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ExplorerPatcher changes parts of the Windows 11 shell so you can use a Windows 10-style taskbar, Start menu, Alt+Tab switcher, taskbar labels, and additional taskbar controls. It modifies Explorer-related components, so compatibility depends on your Windows build—not just whether you are running Windows 11 Home or Pro.
Download it only from the project’s official GitHub Releases page: github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases. As of August 7, 2026, the latest listed release is 26100.8457.70.1, released May 19. Before installing, check the security and build-specific warnings below.
Before installing ExplorerPatcher
ExplorerPatcher is selected by processor architecture. There is no separate Windows 11, Home, or Pro installer.
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| PC type | Installer |
|---|---|
| Intel or AMD x64 processor | ep_setup.exe |
| Snapdragon or another ARM64 processor | ep_setup_arm64.exe |
To check the architecture, open Settings → System → About and look at System type. Most Windows 11 PCs with Intel or AMD processors use ep_setup.exe.
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Important compatibility warnings
- Turn off Smart App Control before installation. The project warns that newer versions can install in a state where
explorer.exedoes not start if Smart App Control remains enabled. - Do not install it on a PC with SentinelOne. The project reports that SentinelOne can hold ExplorerPatcher files and prevent removal.
- Windows Defender exclusions are not currently required according to the project’s release notes. A third-party antivirus may still need exclusions for ExplorerPatcher files.
- Some features are unavailable on particular Windows versions. Make a restore point or backup before changing the Windows shell.
The current release was tested on Windows builds including 22621.4317, 22631.7079, 26100.6899, 26100.8037, 26200.8246, 26200.8457, 26300.8493, and 28000.2113. That does not mean every feature works identically on every one of those builds.
How to install ExplorerPatcher
- Open the official ExplorerPatcher Releases page. Avoid download sites, software catalogs, and unofficial “fixed” installers. The project identifies GitHub Releases as its only official distribution channel.
- Download
ep_setup.exefor an Intel/AMD PC orep_setup_arm64.exefor an ARM64 PC. - Open the downloaded file. Approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Allow the installer to close
explorer.exe. It installs the required files and restarts the Windows shell. - Wait for the desktop and taskbar to return. ExplorerPatcher selects the Windows 10 taskbar by default.
- Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and select Properties.
The first restart may briefly remove the taskbar or desktop while Explorer reloads. If the shell does not return, wait a short time and try restarting Windows. If explorer.exe repeatedly fails, use the uninstall procedure later in this guide.
Choose a taskbar and Start menu style
ExplorerPatcher’s settings are opened from the taskbar rather than from a separate traditional desktop shortcut.
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Switch between Windows 10 and Windows 11 taskbars
- Right-click the taskbar.
- Choose Properties.
- Open Taskbar.
- Use Taskbar style to select the Windows 10 or Windows 11 taskbar.
- Apply the change if prompted and allow Explorer to restart.
The Windows 10 taskbar mode is the useful choice if you want taskbar labels, classic grouping behavior, separate notification-area indicators, or taskbar docking on any screen edge.
| Taskbar mode | Documented behavior |
|---|---|
| Windows 10 | Supports taskbar labels, “Never combine,” separate network/volume/battery indicators, and docking to the bottom, top, left, or right edge. |
| Windows 11 | Keeps the Windows 11 taskbar and adds an enhanced right-click menu. The documented feature set does not provide Windows 10-style taskbar labels. |
Use the classic Windows 10 Start menu
- Open Taskbar → Start menu in ExplorerPatcher Properties.
- Set Start menu style to Windows 10.
- Apply the change and test the Start button.
This option is not available on every newer Windows build. On Windows builds 26220.8474 and 26300.8493, Microsoft removed remnants required by the Windows 10 Start menu from StartTileData.dll. ExplorerPatcher removed the Windows 10 Start menu option on those builds and future builds that lack the required code.
Use the classic Alt+Tab window switcher
- Open Window switcher in ExplorerPatcher Properties.
- Set Window switcher (Alt+Tab) style to Windows 10.
- Apply the setting.
Press Alt+Tab to confirm that the switcher has changed. If you select a Windows 10 taskbar but keep a newer Windows 11 Start menu on certain 22H2/23H2 Nickel builds, the combination can cause an explorer.exe crash loop. If that happens, update ExplorerPatcher and use compatible Start menu and taskbar settings.
Configure the Windows 10 taskbar
ExplorerPatcher exposes controls that Windows 11 normally removed or restricted. The exact options can vary with the Windows build and selected taskbar style.
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Show labels and stop combining buttons
In Taskbar, look for the taskbar grouping or button-combining options. The Windows 10 taskbar supports labels and a Never combine behavior, which keeps separate buttons for open windows instead of putting them behind one application icon.
These controls are especially useful when several File Explorer windows, documents, or browser windows are open and you need to identify them without hovering over an icon.
Move the taskbar
With the Windows 10 taskbar selected, ExplorerPatcher supports Bottom, Top, Left, and Right.
- Right-click the taskbar.
- Clear Lock the taskbar or Lock all taskbars.
- Drag the taskbar to the desired screen edge.
- Right-click it again and re-enable the lock option if you want to prevent accidental movement.
Do not assume the same behavior applies to the Windows 11 taskbar. Its documented location setting supports only bottom and top, and that setting is unavailable for the Windows 11 taskbar on Windows 11 build 22621 or later (22H2). Left and right docking applies to the Windows 10 taskbar mode.
Enable taskbars on multiple monitors
- Right-click the main taskbar.
- Select Taskbar settings.
- Expand Taskbar behaviors.
- Enable Show my taskbar on all displays.
Windows and ExplorerPatcher may expose different controls for which monitor shows taskbar buttons. If a secondary display does not show the taskbar after enabling the option, sign out and back in, or restart Explorer from Task Manager.
Update ExplorerPatcher
Windows updates can change the shell files ExplorerPatcher integrates with. Keeping ExplorerPatcher current is important, particularly after a Windows preview or feature update.
- Right-click the taskbar and select Properties.
- Open Updates.
- Select Check for updates.
- When an update is available, choose Install latest version.
- Approve the UAC elevation prompt and allow Explorer to restart.
The documented automatic-update choices are:
| Option | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Notify about available updates | Default mode; tells you that an update is available. |
| Prompt to install available updates | Asks whether to install an available update. |
| Do not check for updates | Disables update checks; you must monitor the official Releases page yourself. |
Updates are served from the ExplorerPatcher GitHub repository. Running the current setup program again while ExplorerPatcher is installed performs an update or reinstallation; it does not uninstall the program.
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Known Windows-build limitations
ExplorerPatcher restores behavior that Microsoft has changed or removed, but it cannot recreate components that are no longer present in Windows.
- On builds 26220.8474 Beta and 26300.8493 Experimental, the Windows 10 Start menu option was removed because the required code was removed from
StartTileData.dll. - An outdated ExplorerPatcher installation on those builds can make the Windows 10 taskbar crash
explorer.exe. Selecting the Windows 10 Start menu can also stopStartMenuExperienceHost.exefrom running. Update ExplorerPatcher rather than continuing to use the old installation. - The release notes mention a temporary workaround involving replacement of
C:WindowsSystem32StartTileData.dllwith a version from the 26xxx.8457 build family. The project warns that this workaround is not expected to work indefinitely. Replacing a protected Windows system file is an advanced operation and should not be attempted casually. - On some Windows 11 22H2/23H2 ARM64 systems, the Windows 10 Start menu may still fail to open. The current code fixes newer 24H2/25H2 builds but does not eliminate every older ARM64 issue.
- The Windows 8 network flyout is unavailable on build 25346 and later because Microsoft removed
van.dll. - Open Start in All apps by default is hidden when the new Windows 11 Start menu is enabled.
- Earlier releases could cause broken graphics or incorrect dimensions with Shrink address bar height on recent 24H2 builds; the current release notes list this issue as fixed.
Fix common problems
The taskbar or desktop disappeared
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Select Run new task, enter explorer.exe, and press Enter. If Explorer immediately crashes again, update or uninstall ExplorerPatcher from a separate elevated Command Prompt.
Explorer will not start after installation
Check whether Smart App Control is enabled and whether an antivirus product is blocking ExplorerPatcher files. The project specifically warns that a blocked C:Windowsdxgi.dll can prevent explorer.exe from starting.
For third-party antivirus products, the release notes identify these paths as possible exclusion targets:
C:Program FilesExplorerPatcher
%APPDATA%ExplorerPatcher
C:Windowsdxgi.dll
C:WindowsSystemAppsMicrosoft.Windows.StartMenuExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewy
C:WindowsSystemAppsShellExperienceHost_cw5n1h2txyewyDo not add exclusions automatically. Confirm that your security product is actually blocking one of these files, and use its documented exclusion procedure.
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Open ExplorerPatcher Properties → Weather and run Clear weather widget local data. Then restart Explorer or sign out and back in.
Uninstall ExplorerPatcher
Use ExplorerPatcher Properties
- Right-click the taskbar.
- Select Properties.
- Open the Uninstall section.
- Follow the prompts and allow the Windows shell to restart.
Use Windows settings or Control Panel
You can also remove it from Settings → Apps → Apps and features, or from Control Panel → Programs and Features.
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Use the command line
Open Command Prompt in the folder containing the installer and run:
ep_setup.exe /uninstallIf the installer has a different name, use its actual filename. Another documented method is to rename the installer to ep_uninstall.exe and run it.
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Optional: extract the installer DLLs
Most users should run the installer normally. The setup program also supports extraction for advanced troubleshooting or inspection:
ep_setup /extractThat extracts the files to the current directory. To extract to a directory named test:
ep_setup /extract testFor a path containing spaces, quote the destination:
ep_setup /extract "C:test with space"The extraction produces ExplorerPatcher.IA-32.dll and ExplorerPatcher.amd64.dll. Extraction alone does not install ExplorerPatcher.
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FAQ
Is ExplorerPatcher safe to install?
Use only the installer from the project’s official GitHub Releases page. The project says Windows Defender no longer flags ExplorerPatcher, but third-party antivirus products may still block files. ExplorerPatcher modifies the Windows shell, so keep a restore point or backup and be prepared to uninstall it if a Windows update causes problems.
Which ExplorerPatcher installer should I download?
Use ep_setup.exe on Intel and AMD x64 PCs. Use ep_setup_arm64.exe on Snapdragon or other ARM64 PCs. The choice is based on CPU architecture, not Windows 11 Home versus Pro.
Can ExplorerPatcher move the Windows 11 taskbar to the left or right edge?
Left and right docking are supported with the Windows 10 taskbar style. The documented Windows 11 taskbar location setting supports only bottom and top, and it is unavailable on Windows 11 build 22621 or later (22H2).
Does running ep_setup.exe again uninstall ExplorerPatcher?
No. Running the setup program again updates or reinstalls ExplorerPatcher. To uninstall it, use the Properties → Uninstall section, Windows Apps and Features or Programs and Features, or run ep_setup.exe /uninstall.
Why is the Windows 10 Start menu option missing?
Some newer Windows builds removed the Windows 10 Start menu components that ExplorerPatcher needs. In particular, builds 26220.8474 and 26300.8493 removed required remnants from StartTileData.dll, so the option was removed for those builds and future builds with the same limitation.
What should I do if ExplorerPatcher causes an Explorer crash loop?
First update ExplorerPatcher. If the shell remains unusable, open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc, run explorer.exe, and then uninstall ExplorerPatcher using ep_setup.exe /uninstall. Also check whether Smart App Control or antivirus software is blocking ExplorerPatcher files.
Can I use ExplorerPatcher on Windows 11 ARM64?
Yes, use ep_setup_arm64.exe. However, the Windows 10 Start menu has build-specific problems on some Windows 11 22H2/23H2 ARM64 systems, so not every feature is guaranteed to work.
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The Bottom Line
ExplorerPatcher is most useful when you specifically want Windows 10 taskbar behavior on Windows 11: labels, never-combine buttons, classic Start and Alt+Tab controls, or taskbar docking on any edge. Install the architecture-appropriate file from the official GitHub Releases page, update it after Windows changes, and treat build-specific warnings seriously. If the shell becomes unstable, use the documented uninstall command rather than running the setup file again and expecting it to remove the program.
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