ModernFlyouts VS Open-Shell-Menu

You could use modern flyout. It allows you to increase or decrease (also to 0) the number active of media sessions displayed.

If you don't want to mess around with any of your program's settings, you can install ModernFlyouts and change its' settings to never show any popups.

It's called Modern Flyouts. Link here: https://modernflyouts-community.github.io/

Check out ModernFlyouts, it offers an alternative to the banner by replacing it with one you can customize. Fade duration being one of them

Modern​Flyouts for better looking flyouts for volume and media

This may not be the perfect fix you are looking for, but I faced the same problem as you (wanted flyouts but also wanted explorerpatcher for other functionality that it brought), and my solution was to use ModernFlyouts (link here)

You can try ModernFlyouts, it has a few customization options so maybe you can get a more minimal experience that way https://modernflyouts-community.github.io/

I've been very happy happy with https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu as a Start Menu replacement. If ads have rolled out to my Windows install, I wouldn't even notice.

Whenever I set up a new computer for older family members, despite it being windows 11, I always install open shell[1] and retro bar[2]. Between the two, I've made the operating system look very close to Windows XP visually, and they always appreciate it.

[1] https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu

[2] https://github.com/dremin/RetroBar

There's Open-Shell but it's not exactly a full WM replacement.

Hi yall, I used Open-Shell to change the icon.

There is also Open Shell, a free and open source tool which performs a similar function.

I wish so bad there is a port (a fork) of the Legacy Kickoff start menu for Windows: https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/issues/1083

Classic Start Menu

I use Open Shell (fork of Classic Shell) as a replacement to original Start Menu. This gives me full control over what appears in start menu - no results from internet, animated tiles, etc (I am on Win 10 though, from what I read the Win 11 is supported, but not yet officially [1]). It could be a solution to the ads appearing in start menu.

[1] https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/issues/1564

Looks like you're going for an XP theme. May I suggest using open-shell to skin the taskbar, start menu, and start button if you wanna take that extra step? You can also find the taskbar skin and start button here. Also, I would remove the search bar, task view button, and news & interest area of the taskbar just to bring things together. This is all just a suggestion, you don't have to if you don't want to.