Enable Windows 7 Command Bar or Windows 10 Ribbons in Windows 11 File Explorer

The File Explorer in Windows 11 comes with a new redesigned toolbar. If you want to enable Windows 7 style command bar or Windows 10 style ribbon toolbar in Windows 11 File Explorer, this article will help you.

Following image shows a comparison of all 3 types of toolbars activated and enabled in Windows 11 File Explorer: Default, Windows 10 style and Windows 7 style:

You can enable any desired toolbar style as shown in the above image in File Explorer of your Windows 11 device.

Following screenshot shows Windows 7 command bar restored in Windows 11 File Explorer:

Following screenshot shows Windows 10 Ribbon toolbar restored in Windows 11 File Explorer:

Restoring these classic toolbars in Windows 11 File Explorer also makes it faster and more responsive and fixes some known issues/bugs.

If you also miss the good old Windows 7 command bar or classic ribbon toolbar of Windows 10, following steps will help you in enabling any of those toolbars in Windows 11 File Explorer:

STEP 1:

We’ll take help of a freeware called “Explorer Patcher” developed by valinet to bring back classic toolbars in Windows 11 File Explorer.

Download Explorer Patcher from following link:

Download ExplorerPatcher for Windows 11

STEP 2:

After downloading the tool, install it and it’ll restart the Explorer.

Now right-click on the Taskbar and you’ll see some extra classic options added to the Taskbar such as Task Manager, cascade windows, Show desktop, etc. Click on Properties option in the context menu. It’ll open ExplorerPatcher settings window.

Alternatively, you can also open ExplorerPatcher properties using Start Menu -> All Apps -> Properties (ExplorerPatcher) option.

STEP 3:

Now go to File Explorer tab in ExplorerPatcher properties and look for “Control Interface” option present in the middle of the window. It’s set to “Windows 11 Command bar” by default.

Click on the “Control Interface” option and you’ll get a drop-down box to change its value. Select Windows 10 Ribbon or Windows 7 Command Bar option from the drop-down box as per your requirements.

Click on “Restart File Explorer” link given at the bottom-left corner of the window and it’ll restart Explorer.

Now open File Explorer and you’ll see Windows 7 command bar or Windows 10 Ribbon toolbar restored in File Explorer based on your selection in Explorer Patcher settings.

PS: In future, if you decide to restore the default redesigned toolbar in Windows 11 File Explorer, set the above mentioned “Control Interface” option to “Windows 11 Command bar (default)” again in ExplorerPatcher Properties window.

Also Check:

[Fun Tip] Run Old and New File Explorer Side-by-Side in Windows 11

[Tip] Restore Classic File Explorer with Ribbon in Windows 11

[Tip] Restore Windows 10 Classic Taskbar in Windows 11 along with Classic Start Menu

[Tip] Restore Full Classic Context Menu in Windows 11