systems. There is a reason phones won't let you delay updates, why would you think differently about your PC. Get over yourself lmao. Don't follow my advice, sure, you do you friend. But I just want to say it is not good advice, plus most people with a brain wouldn't suggest downgrading. Stay mad I guess. Also when did I ask you to give me the fantastic advice for downgrading? 🤣
I want to say you have been doing a great job. I've been here for a long time. I remember the days you got a lot of crap for making joking videos that people didn't understand. But since those days you really have turned into one of my most trusted user for tech stuff. Thanks great turn around. Much respect
There's also Nexus Dock, which brings a nice-looking Mac-style dock to Windows. And Stardock's WindowBlinds for Windows 11, which lets you completely skin the user interface with differently-styled controls. You can really start to like Windows 11, after you've installed enough apps to make it look and act totally different.
@@merlinwarage ah yes, i cant wait to open my windows 11 and play candy crush,use Microsoft teams and skype all day and use the get help app to report the bugs /s
Powertoys is very useful indeed, people just thinking its just a bloat while it literally have quality of life features for working, business or just for fun.
Yeah, very backwards logic, I know. I sure love humanity lol. It's almost as if Windows 10 isn't not still getting updates and that people shouldn't be so quick to switch, but that's just me.
@@souptaels It would not be the user logic that is backwards. It is more productive to use a common interface. If an interface is designed properly, there should be no need to redesign the wheel. It already works.
@@tausiftaha12 It does, but for the question of why a non-indexed search goes slower than an indexed one, the distinction matters. Also, I saw Windows 7's explorer suggest I create an index, so maybe it does exist in principle.
Always funny to see this everytime again and again. When a new Windows version is released most users will install something to get the old look back. This is so ironic :D
@@plashplash-fg6hd it's been going on since win 95 to 98 probably, I remember these kind of UI programs for win vista/7 to make it look like win xp again 😆
Thanks for alleviating my pain! It doesn't change that Windows 11 is buggy af, but at least now my PC will look nice and that will make me slightly less angry when I have to force shutdown.
A selection of great tools, some I have been using for a long time (Start10/11, Everything, PowerToys), and some I just discovered like Directory Opus you presented in a previous video. Good job and thank you!
My main gripe about Win 11 is it's inability to run legacy 32-bit programs. I've gotten used to the new look and functionality of 11, but found it would not run my old 32-bit apps, even in compatibility mode. Ended up putting the old programs entire install files on an SD card and tell Win 11 it's got my permission to run them every time they launch. It took me 6 months to discover that work-around. I almost returned my new Win 11 laptop (that I ordered with Win 10 O.S. but Win 11 came pre-installed instead) when I found I could not use the old drawing program that I had been using since 1995, and have created hundreds of drawings, stencils, and templates representing thousands of hours of work over the years.
Maybe it changed with Windows 11, but I can add folders to the quick-access in the navigation pane on windows 10 without any issues. I added my AppData folder, the Godmode folder, and other folders located on various drives.
I was gonna say this as well as I'm pretty sure I've been able to add folders to the side for a long while now, but I've not tested in Win11. I know that I went searching for the 'classic file explorer' fix when I started testing Win11 originally.
I wish Microsoft would allow more customization in the UI of Windows. Instead it feels like for every new version, customization is actually worse that before. I also wish they would pick up the database-like file system idea again that they ditched several years ago, something which Bill Gates stated was one of his biggest regrets.
I actually work on a software that kind of replaces Winaero Tweaker and Shutup, BUT does not have all their options as I only added some of the most useful ones or the ones that are not breaking your computer. The app does much more than that, it's a cleaner, debloater, tweaker, optimizer and repair tool, all at once. Once I finish it maybe you'll like to take a look at it. It's using latest WinUI 3 controls, so the look and feel is similar to PowerToys, but even better. Great video! I wish I had my app ready so I had a chance of it to be featured here.
7+ Taskbar Tweaker is a must for lots of handy taskbar tools for Win10. You can change groupings, set it so you can double click the taskbar to open the task manager, middle click a program to close, scroll anywhere to change the volume etc. There is also Windhawk for Win11 from the same dev that does the same thing as 7+. AltSnap, something that copies the win-mousedrag on windows to move or resize them. Default here is alt-mousedrag but I changed mine to the Win key instead. So win-leftmousedrag do move the window and win-rightmousedrag to resize it and win-middlemouse to close. You can also use different combination to set at window to always on top and a few different other options. Really nice :)
A lot of people have told me about Search Everything, adn I've always said, No, I'm fine with Windows search; it works fine. But, you got me with this video. Something about the sorting, the date modified stuff -- yeah, I think I need that in my life.
One thing I miss most (used to use classic shell) was right clicking on the excel or word doc and it shows a list of the documents that you recently worked on for that program. I do use eplorerpatcher (free) to fix so many things about the task bar and file explorer. I wish I could get back the two working outlook profiles in the taskbar - now if I open one it opens another instance instead of the existing instance.
I am using start 11 for a long time and before that start 10.I cant get used to this windows 10/11 start menu so i use the windows 7 option in start 11.I love the many options start 11 has!
There is a program called Files in the Store. I use it instead of the default explorer since it looks prettier. It even has some more features that are neat but its not overkill for a regular user
Personally, I'd say the windows 8 start screen is the most efficient one ever. If that's not available then the next best thing would be to search for stuffs, and by that sense there's no point using any customized start menu.
The downside of 11 with the taskbar not being resizable or moveable is that it hinders accessibility. I have a primary monitor on the bottom center I have set as the main monitor, but I drag the secondary taskbar from my top monitor to my bottom monitor to get rid of the tray, etc.. then on my top monitor, I have the primary taskbar 3 units high with small icons and on the top of the screen. This allows uninterrupted content in the center but an uncomfortable glance and I can see the time, etc.. rather than having that all of the time... broken neck, back and nerve damage.
I've had Start 11 since upgrading to Win11. When did they add back the option to unstack icons of open programs? I've been wanting that feature since Day 1. I'm so happy right now!
Directory Opus is phenomenal. It takes some time to understand all the capabilities and ways you can customize it, but for a power user it’s worth the investment. Opus 13 has added support for Everything searching, in addition to its own search. These can be global or constrained to the folder tree of whatever folder is currently in your Opus window. Its rename feature is so good I uninstalled File Renamer. The built in viewer is better than most image viewers. Support has been great. I use TCC as my command shell because it can color files based on their extension. Opus can do that too, so now I have a pretty similar looking list in my command shell and my Opus lister. Dual pane support and synchronization features make copying and moving files between two folder much easier. There’s a gazillion preference options, but the UI for managing them is so good it’s something everyone should emulate. For me, Opus was well worth the money. The upgrade from 12 to 13 was heavily discounted and well worth the price.
thanks for the Start11 info! I'm about to set-up new system and win11 will probably go on it.. wanted to see if I can change the start-menu back! about "Everything" .. have been using it for years now, love it and can't imagine to work without it anymore.
But does Stardock’s Start also make it so you can do the full-screen mode, as well as do live tiles and make them different sizes? Because I basically use that as a replacement for the desktop, like a pop-up/out desktop at the press of a key, and it’s the norm for me. It would basically destroy everything I’m used to, from launching applications and quickly finding information, like even just the weather and the like, if that isn’t the same or better. But there’s time, since Windows 10 support is only ending from 2025, which is when people should only CONSIDER moving to 11.
MultiCommander is a great Explorer alternative and it's totally free! I liked Directory Opus but the admin functionality didn't always work as advertised, and since MS makes it almost impossible to run File Explorer as admin, that was my main reason for looking for alternates :).
If you want WIndows 10 Start Menu for free, you can use ExplorerPatcher. It will also make the taskbar look like Windows 10 (Sorry if you like the fat, "beautiful" rounded iconed taskbar), and has lots of customizations too. How does it do? Windows 10's start menu could be enabled through registry in the early preview builds. MS just made the registry "hack" invalid. But since the design is based on same Modern Interface that Windows 10 is made of, Programs like ExplorerPatcher, Start11 can enable them (make them valid to the system, maybe through registry, or maybe through replacing some system files).
I personally really like Windows 10's start menu. I have a ton of programs pinned. Because I can just set them to be small tiles, I can fit a ton of them, and you can even resize the start menu similar to resizing windows so that you don't need to scroll in the menu. I just checked, and I have 82 items pinned to my start menu. The older Windows 7/XP/98 etc start menus are really limiting as you can only have maybe like 10 or so items. And Windows 11 doesn't have the small tiles like 10's as far as I'm aware, and I'd probably have to scroll multiple times to view 82 items.
Hi Joe, a big fan of your OS tweaks videos. I have a request, can you include to say whether the program you suggest should ve running in background/tray area all the time or we can exit it like WinAeroTweaker allows? Plus free or paid notation for all the tools you suggest..
Microsoft PowerToys's File Locksmith, File Explorer add-ons (which allowed me to restore PDF thumbnails), Find My Mouse, Paste As Plain Text (Now it works outside of Docs. Yay!), PowerRename, Quick Accent, and Text Extractor are all very helpful. Thank you! Interesting that PowerRename has an option (the default option actually) to appear in the default File Explorer right click menu, but File Locksmith does not. Hope that gets added. Wish there was a way for 7-Zip to appear in the default menu too. Then I would never need ‘Show more options’. I like the new menu actually. So much cleaner.
I hate the Win 10 start menu and hardly use it, but I LOVE the Win 11 start menu and it seems to fit me well. I had problems getting used to Win 8 start menu and Win 10 is like Win 8 start menu to me. Win 11 start menu seems "new" and I am feeling good about it.
The beauty of the Win10 start menu is that you can choose what to use and how. I hated the tiles at first, but being able to have small groups of commonly used apps that you don't necessarily want on your desktop or in a folder is nice. That and being able to see a quick glance view of the weather or your email with the tap of a key (WinKey) is nice.
Also just to mention, if go Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviours right there the first selection in the Takbar section will show "Taskbar alignment |Center 🡣|" it gives the ability to align the taskbar to the left -hope it helps-
Thanks again to Private Internet Access for sponsoring!
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Love ur chsnnel
vpn kinda cringe
Gg u are the first comment
Nice video upload and keep it up!
I wish start 11 sponsored this vid
The free of cost Everything is such a game changer it makes you wonder how default search can be so terrible.
I have this program called “Edge” (it is a game somewhere, can’t remember where). Every time I type “Edge” it would pop up with ONLY Microsoft Edge. It would not even appear in the other search options.
@@gallium-gonzollium Yeah sometimes the shortcut into the start menu folder for apps to show up
All of these tweaks, some of which are not free, make me wonder why people are still on Windows. Pretty much all of these features, and then some, have existed there for at least 2 decades.
Actually why default search is so bad and slow?
@@Anonymous-qb4vc Because Microsoft wrote the code.
I have been using WinAero Tweaker ever since I switched to Windows 10 from Windows 7 in 2015. Initially I used to do all those customization by editing the Group Policy/Registry but this program is a lifesaver for quick and ease of use.
winaero tweaker is an amazing program. i use it on both my windows 10 and windows 11 pc it is good for turning off or on telemetry and forced automatic updates. Classic start menu is another good program for changing the start menu/start bar and it is free and works on either windows 10 or 11.
@@100PercentTHCfilmsX420XYeah, :( Windows 7 is end of support, 2008-2023.
Here's a suggestion if you're looking for interesting, unknown programs.
StrokesPlus allows you to hold a mouse button and draw a gesture to activate a macro or Windows function. Basically, you can turn a comfy mouse with two buttons into a 20+ button mouse with just lines in each direction for gestures. If I hold mouse 1 and scroll up, I get alt tab. Left/right is back/forward. North-east closes a window. South brings up the task switcher. You can do quite alot with it, even set it up for particular applications like Photoshop. Used it for months now, feels weird to use a computer without it.
i can bet that would get very annoying if you accidently do a gesture when you didnt want to like if you did one where just dragging straight down or up for example you would accidently trigger it while trying to scroll or drag files about
@@darkspongebob11 You need to hold the desginated mouse button while you do the gesture, so that doesn't happen.
@@JordanIdk which mouse button? there is a special button on the mouse you use to do it?
I have a SpeedPad for that…
wow thank you
These shell editors are definitely very useful for like anything. Definitely worth trying
start11 feels like a lifesaver, gonna keep watching. I was really hating how limited Windows 11's default start menu was
I'm getting deja vu with Windows Vista 😂
btw you need to pay to get start11, which is really annoying!
@@epicplayz9594 Eh, 1 time and it's quite cheap. I definitely don't love that though. Should just be an option for windows natively
@@epicplayz9594 It's only six bucks, a bargain.
@@epicplayz9594 You can use openshell instead which is free & open source.
There’s Rectify11 also, it’s like a must-have for everyone with 11. Replaces your normal theme with an actually finished one with WinUI elements, rounded corners truly everywhere, universal dark mode and if you want, Mica/Acrylic backdrop everywhere. Plus, changes all the icons that aren’t yet changed, changes the cursors to actually new ones, integrates ExplorerPatcher directly
Sadly, Stardock's Start11 doesn't allow for left
ight taskbars positions (a must for me). StartAllBack does and it it also allows for non-combining and small icons (also a must). Honestly, the amount of options we lost from Win10 is staggering. The only good native GUI add was tabbed Explorer windows. Everything else was dumbed downed. The fact you have to click 2x just to get to Properties.. or Send to Desktop.. or Open With is nutz.
Not to mention how much slower everything is. In Windows 10 it would just be the new settings. Now it's almost everything (that's left).
Old settings was super snappy on pretty much any system. It still is if you go into it. Sure, it's not pretty, but it pretty much never hangs. All these universal apps etc. are badly coded.
@@tams805 You also can't have more than one settings panel open at once anymore, drives me insane.
You didn't lose the options thought. They're still there, just slightly obfuscated. That's not the same as "losing" them.
Notepad++ is a must for me. Like DirectoryOpus for replacing the Explorer, Notepad++ open so much possibilities.
Macrium Reflect also; Scheduling a regular backup of my main drive on my network, and I can boot on Reflect directly for a quick full restore, or just opening a Reflect backup file as a drive to extract something back. Very convinient. Also; Never enough backups!
I'm using a few more but those two, with those you mentionned, wraps up my essencial ones. 👍
I love Directory Opus.
I have been using it 32 years now.
I had the 1st version on the Amiga 500 and other Amiga s up to the Amiga 4000HD.
I still use it. 👍😁👍
Me, too, since the Amiga days!
Same here. Do not use all its potential, but is is always on my PC (and Amiga emulation).
Man the perfect video I needed. Just got a new laptop and after being used to windows 10 I must say I am not a fan of 11 out of the box
Just do a clean install of Windows 10 on the laptop. Not only will you get rid of Windows 11, you'll get rid of all the useless manufacturer bloatware that was pre-installed onto Windows 11 as well. Win win.
@@moonlightcayenne8722 Me too!!
No, I'm just going to call you win10 boys on the nonsense. Like that was the play to do when windows 8 was on the market. Windows 11 also has a lot of ways to get rid of the bloat? I have everything unnecessary gone.
Telling people in today's day and age to downgrade isn't the good option. Tech is only going to adapt and upgrade faster. Just because you might not like something at the onset should not mean downloading the previous version, which you'll just get forced to upgrade at some point soon anyway?
Learn about the stuff you are using lmao
My first computer was windows 95 btw, I've been around for a while. I see the windows market trends. At least they upgrade the current OS more substantially than they used to on prior versions.
@@The_Loudmouths lmao what are you talking about? Oh no someone used more than a sentence online, must be mad.
Nah I'm pointing out bad practices you should not be doing with the state of computers today, you are going to want the most recent operating systems.
There is a reason phones won't let you delay updates, why would you think differently about your PC. Get over yourself lmao.
Don't follow my advice, sure, you do you friend. But I just want to say it is not good advice, plus most people with a brain wouldn't suggest downgrading. Stay mad I guess.
Also when did I ask you to give me the fantastic advice for downgrading? 🤣
I think the best improvement from windows 11 you can get is to downgrade it to windows 10
true
@@superdoesthings Windows 10 is not a downgrade.
I once decided to install windows 11 which was a big mistake and it’s more of a upgrade not a downgrade.
true
@@noob69696 same, after experimenting with it for around 2 days, I decided it wasn't my thing and downgraded back to windows 10
Starting from Windows 10 I rarely use the Start menu. Instead I just hit the Windows key and search for the stuffs I want.
@notfiveo That's the (last straw) reason I am abandoning Windows as an OS for work.
@notfiveo just do the setup without an internet connection, then you don’t have to do a stupid MS account
Computers must equip with TPM security requirement to be installed on
@@thuattan6540 you can get around both this and the need for a microsoft account
You’re going to love Flow Launcher
I want to say you have been doing a great job. I've been here for a long time. I remember the days you got a lot of crap for making joking videos that people didn't understand. But since those days you really have turned into one of my most trusted user for tech stuff. Thanks great turn around. Much respect
Protip everyone, be careful with installing random software that’s recommended by strangers in the comments section.
There's also Nexus Dock, which brings a nice-looking Mac-style dock to Windows. And Stardock's WindowBlinds for Windows 11, which lets you completely skin the user interface with differently-styled controls. You can really start to like Windows 11, after you've installed enough apps to make it look and act totally different.
powertoys is the most op thing for windows and I don't know why Microsoft implement it as a separate software rather than make it a part of the os
Because 90% of the users don't need them, and we don't want a more bloat system as it is already.
@@merlinwarage More like "we don't want typical users to go break their install".
@@merlinwarage ah yes, i cant wait to open my windows 11 and play candy crush,use Microsoft teams and skype all day and use the get help app to report the bugs /s
Powertoys is very useful indeed, people just thinking its just a bloat while it literally have quality of life features for working, business or just for fun.
Thank goodness it is. It means it's outside of the main Windows 11 team who seem intent on making Windows worse.
Ah yes, so we upgrade to windows 11 and then install all this third party software to make it feel like windows 10. Amazing
Yeah, very backwards logic, I know. I sure love humanity lol. It's almost as if Windows 10 isn't not still getting updates and that people shouldn't be so quick to switch, but that's just me.
@@souptaels It would not be the user logic that is backwards. It is more productive to use a common interface. If an interface is designed properly, there should be no need to redesign the wheel. It already works.
How Everything is so good, free and not backed by a megacorp is beyond my understanding. No one, I repeat- NO ONE, searches that fast.
It uses indexing, which is kinda like cheating.
@@lforlight Cheating or not,
It works.
@@tausiftaha12 It does, but for the question of why a non-indexed search goes slower than an indexed one, the distinction matters. Also, I saw Windows 7's explorer suggest I create an index, so maybe it does exist in principle.
[file locator pro] does.
@@lforlight An average user won't care about indexed or non-indexed, they'll just want the faster one.
I love how the win10 start looks and feels
Always funny to see this everytime again and again. When a new Windows version is released most users will install something to get the old look back. This is so ironic :D
This is because Windows 10 and 11 suck, and many people didn’t like the Win 8(.1) UI, so they tried to get it back.
@@plashplash-fg6hd it's been going on since win 95 to 98 probably, I remember these kind of UI programs for win vista/7 to make it look like win xp again 😆
@@JamesJordanson Cool.
Thanks for alleviating my pain!
It doesn't change that Windows 11 is buggy af, but at least now my PC will look nice and that will make me slightly less angry when I have to force shutdown.
Fun fact: just use registry to tweak something you wanted back to what Windows 10's like.
Been using Directory Opus since I had an Amiga. It's simply the best file tool ever.
Been using Directory Opus for about 10 years, recommend it to anyone.
It is absolute gold. So powerful its crazy!
You should cover Nilesoft Shell, It's a really good context menu replacement, although the configuration can be hard
I'm using it. I agree it's not easy to configure.
@@feisaljauharitufail yeah I look at the docs... And I feel like my brain will explode
@@ndrew6075 I could make it... if I actually knew how to code anything past command applications
A selection of great tools, some I have been using for a long time (Start10/11, Everything, PowerToys), and some I just discovered like Directory Opus you presented in a previous video. Good job and thank you!
Thio: Doesn't use Linux
Also Thio: Turns windows into Linux.
thanks for the video. The stardock utilities (not just the start menu) were exactly the thing I was looking for
Windows 10 users: I want Windows 8
Windows 11 users: I want Windows 10
Quick accent and fancy zones is so usefull. As someone who is multilingual I need these all the time
Alot of these were kinda neat to see, thank you!
My main gripe about Win 11 is it's inability to run legacy 32-bit programs. I've gotten used to the new look and functionality of 11, but found it would not run my old 32-bit apps, even in compatibility mode. Ended up putting the old programs entire install files on an SD card and tell Win 11 it's got my permission to run them every time they launch. It took me 6 months to discover that work-around. I almost returned my new Win 11 laptop (that I ordered with Win 10 O.S. but Win 11 came pre-installed instead) when I found I could not use the old drawing program that I had been using since 1995, and have created hundreds of drawings, stencils, and templates representing thousands of hours of work over the years.
Hint: WINEVDM.
You can vastly improve search by changing the default index settings.
Maybe it changed with Windows 11, but I can add folders to the quick-access in the navigation pane on windows 10 without any issues. I added my AppData folder, the Godmode folder, and other folders located on various drives.
I was gonna say this as well as I'm pretty sure I've been able to add folders to the side for a long while now, but I've not tested in Win11. I know that I went searching for the 'classic file explorer' fix when I started testing Win11 originally.
I wish Microsoft would allow more customization in the UI of Windows. Instead it feels like for every new version, customization is actually worse that before.
I also wish they would pick up the database-like file system idea again that they ditched several years ago, something which Bill Gates stated was one of his biggest regrets.
"Everything" is fantastic 👌🏼👌🏼
I actually work on a software that kind of replaces Winaero Tweaker and Shutup, BUT does not have all their options as I only added some of the most useful ones or the ones that are not breaking your computer. The app does much more than that, it's a cleaner, debloater, tweaker, optimizer and repair tool, all at once. Once I finish it maybe you'll like to take a look at it. It's using latest WinUI 3 controls, so the look and feel is similar to PowerToys, but even better. Great video! I wish I had my app ready so I had a chance of it to be featured here.
Ping me instead
Replacement for start11:
ExplorerPatcher
This replaces the taskbar and start menu to windows 10!
Missing:
Search from windows 10
i use it, its good
I bought Start 11 on Steam last year ... best purchase ever!
You forgot to mention nilesoft shell. It's a really neat utility that extends the right click context menu with a lot of options.
the context menu replacement seems like a lifesaver
Loved Winaero tweaker !!!
thank you
My favorite tools (apps that solve "gaps" in Windows) are:
7+ Taskbar Tweaker
DesktopOK
FreeFileSync (and included RealTimeSync)
PersistentWindows
PinWin
Sysinternals Tools
9:51 the opening quote to the right of the checkbox is backwards.
“Everything” search is so good. How is it so good 😭
I just got win11 on my steam deck and this video is the best! please don't stop uploading!
Thank you for showing Start11!
7+ Taskbar Tweaker is a must for lots of handy taskbar tools for Win10. You can change groupings, set it so you can double click the taskbar to open the task manager, middle click a program to close, scroll anywhere to change the volume etc. There is also Windhawk for Win11 from the same dev that does the same thing as 7+.
AltSnap, something that copies the win-mousedrag on windows to move or resize them. Default here is alt-mousedrag but I changed mine to the Win key instead. So win-leftmousedrag do move the window and win-rightmousedrag to resize it and win-middlemouse to close. You can also use different combination to set at window to always on top and a few different other options. Really nice :)
I love PowerToy's Fancy Zones feature!
A lot of people have told me about Search Everything, adn I've always said, No, I'm fine with Windows search; it works fine. But, you got me with this video. Something about the sorting, the date modified stuff -- yeah, I think I need that in my life.
Everything helped me to find a game file i needed for a backup
One thing I miss most (used to use classic shell) was right clicking on the excel or word doc and it shows a list of the documents that you recently worked on for that program. I do use eplorerpatcher (free) to fix so many things about the task bar and file explorer. I wish I could get back the two working outlook profiles in the taskbar - now if I open one it opens another instance instead of the existing instance.
I am using start 11 for a long time and before that start 10.I cant get used to this windows 10/11 start menu so i use the windows 7 option in start 11.I love the many options start 11 has!
It'll be cool if it can have Windows XP modernized theme, I'll pay for that.
Make Windows Great Again.
Everything Seach has made my computer life so much easier.
GREAT FINDS
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hey Joe idk if you covered it before but I think Transparent TB is worth the mention!
Hmm i’ll look into it
Agreed really adds to that clean minimalist aesthetic
Everything is the program I needed in my life all these years. Thanks
Good pace and genuinely useful tools for windows users. Thx
Everything and this are my favorites.
Ur first btw
@@Ot_Doges Thank you 🙂
Same
@@ThioJoe 🙂
@@_SJ np
There is a program called Files in the Store. I use it instead of the default explorer since it looks prettier. It even has some more features that are neat but its not overkill for a regular user
Start 11 and Everything search was really picked my interest!!
0:02 Is anyone gonna talk about how that man was so happy and suddenly turned angry?
Personally, I'd say the windows 8 start screen is the most efficient one ever. If that's not available then the next best thing would be to search for stuffs, and by that sense there's no point using any customized start menu.
I am using W11 and Start11 has been such a great tool - it makes my Start menu so much more usable
I've been using Everything for some time now and I can't believe how fast and efficient it is. A true MUST have.
5:28 sponsor end
Everything Search is a godsend... thank you Thio
Always on top sounds useful !...cheers.
The downside of 11 with the taskbar not being resizable or moveable is that it hinders accessibility. I have a primary monitor on the bottom center I have set as the main monitor, but I drag the secondary taskbar from my top monitor to my bottom monitor to get rid of the tray, etc.. then on my top monitor, I have the primary taskbar 3 units high with small icons and on the top of the screen. This allows uninterrupted content in the center but an uncomfortable glance and I can see the time, etc.. rather than having that all of the time... broken neck, back and nerve damage.
I've had Start 11 since upgrading to Win11. When did they add back the option to unstack icons of open programs? I've been wanting that feature since Day 1. I'm so happy right now!
Dang dude. Nice effort 👍
Directory Opus is phenomenal. It takes some time to understand all the capabilities and ways you can customize it, but for a power user it’s worth the investment. Opus 13 has added support for Everything searching, in addition to its own search. These can be global or constrained to the folder tree of whatever folder is currently in your Opus window. Its rename feature is so good I uninstalled File Renamer. The built in viewer is better than most image viewers. Support has been great. I use TCC as my command shell because it can color files based on their extension. Opus can do that too, so now I have a pretty similar looking list in my command shell and my Opus lister. Dual pane support and synchronization features make copying and moving files between two folder much easier. There’s a gazillion preference options, but the UI for managing them is so good it’s something everyone should emulate. For me, Opus was well worth the money. The upgrade from 12 to 13 was heavily discounted and well worth the price.
The recently modified files part would be great for finding malware and what files it produced or changed.
Another honorable mention: "ExplorerPatcher". Pretty much brings back Windows 10's taskbar AND startmenu - LIVE TILES included. Just sayin' ;)
Interesting, hadn’t heard of it
YESSSS, ExplorerPatcher is a amazing software, I also use that and the experience is phenomenal
THIS IS REALLY A VERY COOL AND AWESOME DEMONSTRATION AS WELL AS THE VIDEO FOLKS.
thanks for the Start11 info! I'm about to set-up new system and win11 will probably go on it.. wanted to see if I can change the start-menu back!
about "Everything" .. have been using it for years now, love it and can't imagine to work without it anymore.
But does Stardock’s Start also make it so you can do the full-screen mode, as well as do live tiles and make them different sizes?
Because I basically use that as a replacement for the desktop, like a pop-up/out desktop at the press of a key, and it’s the norm for me. It would basically destroy everything I’m used to, from launching applications and quickly finding information, like even just the weather and the like, if that isn’t the same or better.
But there’s time, since Windows 10 support is only ending from 2025, which is when people should only CONSIDER moving to 11.
MultiCommander is a great Explorer alternative and it's totally free! I liked Directory Opus but the admin functionality didn't always work as advertised, and since MS makes it almost impossible to run File Explorer as admin, that was my main reason for looking for alternates :).
Perfect, thank you!
Loved DirOpus back in my Amiga days
óóóó yes Amiga times!
always love to see 'everything'
You are one of the only people that say that the Windows 10 Start menu is the best.
Amazing video as always! 🥇
If you want WIndows 10 Start Menu for free, you can use ExplorerPatcher. It will also make the taskbar look like Windows 10 (Sorry if you like the fat, "beautiful" rounded iconed taskbar), and has lots of customizations too.
How does it do? Windows 10's start menu could be enabled through registry in the early preview builds. MS just made the registry "hack" invalid. But since the design is based on same Modern Interface that Windows 10 is made of, Programs like ExplorerPatcher, Start11 can enable them (make them valid to the system, maybe through registry, or maybe through replacing some system files).
Thank you for the education and explanation, very detailed
I personally really like Windows 10's start menu. I have a ton of programs pinned. Because I can just set them to be small tiles, I can fit a ton of them, and you can even resize the start menu similar to resizing windows so that you don't need to scroll in the menu. I just checked, and I have 82 items pinned to my start menu.
The older Windows 7/XP/98 etc start menus are really limiting as you can only have maybe like 10 or so items. And Windows 11 doesn't have the small tiles like 10's as far as I'm aware, and I'd probably have to scroll multiple times to view 82 items.
Hi Joe, a big fan of your OS tweaks videos. I have a request, can you include to say whether the program you suggest should ve running in background/tray area all the time or we can exit it like WinAeroTweaker allows? Plus free or paid notation for all the tools you suggest..
I've been using Start11 for about a year and I love it.
Not a Windows 11 user, but it's really good to see how much Windows has evolved. Thanks for sharing!
Powe toys is perfect. I can't live anymore without it! Thanks to show it to me!
Microsoft PowerToys's File Locksmith, File Explorer add-ons (which allowed me to restore PDF thumbnails), Find My Mouse, Paste As Plain Text (Now it works outside of Docs. Yay!), PowerRename, Quick Accent, and Text Extractor are all very helpful. Thank you! Interesting that PowerRename has an option (the default option actually) to appear in the default File Explorer right click menu, but File Locksmith does not. Hope that gets added. Wish there was a way for 7-Zip to appear in the default menu too. Then I would never need ‘Show more options’. I like the new menu actually. So much cleaner.
10:48 THIS IS SUCH A GAME CHANGER
I hate the Win 10 start menu and hardly use it, but I LOVE the Win 11 start menu and it seems to fit me well. I had problems getting used to Win 8 start menu and Win 10 is like Win 8 start menu to me. Win 11 start menu seems "new" and I am feeling good about it.
The beauty of the Win10 start menu is that you can choose what to use and how. I hated the tiles at first, but being able to have small groups of commonly used apps that you don't necessarily want on your desktop or in a folder is nice. That and being able to see a quick glance view of the weather or your email with the tap of a key (WinKey) is nice.
"Everything" really is a game changer for me
My favorites that you didn't mention:
1. Ditto (clipboard manager)
2. ShareX
3. Sizer
4. QTTabBar
5. TreeSize
6. Winget/Chocolatey
Treesize and sharex is awesome
Really nice recommendations
Thanks, that was very useful
Also just to mention, if go Settings > Personalisation > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviours
right there the first selection in the Takbar section will show "Taskbar alignment |Center 🡣|"
it gives the ability to align the taskbar to the left
-hope it helps-