Top 7 Community Mods to Revitalize Your Windows 11 Experience

Windows 11 has garnered positive feedback for enhancing user experience, yet many users find themselves yearning for a fresh aesthetic. While it is feasible to transform Windows 11 into an entirely different operating system, some individuals, including myself, prefer making more nuanced adjustments through community mods. These modifications offer a way to refresh the user interface without overhauling it completely.

By leveraging these community-driven mods, I can introduce elements reminiscent of Linux, enhance window management efficiency, shift the taskbar’s position to a vertical alignment, and even evoke nostalgia with classic sounds from Windows XP and 7. These subtle changes keep the visual experience engaging and enjoyable.

Windhawk Taskbar Styler

Transform Your Taskbar

The Windhawk Taskbar Styler provides a way to embellish your taskbar according to your personal style preferences. You can apply transparency effects, blurring, custom colors, and animations that activate upon hovering over icons. For instance, I’ve configured mine to be 70% transparent with a soft blur, resembling the elegant aesthetics of Windows 25 concept designs.

It’s crucial to use the Taskbar height and size icon feature to address issues with the default 24 x 24-pixel icons that appear fuzzy on contemporary displays. By adjusting them to the more appropriate 32 x 32 size, and complementing this with custom spacing and padding options, you can tailor the taskbar to be as spacious or compact as you desire.

Windhawk Vertical Taskbar

Flexible Taskbar Positioning

Windows 11 desktop with a vertical taskbar and Windhawk app open

Initially, Microsoft eliminated vertical taskbar support in Windows 11, a feature that many ultrawide monitor enthusiasts relied upon. Fortunately, the Vertical Taskbar mod from Windhawk reinstates this essential functionality, allowing users to place the taskbar on either side of the screen and adjust it for multiple monitors.

Personally, I opt for a left-side alignment on my ultrawide display, freeing up vertical space for multitasking with documents and coding while keeping all applications readily accessible. This mod elegantly adapts the system tray, clock, and notifications, ensuring they scale and rotate seamlessly. Additionally, you can activate auto-hide features with customizable animation speeds.

Open-Shell

Open-Shell revitalizes the Start menu by offering classic layouts from Windows 7, XP, and even Windows 95. It effectively removes the often unnecessary recommended section, which can consume valuable screen real estate, while also centering icons that don’t allow movement.

My current favorite is the Windows 7 style featuring two columns: programs on the left and recent documents along with control panel shortcuts on the right. This layout enhances usability and accessibility, reflecting a familiar interface for longtime Windows users.

GlazeWM

Revolutionary Keyboard-Driven Tiling

GlazeWM introduces Linux-style tiling window management to the Windows 11 environment, eliminating the need to physically drag windows with a mouse. Users can navigate with keyboard shortcuts, where commands like Alt + Enter open a terminal and Alt + H/J/K/L move focus between windows, while Alt + Shift is used for window repositioning.

Although I found the learning curve to be slightly steep at first, mastering GlazeWM significantly speeds up window management compared to traditional mouse reliance.

Moreover, GlazeWM allows effortless transitions between diverse desktop layouts, and its editable YAML configuration file enables personalized adjustments, including keybindings, gap sizes, and border colors to suit individual workflows.

Zebar

Innovative Custom Bars and Widgets

Zebar empowers users to design bespoke taskbars and widgets utilizing HTML and JavaScript technology. I have implemented a top bar that displays CPU temperatures, RAM usage, and network speeds in a nostalgic green terminal aesthetic. The integration with Spotify showcases current tracks alongside album art that beautifully complements my desktop wallpaper.

The community widget library is bursting with creative options, including a complete Windows Vista Sidebar transformation, complete with an analog clock and holographic displays reminiscent of the Blade Runner films. Since these widgets are constructed from web code, you can easily modify existing ones or create your own if you possess basic HTML skills.

Classic Sound Packs: Nostalgic Audio Revival

Bringing Back Iconic System Sounds

WinCustomize open in a browser on Windows 11

Older Windows operating systems like XP and 7 boasted distinctive sounds for various actions—sounds that have faded into obscurity with Windows 11. Thankfully, the community has preserved these beloved audio schemes.

While not classified as a mod, sound packs can be downloaded from platforms such as WinCustomize. Simply extract the.wav files from the downloaded packs and assign them through Control Panel -> Sounds. These packs encompass the charming sounds from XP, the futuristic tones of Vista, and the jazzy notes from Windows 95 Plus.

On my own system, I enjoy a blend of XP and Vista audio cues—featuring the nostalgic XP startup chime on boot, Vista’s elegant glass sounds for actions, and the classic USB connection sound providing a delightful notification for connected devices.

Rainmeter: Transforming Desktops into Art

The Original Windows Customizer

Rainmeter allows users to showcase custom desktop skins, ranging from basic hardware meters to fully-fledged audio visualizers, limited only by your imagination.

Here are a few of my favorite Rainmeter themes that have stood out over the years:

Mond: A clean, minimal design featuring circular widgets and smooth animations that maintain an uncluttered desktop.
Neon Space: A vivid theme with neon colors and elements inspired by science fiction, adding a cyberpunk flair to the desktop.
Inside Dream: Abstract visuals combined with soft gradients for a calm, artistic ambiance.
Aesmterl: A sleek interface with customizable modules that balance both aesthetic appeal and functional utility.
Mass Effect: This theme pays homage to the iconic game series with HUD-style displays and a futuristic aesthetic.

Tailor Windows to Reflect Your Unique Style

Primarily, I have relied on Windhawk mods to alleviate some common frustrations associated with Windows 11. However, these modifications serve more than just resolving issues; they offer a plethora of community options for customizing your desktop even when everything is functioning smoothly. For those tired of Windows 11’s minimalist appearance, blending and matching these tools can create a personalized experience that is distinctly yours.

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