Switching Windows 11 File Explorer to Look Like Windows 10

Transforming Windows 11 File Explorer to Look Like Windows 10

Feeling a bit lost in the new design of Windows 11’s File Explorer? It’s a common struggle. If the vibrant aesthetics and fancy features just aren’t your jam, you can actually restore a more classic Windows 10-ish vibe. It involves some editing of the Windows Registry and possibly using a few third-party tools, but it’s totally doable. Just keep your fingers crossed that it doesn’t turn into a big headache.

Getting Into the Registry Editor

First off, you need to get into the heart of the system — the Registry Editor. Sounds intimidating, but it’s not that bad. Just hit Windows key + R to pull up the Run dialog, type in regedit, and smash that Enter. You’ll probably get a User Account Control message asking if you really want to do this. Click Yes and you’re in. Just be careful in here; one wrong move and you could mess things up.

Finding the Right Path

Now, you’ll want to navigate to this path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked. If the “Blocked” folder isn’t there, no biggie—just right-click on Shell Extensions, hit New, then Key, and name it Blocked. Easy peasy, right? Well, kind of. It’s just a bit tedious and can feel like a treasure hunt.

Adding the Key Value

Inside that Blocked key, you need to create a new string value. Right-click in the right pane, choose New and then String Value. Name it {e2bf9676-5f8f-435c-97eb-11607a5bedf7}. This little number tells Windows to ditch the snazzy new File Explorer and roll back to the classic one. Just make sure you don’t miss anything here or else it won’t work.

Also, if you want more of that Windows 10 feel, hit File Explorer > View > Show > Hidden Items and enable “Use Compact Mode.” It sounds fancy, but it’s really just making things look cleaner.

Restarting the System for Changes to Apply

After all that, no changes will actually show up until you restart. So, click on the Start menu, hit the power icon, and hit Restart — or save a step and just restart the Explorer with this:

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
Then bring it back to life with:
start explorer.exe

This way, you don’t have to reboot the entire machine, which is a nice little time-saver.

If You Wanna Go the Extra Mile

If diving into the registry sounds like too much of a chore, there are some third-party tools out there. Apps like OldNewExplorer can handle a lot of this for you and give you more tweaking options. If you’re going that route, always grab them from a trusted source — think Classic Shell or Open Shell. Just follow their instructions, and you’re pretty much golden.

Be Smart: Precautions Are Key

Before messing around with system settings or installing any tools, always, always back everything up. Create a restore point just in case things go awry. You can do this by heading over to Control Panel > System and Security > System > System Protection and clicking on Create. It’s your safety net. Downloading stuff from the internet? Make sure it’s from reputable sources to steer clear of malware. And just a heads-up, major Windows updates can mess with your customizations, so keep that in mind.

A Few Common Questions

Is messing with the registry safe?

Generally, yeah, it’s safe if you follow instructions and have backups. But make a wrong edit and things can get tricky.

How do you undo these changes?

To revert back, just delete that string you created in the registry and restart your computer. Easy as pie — usually.

Are third-party tools okay to use?

For the most part, yes. Just make sure you’re snagging them from sites that aren’t sketchy. User reviews can help guide you.

Will this affect my computer’s performance?