How to Get the Windows 7 Start Menu in Windows 11

To get the Windows 7 Start menu back on Windows 11, install Open Shell (a free, open-source fork of the classic Classic Shell project), pick the Windows 7 style under Style, and apply the Windows Aero skin. The full Windows 11 Start menu stays available via Shift + click on the Start button or Ctrl + Esc, so you can switch back any time without uninstalling. This guide covers Open Shell as the default approach plus a paid alternative (StartAllBack) for people who want closer Windows 11 integration.

Applies to: Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: April 20, 2026

Key Takeaways

• Open Shell (free, open source) replaces the Start button with a classic Win7-style menu that includes Programs, Control Panel, Devices and Printers, and the full cascading menu hierarchy.
• The Windows 11 Start menu isn’t removed — it’s still accessible via Shift + click on the Start button, so you get both menus without uninstalling Open Shell.
• On Windows 11 with a centered taskbar, two Start buttons may appear on some builds. Aligning the taskbar to the left fixes it, or use StartAllBack (paid) if you want a single button with deep Windows 11 theme integration.

Quick Steps

1. Download the latest Open Shell installer from the GitHub Releases page.
2. Run the setup, accept the defaults, and let the installer finish (it may briefly restart Explorer).
3. Click the Start button — the Open Shell settings window opens automatically on first run.
4. Under Start Menu Style, pick Windows 7 style.
5. Switch to the Skin tab, pick Windows Aero, and click OK.

In This Guide

• Method 1: Open Shell — Free, open source, works on every Windows 11 build. (Recommended)
• Method 2: StartAllBack — Paid ($4.99 one-off), tighter Windows 11 integration and native-looking Aero glass.
• Taskbar Alignment — How to handle centred-vs-left alignment so you don’t end up with two Start buttons.

What Is Open Shell?

Open Shell is the community-maintained continuation of Classic Shell, the long-running Start-menu replacement that was officially retired in 2017. A group of contributors forked the source, kept it compatible with modern Windows updates, and renamed it Open Shell. It’s free, open source, and works on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 — including recent 24H2 and 25H2 builds.

It replaces the Start menu that pops up when you click the Start button, but leaves the Windows 11 Start menu accessible via Shift + click on the same button. That’s genuinely useful: you get the detailed Win7 hierarchy for day-to-day launching, and the Windows 11 search box for the rare occasion you actually want it.

Method 1: Install Open Shell (Free)

Step 1: Download from GitHub

1. Open the Open Shell Releases page.
2. Scroll to the latest release and download OpenShellSetup_X_X_X.exe from the Assets section.

Step 2: Run the Installer

1. Run OpenShellSetup_X_X_X.exe. If SmartScreen shows a warning, click More info → Run anyway — Open Shell isn’t code-signed.
2. Accept the license and click Next through the wizard.
3. Leave the default components checked (Classic Start Menu is the one you need; Classic Explorer and Classic IE are optional).
4. Click Install. If prompted, close Explorer windows — the installer briefly restarts Explorer to register the shell extension.

Step 3: Apply the Windows 7 Style

1. Click the Start button — the Open Shell settings window appears on first launch.
2. On the Start Menu Style tab, select Windows 7 style.
3. Switch to the Skin tab and pick Windows Aero.
4. Click OK. The next click on the Start button opens the new Win7-style menu.

To reopen settings later, right-click the Start button and choose Settings.

Switching Back to the Windows 11 Menu

• Hold Shift and click the Start button — the Windows 11 Start menu opens.
• Or press Ctrl + Esc — this also opens the Windows 11 Start menu regardless of Open Shell’s settings.

Under Open Shell’s Main Menu tab (enable Show all settings first), you can customise which button action triggers which menu — for example, left-click for Win7, Win key for Windows 11.

Fixing Two Start Buttons on Windows 11

On recent Windows 11 builds, Open Shell draws its own Start button over the native one — which can result in two Start buttons visible when the taskbar is centred. There are three ways to handle it:

• Leave it as-is. On the latest builds, Open Shell hides the native button automatically and only one icon shows. No action needed.
• Align the taskbar left. Right-click the taskbar → Taskbar settings → scroll to Taskbar behaviors → set Taskbar alignment to Left. This is the classic Windows 7 layout and Open Shell’s button sits alone at the left edge.
• Hide Open Shell’s custom button. In Open Shell settings → enable Show all settings → Start Button tab → set the button to Classic Start Button = No. The native Windows 11 button stays visible, but clicking it opens the Open Shell menu.

Method 2: StartAllBack (Paid Alternative)

If Open Shell’s Win7 menu feels mismatched against Windows 11’s dark mode and rounded corners, StartAllBack is the commercial alternative that focuses on making the classic menu look native to Windows 11. Downsides: it’s paid ($4.99 one-time, 100-day trial) and not open source. Upsides: Aero glass works properly, dark mode follows the system, and the taskbar and File Explorer get matching classic treatments.

For the full setup walkthrough, see the StartAllBack guide. If the Start menu isn’t the only part of Windows 11 you want changed — taskbar, File Explorer, Aero Glass — StartAllBack covers everything in one app.

For a more Windows 10-flavoured Start menu rather than Windows 7, ExplorerPatcher is the free community option. And if you want deep UI mods beyond just the Start menu, Windhawk is a plugin-based system that can change almost anything about the shell.

Customising the Open Shell Menu Further

The default Win7-style skin is a reasonable starting point, but Open Shell exposes a lot more. Right-click the Start button and choose Settings, then tick Show all settings at the top. Useful tabs:

• Skin — other bundled skins include Windows Aero, Windows 8, and plain Classic. Community skins (.skin7 files) can be dropped into %ProgramFiles%\Open-Shell\Skins.
• Main Menu — control what appears in the right column (Documents, Pictures, Music, Computer, Control Panel, Run, Log off).
• Menu Look — font, icon size, corner behaviour, opening animation.
• Customise Start Menu — drag and drop which items appear and in what order.

You can export your full settings to an XML file via the Backup button at the bottom of the settings window — useful when moving to a new PC or reinstalling Windows.

Conclusion

Open Shell is the fastest free way to bring the Windows 7 Start menu back, and it’s been reliable through every Windows 11 update since 2021. The paid alternative (StartAllBack) only matters if you also want the taskbar and File Explorer restyled to match. For a lighter touch — centred taskbar, classic context menus — look at classic context menu and Windhawk.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Open Shell safe to install?

Yes. Open Shell is open source (MIT-licensed) and hosted on GitHub, so the code is auditable. It isn’t code-signed with an expensive certificate, which is why SmartScreen flags it on first run — that’s a warning, not an indication of malware. Download only from the official GitHub Releases page.

Can I uninstall Open Shell cleanly?

Yes. Remove it from Settings → Apps → Installed apps like any other program. The Windows 11 Start menu returns immediately, no reboot required.

Does Open Shell slow down Windows?

No. It runs as a small shell extension — roughly 15 MB of RAM, negligible CPU. It doesn’t replace Explorer, just hooks into the Start button. Performance on low-end hardware is the same as stock Windows.

Does Open Shell survive Windows Updates?

Usually. Monthly cumulative updates don’t touch the Start menu. Feature updates (like 23H2 → 24H2) occasionally reset Explorer enough that Open Shell needs a re-install — if the Win7 menu stops appearing after a major update, install the latest Open Shell release over the top.

Can I still use the Windows 11 search box?

Yes. Open Shell has its own search field inside the Win7-style menu, but if you prefer the Win11 search box, hold Shift and click Start (or press Ctrl + Esc). You can also configure Open Shell so the Windows key opens the Win11 menu while clicking the button opens the Win7 menu — useful for keeping both available.