Utilities you definitely want to introduce after updating to Windows 11
For those who want to undo, and those who want to change more.
With the release of Windows 11, there are a lot of third-party utilities. Some restore features that disappeared in Windows 11, some make more use of new features in Windows 11, and you can customize Windows 11 in a way that suits you. Below are some useful things I've found so far.
Start11
Stardock, the Windows customization expert, has launched Start11. Start11 is a tool that gives you more flexibility in how your Start menu looks and is arranged. You can also bring back the program tiles and app list, and bring the Start menu (and taskbar) to the top of the screen.
Check it out, especially if you don't like the Windows 11 Start menu. Start11's magic extends to the taskbar, bringing back context menus, improving taskbar search box results, and allowing arbitrary shortcuts to be placed next to app icons.
It's easy and intuitive to use, and it's easy to try something and undo it if you don't like it. It also works well with existing Stardock tools like Fences, which assigns portions of your desktop to specific shortcuts. The full version of Start11 costs $5, but the trial is free.
ElevenClock
Windows 11 does not display date and time in the taskbar corner. If you are used to checking the time on your Windows screen, you may feel a sense of loss. ElevenClock brings back the date and time to your taskbar.
ElevenClock does just that, but just because it's simple doesn't mean it doesn't make sense. Moreover, ElevenClock looks like a Windows native function, so much so that it is hard to tell that it was added as an afterthought. It blends perfectly into your taskbar and supports light and dark modes.
ElevenClock also supports taskbar customization utilities (such as Start11 mentioned above), so you can choose from several options for how the time appears and where it is on the taskbar. For example, you can set it to display the date and time even in full screen mode.
Winaero Tweaker
Winaero Tweaker is a free utility that is not only for Windows 11, but also for Windows 7/8/10. You can play around with options ranging from backing up your registry to disabling Action Center (the one that shows all notifications by default).
In terms of Windows 11, you can restore some features that were in Windows 10. You can reproduce the familiar environment such as the right-click context menu for the entire OS, the Windows 10 design of the taskbar, the ribbon interface at the top of File Explorer, etc. Most settings are just a click of a checkbox.
Winaero Tweaker is useful for displaying system information and can be used to change the appearance of Windows, such as accent colors and default animations. You can also change various options in the registry configuration file, but this is the heart of the system and I don't recommend it unless you know how it works.
ThisIsWin11
ThisIsWin11 can do a lot, but first, it serves as a guide to the major features of Windows 11. But it's not just a guide, you can also change various settings of Windows 11 from there, delete or specify default apps, and automate some functions of Windows 11.
Open the System tab in ThisIsWin11 and you'll see a list of various settings you can change. The settings are divided into sections like personalization, privacy, and gaming, each of which has too many options to list here. You can bring back some of the Windows 10 look and feel, or disable Windows 11 features you don't need (widgets, etc.).
ThisIsWin11 also lets you turn privacy and app permissions on and off, such as microphone and camera access, location tracking, Windows Hello biometrics, and automatic app installation. On the home screen, you can check the detailed version of Windows 11 you are currently using.
Microsoft PowerToys
PowerToys, a genuine power-user utility from Microsoft, contains useful tools as well as experimental features that are worth checking out on Windows 11 as well. It's not just because the interface has been updated for Windows 11.
You can customize the arrangement of open windows, batch rename files, find mouse cursors, reassign keyboards, etc. They recently added a universal mute feature that works across all video calling apps.
PowerToys is tucked away in the notification area at the bottom right of your screen, and you can access all its features from there. A particularly good feature is the File Explorer add-on feature, which allows you to preview PDF and Markdown files within Windows 11.