Open-Shell
v4.4.198Open sourceReleased 12 May 2026
Brings back the classic Windows 7-style Start menu. By Open-Shell project
- Windows
By the ToolsBharat teamUpdated 12 May 2026How we check
Quick answer
Open-Shell is open source software for Windows from Open-Shell project. Brings back the classic Windows 7-style Start menu. Download it only from github.com. The latest version we track is 4.4.198 (12 May 2026). ToolsBharat links straight to the publisher's own download page, with no bundled offers.
- Latest version:
- 4.4.198 (12 May 2026)
- Publisher:
- Open-Shell project
- Official site:
- github.com
- Licence:
- Open source — MIT
- Requirements:
- Windows
Our verdict
The community successor to Classic Shell, for anyone who prefers the old Start menu layout over Windows 11's. Highly customisable and free. It runs alongside the Windows shell, so big feature updates can occasionally need a reinstall.
Key features
- Classic, Windows 7 and two-column Start menu styles
- Custom Start button and skins
- Explorer toolbar and status-bar tweaks
Pros
- Pro: Free and open source
- Pro: Very configurable
Cons
- Con: Infrequent releases
- Con: Windows feature updates can disrupt it
What's new in 4.4.198
See what changed in 4.4.198 in the official release notes
Version history
Version 4.4.198Latest
12 May 2026- SHA-256
- The developer does not publish one
- Source
- Release notes
Requirements
- OS
- Windows
- Architecture
- 64-bit, 32-bit
Licence
- Type
- Open source
- Licence
- MIT
- Publisher
- github.com
Where these facts come from
Checked 30 Oct 2026
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Alternatives
Open-Shell
4.4.198 · Not stated