This Free Application Brings Back the Taskbars of Windows 2000, XP or Vista
If you ask me, graphic design peaked in 2001 when Windows XP introduced a bright blue taskbar and a green Start button. Since then, every UI design choice has been made by cowards.
Okay, maybe you don’t share my passion for the Windows XP taskbar, and that’s okay (I think). But perhaps you miss the simple, gray aesthetic of Windows 2000 or the calming globe of Vista. Whatever your taskbar preferences are, you can reclaim them with RetroBar , a free and open-source app that replaces the Windows 11 taskbar with something better. (This will also work if you are using an older version, including Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10.)
To get started, download the application from Github. There is an installer and a portable application – use whichever you want. Note that Windows may prevent you from running an application due to an unknown publisher, which is a reasonable security measure, but you can click the Run Anyway button if you decide to use the software anyway. Once you do this, you’ll immediately see the classic gray taskbar of yore.
You can right-click an empty area of the taskbar and then click Properties to open a menu of options that lets you choose from a wide range of taskbars. (The one you’re probably looking for is called “Windows XP Blue”.)
Besides the obvious aesthetic benefits, the Windows XP taskbar works differently than the Windows 11 taskbar in several ways that I find useful:
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The taskbar represents every window, not just every application.
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The launcher icons on the left are stored separately from the currently open windows.
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You can also resize the taskbar to free up more space, just like before.
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You can customize what happens when you click on the clock – I prefer to see the calendar.
If you do decide that you want the Windows 11 taskbar back, you can right-click on an empty spot on the taskbar and select Quit Retrobar . You can always run the app again the next time you decide to abandon modernity and embrace tradition.