10 Customization Tools Every Windows 11 User Should Know

Windows 11’s new UI and features might be better than Windows 10, but there’s much more room for improvement. It’s been three years since Windows 11’s debut, and things have become monotonous with the new design.

However, the best part about using Windows is the wide range of apps available. So, you always have an option to fill the gap of a missing feature with a third-party app.

In this post, we’ll list the best customization apps that elevate your PC’s UI and performance and add features that Microsoft must include with future updates.

1. PowerToys

We usually expect a theme or UI-changing app at the top, but PowerToys is something you mustn’t ignore. It is a collection of very powerful features that the regular version of Windows doesn’t have.

You can improve the File Explorer performance, perform deep searches with the Run bar, preview any file with the Peek app, share the mouse between two PCs, and do much more.

The best thing is that it’s an official Microsoft product that regularly adds features. For the last two years, there have been multiple useful features like New+, and the list keeps growing because of its community-powered approach.

2. Rainmeter

As a long-time user of the Rainmeter since Windows 7, we can confidently say that it doesn’t get any better at adding skins to your PC.

Unlike old Windows themes that only changed the wallpaper and the accent color, skins let you make many more adjustments. Everything is possible whether you want to change the element’s position, color, transparency, or anything else.

Rainmeter is free to use and can help you create a unique desktop look compared to just changing the wallpaper. Check out how we created a Pixel-like desktop with Rainmenter skin or some useful skins for rainmeter.

3. Screensaver Wonder

Windows has stopped paying attention to screensavers in general. But Screensaver Wonder can help you with this problem.

It’s a custom screensaver app that you can use to create a personalized screen saver of any photo, video, or audio that you like. You get a whole suite of adjustment options that help add elements like text to the screensaver.

It’s a paid app, but the free trial lets you create screensavers with a watermark. Create as many as you can and export those files for later use.

4. RoundedTB

MacOS has a floating dock that’s very helpful and looks better than the flat taskbar on Windows 11. Rather than wrapping the taskbar from one end to the other, you can shorten it with RoundedTB.

Breaking up the taskbar and hiding some elements can mimic the appearance of the floating taskbar. You won’t get animations like the MacOS dock, but it’s miles better than the full taskbar.

5. Lively Wallpaper

Are you tired of finding a good wallpaper image or bored with the Windows Spotlight auto image shuffle? Lively Wallpaper is a free app that can help you add fresh wallpaper designs that look better on your desktop than static wallpaper.

You can set live wallpaper with moving elements, including GIFs, videos, and web pages. The developers surely went overboard with the feature set, but the default selection cannot keep you busy.

But that’s where the custom wallpaper feature is useful. You can upload any image or media and convert it to a 3D wallpaper. Additional controls include brightness, contrast, playback speed, and more.

6. Flow Launcher

Flow Launcher is what the Windows 11 menu should have been instead of our bloatware-filled mess. It’s a new way to launch apps and manage settings on your PC rather than using the old Run dialog box or Windows search.

But what can a simple search bar do? Well, it can go beyond the usual file and URL finding and run system commands, shell commands, and even open system settings and browser history.

That’s not everything. It has a huge plugin library, so you don’t have to stick to default features and can add more functionality. You can do calculations, view clipboard history, view RGB values, and explore the plugin store for more features.

7. F.lux

Windows 11 has a night mode, which doesn’t work as well as Flux. You can adjust the light intensity, which is more flexible than the mundane slider in the Windows 11 settings. We have used F.lux since 2017, and it can even tone down the brightness based on your location. Try it to give your eyes a much-needed rest.

8. BeWidgets

Even after so many requests, Microsoft returned the Widgets board instead of the independent widgets collection that was a part of Windows 7. The widgets board shows all widgets in one location, but not everyone needs that layout.

BeWidgets can help you add distinct widgets on the desktop with a separate purpose. You can have the classic clock, calendar, etc., or add weather and stock market stats if that interests you. Lastly, you can add app icon shortcuts and hide the big old desktop icons you rarely use.

9. Explorer Patcher

Windows 11 OS settings are all over the place, and some features must be disabled immediately. Explorer Patcher can help you with this problem and has most of the settings listed under separate categories in one app.

So, you don’t need to search the PC for a setting and turn it off. Explorer Patch is very lightweight, and if you change many settings that mess up your PC, you can revert to default settings with just one click.

10. StartAllBack

As the name suggests, you can modify the Start Menu elements that you don’t like. Users mostly love restoring the old context menu, which Microsoft didn’t do a good job with. However, you can return to the Windows 10 or 7 style start menu if you don’t like the new Mica effects.

It can even change the File Explorer and Control Panel’s Ui elements and a few other small settings that can complete the old appearance.

Wrapping Up

These were the ten best customization apps to change the appearance of Windows 11 and make it more functional. If you have any more apps in mind, share them in the comments.

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