To get the Windows 10 search bar on Windows 11, install ExplorerPatcher from its GitHub releases page, right-click the taskbar, open Properties, and set Taskbar style to Windows 10 with Search set to Show search box. The classic search box returns to the taskbar exactly like it worked on Windows 10, and the change is fully reversible by uninstalling the tool.
Applies to: Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: May 25, 2026
Key Takeaways
- ExplorerPatcher is the most complete way to bring back the Windows 10 search box on Windows 11 23H2, 24H2, and 25H2.
- The key settings live under Properties > Taskbar (style: Windows 10, Search: Show search box) and Properties > Start Menu (style: Windows 10, position: At screen edge).
- Windhawk is a lighter alternative that can show a Windows 10 style search box on top of the Windows 11 taskbar without replacing the whole shell.
- Both tools are open source, free, and uninstall cleanly through Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Major Windows feature updates can briefly break either tool — reinstall the latest version after a feature update if the taskbar reverts.
Quick Steps
- Open the ExplorerPatcher releases page on GitHub.
- Download the latest
ep_setup.exefile and run it (accept the UAC prompt). - Right-click an empty spot on the taskbar and choose Properties.
- On the Taskbar tab set Taskbar style to Windows 10 and Search to Show search box.
- On the Start Menu tab set Start menu style to Windows 10 and Position on screen to At screen edge.
- Click Restart File Explorer at the bottom of the Properties window.
In This Guide
This guide covers two different methods to get the Windows 10 search bar back on Windows 11:
- Method 1: ExplorerPatcher — Full Windows 10 taskbar replacement with the classic search box. (Recommended)
- Method 2: Windhawk — Lighter modding tool that keeps the Windows 11 taskbar and adds a Windows 10 style search box on top.
Why Windows 11 Removed the Classic Search Bar
Windows 11 replaced the always-visible Windows 10 search box with a centered taskbar icon that opens a floating search panel. The new design looks cleaner, but it costs an extra click and moves the input target away from where Windows 10 users instinctively reach for it.
In my computer repair shop I set up hundreds of Windows 10 machines for clients, and the search box on the taskbar was one of the few things almost everyone used without thinking about it. When those same clients upgraded to Windows 11, the most common complaint I heard was that “search feels harder now.” Bringing the classic box back is one of the highest-impact tweaks you can make for that reason.
Microsoft does not expose a setting for this in the Settings app on any current Windows 11 build (23H2, 24H2, or 25H2). The two reliable ways to get the search box back are ExplorerPatcher (full taskbar replacement) and Windhawk (targeted shell modifications). I cover both below.
Method 1: ExplorerPatcher (Recommended)
ExplorerPatcher is a free, open-source tool that swaps the Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu for the Windows 10 versions, then exposes the original Windows 10 search box as a normal taskbar setting. It does not modify Windows system files, so it uninstalls cleanly and survives most monthly updates.
Step 1: Download ExplorerPatcher from GitHub
Open the ExplorerPatcher releases page and download the latest ep_setup.exe. The file is small (around 8 MB) and is signed by the developer Valentin Radu — your browser may warn about an uncommon download, which is normal for niche open-source tools.
Step 2: Run the installer
Double-click ep_setup.exe and accept the User Account Control prompt. There is no setup wizard — the installer applies the patch silently and the taskbar plus desktop icons disappear for a few seconds while Explorer restarts. When the taskbar comes back, ExplorerPatcher is installed.
Tip: If your taskbar comes back but right-clicking it does not show a Properties option, the install did not finish. Run
ep_setup.exeagain as administrator (right-click the file > Run as administrator).
Step 3: Open ExplorerPatcher Properties
Right-click any empty space on the taskbar. A Properties option now appears at the top of the context menu — this is the ExplorerPatcher control panel, and seeing it confirms the install worked. Click Properties to open the configuration window.
Step 4: Switch the taskbar to Windows 10 style
In the Properties window, click the Taskbar tab on the left. Set Taskbar style to Windows 10 (this gives you the full Windows 10 taskbar layout with left-aligned icons), then set Search to Show search box. The change applies as soon as you click another option or restart File Explorer.
Step 5: Switch the Start menu to Windows 10 style
If the search box now shows on the taskbar but typing into it still pops a search panel in the centre of the screen, the Start menu side of search is still set to the Windows 11 style. Click the Start Menu tab in Properties, set Start menu style to Windows 10, and set Position on screen to At screen edge. Search results will now appear right above the search box where Windows 10 used to put them.
Step 6: Restart File Explorer to apply
Click Restart File Explorer at the bottom of the Properties window. The taskbar flashes once and comes back with the Windows 10 search bar in place. You can close Properties at this point — settings are saved automatically.
Method 2: Windhawk
Windhawk is a smaller, mod-based customization tool that I cover in detail in my Windhawk customization guide. Instead of replacing the whole taskbar, it loads individual community mods that patch specific shell behaviours. There is a mod called “Windows 11 Taskbar Styler” with presets that include a Windows 10 style search box, and another called “Taskbar Search Box” that adds an always-visible search field to the Windows 11 taskbar.
Use Windhawk if you want to keep the rest of the Windows 11 taskbar (centered icons, new system tray) and only add the search box back. Use ExplorerPatcher if you want the complete Windows 10 experience.
Quick Windhawk setup
- Download Windhawk from windhawk.net and run the installer.
- Open Windhawk and click Explore.
- Search for “Taskbar Search Box” and install the mod by m417z.
- Open the mod’s Settings tab and choose the Windows 10 style preset.
- Click Save settings — the search box appears on the taskbar within a second.
Note: Windhawk mods are sandboxed and easy to disable from the main Windhawk window if anything misbehaves. They do not survive a Windhawk uninstall, so reverting is just a matter of removing the app.
Other Windows 10 Features You Can Restore
Once ExplorerPatcher is installed, the same Properties window lets you bring back other Windows 10 behaviours that Microsoft removed or changed. The most-requested tweaks are the Windows 10 right-click menu (no more “Show more options” extra click) and full Windows 10 visual styling for the rest of the shell.
You can also move the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen (something Windows 11 removed completely), customize the system tray clock, and change how Alt+Tab behaves. All of these settings live in the same Properties window you used for the search box.
If you would rather not run a third-party shell modifier at all, my own utility Winhance bundles dozens of registry-based Windows 11 tweaks (debloating, telemetry, context menu, Start menu behaviour) into one app, without replacing the shell. It is the safer choice if you only want to tame Windows 11 rather than turn it back into Windows 10.
Common Issues and Solutions
Properties option does not appear when right-clicking the taskbar.
ExplorerPatcher did not finish installing. Right-click ep_setup.exe, choose Run as administrator, and let it complete. Reboot if the issue persists.
The search box shows up but search results still open in the centre of the screen.
Open Properties > Start Menu, set Start menu style to Windows 10, and set Position on screen to At screen edge. Click Restart File Explorer.
The taskbar becomes unresponsive after installing.
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer in the Processes list, right-click it, and choose Restart. The taskbar comes back within a second or two.
ExplorerPatcher stops working after a Windows update.
Major feature updates (24H2 → 25H2 and similar) can temporarily break ExplorerPatcher until a new release ships. Download the latest ep_setup.exe from the GitHub releases page and run it again — your settings are preserved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ExplorerPatcher safe to use?
Yes. ExplorerPatcher is open source on GitHub, so the code is reviewable, and it modifies Windows Explorer behaviour at runtime rather than patching system files. I have installed it on dozens of repair shop machines and my own daily driver without any data loss or boot issues. Microsoft Defender does occasionally flag it as a Potentially Unwanted Application because it modifies the shell — that is expected for tools in this category, not an indication of malware.
Does ExplorerPatcher slow down my PC?
No. ExplorerPatcher hooks into the existing Windows Explorer process rather than running a separate service, so the additional memory cost is negligible (a few megabytes). I have not measured a meaningful boot-time difference on any system I have installed it on.
Can I uninstall ExplorerPatcher cleanly?
Yes. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find ExplorerPatcher, click the three dots, and choose Uninstall. The taskbar reverts to the default Windows 11 layout immediately and no configuration is left behind in the user profile.
Will Windows updates remove ExplorerPatcher?
Monthly cumulative updates almost never affect it. Annual feature updates (such as 24H2 → 25H2) can temporarily break it until the developer ships a compatible release, usually within a few days. Reinstalling the latest version from GitHub restores your settings.
Can I keep the Windows 11 Start menu and just add the Windows 10 search box?
Not cleanly with ExplorerPatcher — the search box and Start menu share the same search panel under the hood, so mixing styles causes results to open in the centre of the screen. If you want the Windows 11 Start menu with a Windows 10 style search box on the taskbar, use the Windhawk “Taskbar Search Box” mod from Method 2 instead.
If shell modifiers are not your thing, my own Winhance utility focuses on registry-level Windows 11 customization without replacing the taskbar. For a broader UI overhaul, also see my full Windows 10 conversion guide and the Windhawk customization guide.
