YOU’LL NEED THIS

OPEN SHELL

And Windows 10.

SINCE BRINGING BACK THE START MENU with Windows 10, Microsoft has tweaked and updated its app launcher numerous times. But if it still doesn’t quite hit the spot for you-and if you really miss the old-style Start menu-there is an alternative in the form of Open Shell.

This free app brings back the pre-Windows 7 Start menu, giving some retro flavor to your PC. Open Shell gives you lots of different styles to play with, includes several different Start button options, and can even tweak other elements like the taskbar. It spun off from Classic Shell, which ceased development in late 2017. You can still download Classic Shell, but it is better to stick with Open Shell since it is actively updated by a team of developers.

Settings are organized into two rows of tabs at the top of the program, each containing myriad options to tweak and tune (make sure you click “Show all settings” to display extra tabs). If you’re not sure where to find a setting, there’s a built-in search box as well. With so many settings available, Open Shell is a great way to add visual flair to your Start menu.