About this release
StartAllBack is for the people who moved to Windows 11 and immediately missed how the taskbar and start menu used to work. It puts the classic behaviour back, so the taskbar can sit on any edge, ungroup its buttons, show labels, and the start menu can return to the older two column layout with real folders and a proper all programs list. None of it requires touching the registry by hand.
The changes go deeper than the start button. It restores the full right click context menu in Explorer instead of the trimmed one that hides half its entries behind a second click, brings back the older ribbon or command bar, and lets you retheme the whole shell with rounded or square corners, custom accent colours and icon packs. Everything is exposed in one settings panel with live preview.
It is deliberately light. It hooks into the existing shell rather than replacing it, so it starts with Windows without a heavy background service and survives feature updates in most cases. The build here is the full version with every theme and tweak unlocked, and it can be turned off in one click if you ever want the stock shell back for a moment.
What it does
- Move the taskbar to any screen edge and ungroup its buttons
- Restore taskbar labels and the older notification area behaviour
- Classic two column start menu with real folders and all programs
- Full Explorer right click context menu without the extra click
- Older ribbon or command bar restored in File Explorer
- Full retheming with corners, accent colours and icon packs
- Live preview of every change in a single settings panel
- Starts with Windows without a heavy background service
- One click toggle to fall back to the stock shell
- Per user configuration that does not touch system files
Changes in this version
- Compatibility pass for the current Windows 11 feature update
- Reworked settings panel with clearer sections
- Better survival of the tweaks across a major Windows update
- New icon pack options in the theming section
- Fixed a rare taskbar flicker on multi monitor setups
What the package contains
- StartAllBack full installer
- Bundled theme and icon pack set
- All interface languages
- Silent install script for unattended setup
- Readme with the install order written out step by step
Installation notes
Follow these in order. Most reports of a failed install come from skipping a step rather than from the package itself.
- Disconnect from the network before you start.
- Extract the archive to any folder you like, the package is small.
- Run the installer, it applies per user by default.
- The taskbar and start menu change immediately, no restart needed.
- Open the settings panel and pick your layout and theme.
- Reconnect to the network.
System requirements
| Operating system | Windows 11, or Windows 10 for the Explorer tweaks |
| Processor | Any 1 GHz or faster processor |
| Memory | 1 GB minimum |
| Graphics | No specific requirement |
| Storage | 30 MB free |
| Display | 1024 by 768 minimum |
Things worth knowing
- A major Windows feature update can briefly disable it until the compatibility pass catches up, this is normal.
- It applies per user, so each account on the machine configures its own layout.
- Turn off automatic updating if you want the current version to stay put.
Questions about this title
Does it change system files?
Will a Windows update break it?
Can I get the stock taskbar back?
Does it work on Windows 10?
What people are saying
Labels and ungrouped buttons back on the bottom edge. This is all I wanted from day one.
The full context menu without the extra click is worth the download by itself.
An update paused it for a day, then its own update fixed it. No drama.
Listing information
This entry is catalogued under Utilities & Tools and carries the tags below. Language coverage is Multilingual, 24 interface languages, and the supported platform list is Windows 11, Windows 10. Version 3.9.24 is the current catalogued build, last checked 6 days ago, and the entry has been in the index since it was added 1 year ago.