Microsoft has initiated measures to block third-party applications designed for customizing the user interface in its forthcoming Windows 11 version 24H2. This move has rendered popular tools such as StartAllBack and ExplorerPatcher ineffective on the new operating system version. These applications, which have been widely used to modify the taskbar and Start menu to users' preferences, face compatibility issues due to what Microsoft describes as “security or performance issues.”
Impact on Popular Customization Tools
StartAllBack, an application favored for its ability to tweak the Windows 11 taskbar and Start menu, stands as one of the first casualties of the new policy in version 24H2. Similarly, ExplorerPatcher, developed by Valinet, is now flagged as incompatible. ExplorerPatcher is known for its functionality that allows users to revert to the Windows 10 style taskbar in Windows 11, along with implementing other modifications aimed at enhancing the user experience and restoring missing features. The blockage comes with a warning to users, stating, “This app can't run because it causes security or performance issues on Windows. A new version may be available. Check with your software provider for an updated version that runs on this version of Windows.”
Workarounds and Microsoft's Direction
Despite the block, users have found temporary workarounds, such as renaming the executable files of these applications, to bypass the restrictions. To upgrade to newer builds, the applications must be deleted, followed by a system update, and then relaunched using a renamed executable. Interestingly, the previous Windows 11 version, 23H2, does not impose such restrictions on StartAllBack or ExplorerPatcher, allowing them to function without reported performance issues. The enforcement of this block in version 24H2 suggests a strategic move by Microsoft to phase out older components and possibly streamline the Windows 11 interface as part of its ongoing development.
