![\"get](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/w11-ribbon-1.png\")
<\/p>\nThe File Explorer in Windows 11 has a new\/modern ribbon interface with small icons (no caption text underneath). The new ribbon interface may look bland and uncomfortable for new users who have upgraded to Windows 11 from Windows 10 or earlier.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Luckily, there are many different ways to get back the classic ribbon (Windows 10-style) interface in Windows 11 File Explorer.<\/p>\n
Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n To restore the old\/classic ribbon back in Windows 11 File Explorer, follow one of these methods:<\/p>\n Open Control Panel (control.exe) and click on the up arrow icon at the top.<\/p>\n (Alternately, you can press the Alt + Up arrow on your keyboard.)<\/em><\/p>\n This launches Explorer with the ribbon interface.<\/p>\n Important:<\/strong> This method works on Build 22621.1265 and earlier. Do NOT use this method for Build 22621.1344 and higher<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> There may be one or more side-effects of this method. For example, the method disables the Windows 11 fast context menu<\/a>; you’ll see the classic context menu instead. Also, do not<\/strong> use this method for Insider Preview builds, as the method has been tested and verified to work only in version 22H2.<\/em><\/p>\n Next, set the explorer.exe hard link as the Shell process.<\/p>\n You should see the fully functional ribbon UI when you open a folder.<\/p>\n Credits:<\/strong> This method is based on the findings by Freddy Stratmanshow<\/em>. Freddy found that running the following file as the first explorer.exe instance brings back the ribbon.<\/p>\n So, I tried setting the above explorer.exe as the shell process in the registry. And it worked!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To automate the procedure in “Option 1”, you can download and run the VBScript file set_winlogon_shell.vbs<\/a>. The script finds the explorer.exe hardlink and updates the Instead, if you click No<\/strong>, you need to log off and log back in or restart the Explorer<\/a> shell. This is an important step.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n If you wish to revert to the Windows-default settings later, open an admin Command Prompt<\/a> and run this command:<\/p>\n Script Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n
RELATED:<\/strong> How to Get Back Classic Context Menu in Windows 11<\/a><\/div>\nGet Back Classic Ribbon in Windows 11 File Explorer<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Method 1: Using Control Panel<\/h3>\n
![\"restore](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/control-panel-up-arrow.png\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>Method 2: Replacing the Explorer Shell with the WinSxS copy<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Option 1: Setting the Explorer shell manually<\/h4>\n
\n
fsutil hardlink list c:\\windows\\explorer.exe<\/pre>\n
![\"restore](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/explorer-hardlink-fsutil.png\")
<\/li>\n\\Windows\\WinSxS\\amd64_microsoft-windows-explorer_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.22621.608_none_b3fd0d5042b63bbd\\explorer.exe<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\n
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n
C:\\Windows\\WinSxS\\amd64_microsoft-windows-explorer_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.22621.608_none_b3fd0d5042b63bbd\\explorer.exe<\/pre>\n
![\"restore](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/winsxs-explorer-shell.png\")
<\/li>\n\nC:\\Windows\\WinSxS\\amd64_microsoft-windows-explorer_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.22621.608_none_b3fd0d5042b63bbd\\explorer.exe<\/pre>\n
<\/a>Option 2: Setting the Explorer Shell Using a Script<\/h4>\n
Winlogon\\Shell<\/code> registry value automatically.<\/p>\n\n
D:\\Scripts\\set_winlogon_shell.vbs<\/code><\/li>\n![\"get](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/winlogon-replace-ribbon-script.png\")
\n![\"warning](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/warning.png\")
If a future cumulative update changes the explorer.exe hard link, the Explorer shell may not load during login. In that case, simply launch Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, and re-run the script.<\/p>\n![\"set](\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/winsxs-explorer-shell-process.png\")
<\/p>\n\nTo UNDO the changes<\/h4>\n
reg add \"HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Winlogon\" \/v \"Shell\" \/d \"explorer.exe\" \/t REG_SZ \/f<\/pre>\n<\/div>\n