How to Make Windows 11 Into a Desktop OS - 2024 Edition

Whokeys Christmas Sale 25% code：TS25
#whokeys #windows11 #ChristmasWithMarcus

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Windows 11 does not feel like a desktop operating system. It's not as bad as Windows 8, but the identity crisis has returned. Back then, Microsoft saw all the iOS devices like the iPad and thought, "this is the future of ALL computing... better ruin Windows with a full-page start screen." Well, we all know how that went.

With Windows 11, it's less severe, but they are backsliding toward that nonsense. This feels like They tried to adapt Windows 10 for smart phones. The edges are curved and bubbly, things are way too spaced out, and when you click on the wifi or volume a whole cluster of nonsense pops up. No, no no. This isn't made for a desktop. Let's un-f#ck it.

Links and Info:

First, upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro using the Powershell (as administrator):
These are two separate commands:
(Replace that random product key with your own Pro product key)

TOC

Setup Windows 11 with an Offline: 00:00
Uninstalling Random Junk: 00:30
Getting a Windows Key: 01:12
Upgrade Home to Pro: 03:15
Turn off the Xbox Game Bar, notifications, etc.: 05:24
Improve the Taskbar: 05:53
Replace the Start Menu with Open Shell: 06:56
Why We All Need Explorer Patcher: 08:59
Install and Configure Explorer Patcher: 10:16
Customize Explorer: 16:15
Install Basic Programs With Ninite: 17:30

As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases... even though Amazon is ugly.

[TurntableTV]

If you select English (World) as a region during setup, it will actually save you a couple of clicks, it won't install any bloatware.

[cat]

Probably mentioned already in the comments, but you can also re-use a OEM key on a new machine by looking for an option in the activation screen along the lines of "i changed my hardware" and it will accept it.

[KIICHI]

>complains about airplane mode button
>installs explorer patcher
>now has two separate pop-out menues with the airplane mode button 😂

[JessicaFEREM]

protip: fellow youtuber chris titus does a lot of the windows descrewifying automatically. It's the first thing I run on any windows system because it's a one stop shop for most of my apps and fixing a lot of the pitfalls, like windows update, forcing your computer to not be a beta tester, etc.

[psyberpirate]

Thank you for this tutorial, I didn't know you could do all this with Windows 11, this feels much more curated to the desktop user experience now.

[davinp]

A great Start Menu replacement is Start11. It gives you the option to make it a Windows 7, 8, 10 or 11 style and customize the look

[ericGT]

This video was simply outstanding in its overview step by step - the timing and pace allowed me to make changes and follow along. Great content!

[TomeDesolus]

It's been a while since I was recommended your videos in my feed even though i'm subbed and I was not prepared for the luscious hair.

[thetboys]

Thank you so much for this! It has really made switching over much easier especially with Windows 10 support ending next year.

[michabartosik]

Let me just thank you for this material! Great pace, down to the point, so much needed in these days. I'm doing majority of these action myself, but you opened the addional doors for me now!

[unitybeing]

Awesome, happy u doing well Logan. Merry Christmas.

[Wither_Lucifer]

16:50 You didn't have to do that. Inside the Folder Options there is a advanced setting called ''Decrease space between items aka compact view. It literally says it, but maybe you didn't see it so I will not blame you.

[codybyars]

This was so insanely helpful. Thank you!!

[PreRenderedRealities]

I had a bad experience wasting $30 on the site you are linking to in your affiliate section. Bought a key, it didn't work, zero support from the site's end. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

[Trylen]

I finally made the switch to 11, funny that right after I saw your vid and was fixing some one that stuff they broke with it. I might make a suggestion over ninite. I've been using the Chris Titus Ultimate windows utility for maybe a year or so now and it's my go to installer as well and once a week I run it again to use the update function to get my programs to the latest versions.

[bytejourneycodes]

I actually like the minimalism of windows 11, I keep it as is, but I also do remove all the unnecessary apps and disable notifications etc

[sonikkuffffff]

one thing you didn't have to do was disable web results in the start menu. i always turn that off with a registry edit. microsoft caught lying once again claimed that disabling this was removed in windows 11, but it works with the exact same registry edit for windows 10. the entire feature was not to make web searching more convenient (if you're going to search the internet, your first inkling would be to open a browser; and every browser lets you search directly from the address bar anyway) this was totally to drive artificial and accidental traffic to bing to make their numbers look good. totally evil. windows is rapidly becoming malware.

[choieunmi]

Classic Explorer actually worth it if you spend some time on configuring your own buttons. Not sure how it works on Windows 11 now but back in the day in Windows 8.1 it made Explorer so much more usable for me.

[DizConnected]

Great video! I'm sure someone already said it, but you can right click on the start button, go to system, click on change product key, paste that new key in and press next should active Windows without the CMD prompt for simps like me!

[chrispowers]

Amazing work, always really impressive, but this was just extra. This might be my favorite - loved the legs but the desk did it for me. Amazing.