Microsoft is blocking Windows Customization Tools

The Microsoft devs have time to do shit like this, but haven't yet gotten the Settings screen as functional as Control Panel was two decades ago...

I really hate having the taskbar permanently affixed to the bottom of my screen. I've had it on the left side for decades now. They are really throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Someone at Microsoft "Customization is the enemy of progress!"

The fact that windows is now becoming Apple 2.0 is kinda crazy ngl lol, thought shouldn’t be surprising cuz every tech company is now doing enshittification at this point.

They're not exactly "being blocked" but rather the legacy ability to tell explorer.exe to load the older style Taskbar, which those apps load then modify, is going away. I'm not defending this nor do I like it, but it would be like saying some Linux distro is BLOCKING customization because some legacy app dependent on Xorg will not work after they switch to Wayland.

A Microsoft representative (?) opened an issue for Explorer Patcher:

Hi Team,

This is to let you know that Win10 taskbar code is removed. And if use continue to use ExplorePatcheron Windows GE Build, they will see a crash. You only need to adjust the setup exe name to get around the block in your new version. We will continue to block ANY version that crashes Explorer.

Please let me know if you have any question.

Thanks Michelle

Makes sense to me.

Good news hidden in the article:

Like in the case of StartAllBack, you can bypass the block by simply renaming the executable to something else. If you want to upgrade to a newer build, delete the app, update your system, and then launch it using a renamed executable.

@OP: People who are modifying Windows this deeply are not going to switch to Linux. If you're going through this much trouble, you've already tried Linux several times and left disillusioned every time. Linux does not compete with Windows as a desktop operating system and I doubt it ever will. It simply does not offer the compatibility and ease of use (including for power users) that Windows - for all its faults - has.

Why is Microsoft even deciding what programs I can run on my computer in the first place? They're not malware, they shouldn't be doing this at all.

Why is Microsoft trying to shoot itself in the foot once again? One of the big reasons I like Windows more than MacOS is the customizability. When your market share is declining, you shouldn't add more reasons to switch to something else.

Wow, now I'm really glad I switched to Linux. Windows? Never again.

Turns out they don't like people disabling their adware.

Aaand another reason to stay with 10.

• Microsoft blocks app with major security and performance concerns from Russian dev.

Fixed that headline for ya, big guy.

The irony is that people create these tools mostly because they're frustrated by the limited customisation options provided by default. If Microsoft ever listens to feedback, it's quite limited, and it takes ages for the new stuff get implemented; moreover very often you just about get used to something and the rug gets pulled from under your feet.

I still can't believe Linux only have 5% of OS market share

I can't use win11 without explorerpatcher, if it stops working I won't know what to do

Micro$oft are being dicks again, film at 11 but here's the thing - if you're interested in customizing Windows - just grab that live distro and get to it man. Linux is here and it's ready for prime time.

At this point Windows is just for businesses who don't know better (or refuse to learn) and people who haven't been told The Good News yet.

One reason not to switch to linux: I want to play PCVR with my Quest 2. It has a really bad stutter when moving around using the only tool that works: ALVR, and this makes VR unplayable. I have not found an actual solution, just a handful of speculative issues threads that go silent as to what is the answer if any.

A wasted opportunity to natively support these features and make the user base happy.

Oh boy, another reason to switch to Linux. Thanks Microsoft

Remember the days when Microsoft would block ClassicShell the same way they did StartAllBack here, on Win10?

Pepperridge farm remembers :V

What? You tell me that Windows won't be customisable any.... Sorry can't do it with a straight face. Fuck you Microsoft! Linux ftw

I can see why they'd do it. Windows is a corporate product and MSFT wants everyone's experience to be tailored to exactly how they think is best. Gives some Apple vibes.

I think at this point MSFT knows the average user is just gonna keep using Windows so they don't really care about tailoring to individuals. I expect to see a lot more of this.

Windows for gaming, Linux for everything else. With the way I use it, I don't see the desktop, much less notice any changes between updates.

So thee tools need to patch MS Defender now?

Well at least finally after three long years Microsoft added the option to combine icons on the taskbar.

Without that option, explorerpatcher was a forced install on w11

Now it's possible to live without it

Reply or upvote if you already quit Schindows a long ago

Hey OP, may I ask if this is actually news and not an sensanionalized post with an opinion in it.

One more reason to switch to Linux

Isn't this fucking propaganda?