Restoring Windows 10 Ribbon on Win 11

The following seems to work if you're ok with the new taskbar and don't use "explorer patcher".

I checked task manager to see the difference between the (hard link) command line for the instance created by the control-panel method, (then closed that instance). Using task manager I ended explorer task which gives a blank screen (except for the task manager). start a new task using that command line and it works. Each instance of file-explorer now has the old ribbon.

BUT, this also knocks out "explorer patcher" so the task bar reverts to the new style, which is fine if you like the new task bar. Perhaps someone who knows a lot more than me can make use of this info and fix both.

Method: start taskmanager , end all instances of explorer, run new task with this command line:

C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-explorer_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.22621.608_none_b3fd0d5042b63bbd\explorer.exe

I have no idea why this works. The only difference between the way explorer starts is instead of a hard link in the \Windows folder it is starting directly from the WinSxS folder.

Maybe search registry for the explorer.. see if it points to the same one in your command line.. if not, edit it and see if it works each time.. I will look into this later this week. Traveling at the moment.

Thanks for the update.

It works as far as it goes but it is not permanent, so not very practical.

Why the hell did Microsoft think that it was a good idea to reduce productivity?

Thw Win 10 Ribbon was not broken, so why try and fix it?

What a lash up. Come on Microsoft. Sort it out and revert. Or, at the very least, make it an option to choose which ribbon we want to use.

I've tried several of these fixes on win 11 22H2 Build 22621.674, except for deleting all instances of the File Explorer in Task Manager, which worries me b/c if I delete the File Manager Windows simply goes blank, and that's not a solution either. For now I'm using the Alt+up arrow, but it seems totally nonsensical for Microsoft to be converting Windows into Apple interface. Good heavens, if I wanted an interface for novice users I would have bought an Apple. Instead, I'd like to do some honest programming and normal work practice, and I'm stuck with a stupid work-around that isn't even permanent.

Shame on you Microsoft.

For those who really want the old ribbon..

create a batch file in notepad something like this:

c:

cd c:\windows

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

start "" C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-explorer_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.22621.608_none_b3fd0d5042b63bbd\explorer.exe

exit 0

Save to the desktop or wherever.

Create another one replacing the long command with:

start "" C:\Windows\explorer.exe

Save as "Exporg.bat" or whatever you like.

The first batch will end explorer and open it again only now the ribbon will appear in all instances when you open them.

The second batch will do the same in reverse, restoring the new ribbon. You can add the first batch to the "startup" folder and it works fine. Classic Shell works fine with both. The only downside for me is that "explorer patcher" gets kicked out with the old ribbon which means there is no context menu on the taskbar on right-click. But it is easy enough to swap back and forth using the batch files.

It's clunky but works for now!