Not a fan of Windows 11? Here’s how I made my system look more like Linux or MacOS

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Seelen UI is a desktop surroundings for Home windows.
• With this app, you possibly can obtain a Linux or MacOS look.
• Seelen UI is free to make use of and set up on Home windows 10/11.

As a longtime Linux consumer, my opinion of the Home windows UI has by no means actually wavered: I believe it is fairly dismal. Provided that Linux has a cornucopia of desktop environments from which to decide on, it makes good sense that somebody who enjoys a great aesthetic would have a look at Home windows and snub it like a cat snubs the brand new meals you simply purchased.

After I acquired a laptop computer to assessment that ran Home windows 11 (and, for some odd motive, would not let me boot from a USB drive so I might set up Linux), certainly one of my first ideas was, “How do I make this extra nice for myself?”

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I remembered that builders — years in the past — had been creating “skins” to make Home windows look a bit extra pleasing for these of us who care. There have been a number of of those enjoyable initiatives, however finally, they began to die off.

Nonetheless, I assumed, there must be one thing on the market.

Then I discovered Seelen UI, a totally customizable desktop surroundings for Home windows.

I am not gonna lie: It is fairly cool. (Coming from a hard-core Linux consumer, that is saying one thing.) In line with the Seelen UI GitHub web page, it is a device “designed to boost your Home windows desktop expertise with a deal with customization and productiveness. It integrates easily into your system, offering a variety of options that permit you to personalize your desktop and optimize your workflow.” Sounds about proper.

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I put in Seelen UI on that Home windows 11 laptop computer, and I used to be giddy with the outcomes. No, I am not leaving Linux due to this nifty desktop surroundings. However I’m right here to say: In case you hate the appear and feel of the Home windows 11 desktop, Seelen UI is precisely what you need.

Why it is best to give Seelen UI a attempt

First off, Seelen UI is a lot extra visually pleasing than the default Home windows desktop. Past the aesthetics, you additionally get issues like:

• The choice to make use of tiling home windows
• A wide selection of configuration choices
• An built-in media module
• An intuitive solution to rapidly entry functions and instructions
• Totally different themes, taskbar layouts, and icons

Set up is easy

As a result of this can be a Home windows app, the set up is sort of easy. The best (and beneficial) technique is to find Seelen UI within the Microsoft App Retailer and set up it from there. It’s also possible to download the binary installer (make sure that to snag the newest model), double-click on the downloaded file, and stroll by the set up wizard.

One factor to bear in mind is that Seelen UI should have each Microsoft Edge and WebView put in for it to work. WebView is put in by default in Home windows 11, but it surely must be put in in the event you’re working Home windows 10. The excellent news is that WebView is included within the installer, so make sure that it is enabled throughout set up (for Home windows 10).

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After set up, launch the app and stroll by the instructive Welcome wizard.

Now, earlier than I proceed, I need to state a selected warning that Home windows customers are almost certainly accustomed to. There are numerous third-party plugins and themes accessible. As with every piece of Home windows software program, please use warning since you by no means know if what you are putting in may have a malicious payload alongside for the experience. That is to not say Seelen UI falls underneath that class, however anytime I write about putting in one thing on Home windows, I really feel it essential to state that warning.

That being stated…

Customizing Seelen UI

The customization of Seelen UI is pretty simple. You will discover an app known as Seelen UI in your Home windows launcher. Click on that launcher to open the Seelen UI settings supervisor, the place you may make all kinds of adjustments and add new modules and themes. I added the Spherical Toolbar theme, the (Nearly) Liquid Glass (ala MacOS Tahoe) Dockbar theme, and the Spherical Toolbar theme. Collectively, these three themes made for a relatively Budgie-like desktop.

For individuals who do not know, Budgie is a ravishing and extremely configurable Linux desktop surroundings.

I additionally enabled the Fancy Toolbar, which lets you customise the topbar and Dock/Taskbar. 

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After I added or enabled these themes, the Home windows 11 desktop abruptly grew to become a completely completely different beast — one which I did not thoughts utilizing.

You possibly can spend numerous time customizing Seelen UI, however when you get your desktop precisely the way you prefer it, you will be glad you made the trouble.

In case you’re caught utilizing Home windows however detest the way in which the desktop appears and feels, give Seelen UI a attempt to see if it does not make the time you spend on Home windows a bit extra nice.