I tested this Windows 11 customization app with 42 million downloads — why aren't more people discussing it?

Microsoft has promised to improve Windows 11 this year, but for many users, the right changes aren't coming fast enough. For other users, particularly those who prefer the control afforded by older Windows versions, the right changes might not ever arrive as Windows 11 continues to distance itself from its predecessors.

If you're in the latter camp, you might have already heard of ExplorerPatcher. It's a free, open-source app so popular that it recently surpassed 42 million total downloads with 32,200 stars on its GitHub page.

ExplorerPatcher's main goal is to restore legacy Windows shell components that have been hidden away in Windows 11. Rather than masking or emulating behavior from older Windows versions, it functionally resurrects them while also making them easy to manage.

Despite its massive volume of downloads, ExplorerPatcher doesn't seem to have nearly as much mainstream appeal as some of its competitors, like Windhawk, WinAero, Start11, and StartAllBack.

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I downloaded ExplorerPatcher last week and have been using it on my Windows 11 PC since. Here's what I discovered.

How I'm using ExplorerPatcher on my Windows 11 PC

Getting started with ExplorerPatcher takes almost no effort. I downloaded a small file, installed it in seconds, and began making changes. It works with regular x86-64 Windows as well as Windows on ARM.

The ExplorerPatcher app is essentially just a barebones settings menu, with clear distinctions between areas like Taskbar, File Explorer, Start menu, and System Tray.

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The first thing I did was change the Windows 11 taskbar back to the Windows 10 style, with separate tray icons, calendar, and Quick Action button.

I also tweaked the taskbar to show the full labels of apps I have open on my PC rather than the combined behavior usually seen in Windows 11.

Next up, I disabled the Windows 11 context menu, giving way to the menu that I'm far more familiar with when handling files in my File Explorer.

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I've always hated the lack of control ribbon at the top of my Windows 11 File Explorer, so I brought that back, too.

For the Start menu, I swapped it back to the Windows 10 version, completely negating Microsoft's recent changes that didn't go over so well with users when they were introduced.

So many more settings are available in ExplorerPatcher

My limited time using ExplorerPatcher has mostly involved returning specific Windows 11 menus to the version that I'm more comfortable using. However, available tweaks go far deeper.

Power users will no doubt appreciate the improved multi-display taskbar support and customizable Win+X menu, for example.

The app's official website has a long list of features that I haven't begun to experiment with, but that's part of the beauty of ExplorerPatcher. You can use it for one tweak or for 30 tweaks.

The app also includes a handful of preset configurations for those who don't want to mess around with individual entries. For example, the "Classic Windows 10" preset does exactly what you expect, perfect for those who don't like change.

And if you do set up your own configuration, you can save it and share it.

Why aren't more people talking about ExplorerPatcher?

Despite its evident popularity with more than 42 million downloads, ExplorerPatcher doesn't seem to have the mainstream appeal you'd expect. There are several reasons that I think contribute to this situation.

Most importantly, Windows defense systems often flag ExplorerPatcher as a threat because of how it operates by injecting code into the Windows shell.

When that warning pops up, I assume a lot of potential users bail immediately. For the record, ExplorerPatcher is not malware. Anyone can read through the open-source GitHub files to see that for themselves.

Another issue is that ExplorerPatcher will sometimes temporarily break after major Windows updates, which can interfere with the regular operation of your PC.

Microsoft has warned in the past that apps like ExplorerPatcher should be disabled before Windows updates, which again is enough to scare away many potential users.

Should you try ExplorerPatcher?

Despite its inherent issues and the fact that it receives almost no promotion whatsoever, ExplorerPatcher seems to be catching on with a lot of users.

I can see why. It's easy to use, it makes meaningful changes instantly, and it's free/open-source. Is it for everyone? Certainly not, especially if you're not one to troubleshoot or put up with broken updates.

All I'll say is that ExplorerPatcher is a clean, lightweight app that could be exactly what you need to make Windows 11 feel more like home.

That's exactly how I'm using it — not to completely reconfigure the OS, but to make some key areas more familiar, which ultimately helps expedite my workflow.

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