Open-Shell-Menu VS TileIconifier

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.

Is there a program that lets you change any applications .exe no matter what? I know you can use programs like TileIconifer for the start menu tiles, but I've no luck in finding a program that let's me change any application's icon. Any suggestions?

Allows you to edit nearly all icons of apps pinned to the Start Menu. Can be downloaded from here, via Github. The only way I found to edit Folder shortcuts pinned to the Start Menu is to expand the Start Menu to fullscreen by going to Settings > Personalization > Start > Use Start full screen, then pressing the Start button, going to All Apps (see image) at the very top left, scrolling down to T > TileIconify, opening the dropdown menu, rightclicking the new Custom Shortcut, and Pin to Start. Simply going to %AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\TileIconify\Custom Shortcuts and trying to Pin to Start did not work for me, as the option to Pin to Start didn't even work.

I used TileIconifier. You can even create custom "Apps" that are URLs.

Tile Iconifier - To customize how pinned apps look on the start menu

But I have my start menu organised well with textures using TileIconifier

try this program https://github.com/Jonno12345/TileIconifier

Check out Tile Conifier. There you can change the icons on the start menu. https://github.com/Jonno12345/TileIconifier/releases

You cannot rename UWP apps but you can easily rename other applications by going to the shortcut folder and rename it from there and it will update in Start Menu. If you really need to change the UWP apps icon/rename you will need to use TileIconifier.

I used TileIconifier and Adobe Photoshop