Winaero Tweaker

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Winaero Tweaker is a free app for all versions of Windows that lets you adjust (i.e. tweak) hidden secret settings that Microsoft does not let you adjust from the user interface. In addition, it allows you to add extra value to existing Windows apps and tools with advanced context menus, options, and handy commands.

It is a powerful system utility that supports Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11 and includes hundreds of settings. It also includes many options that were earlier available exclusively in my standalone applications.

Download Winaero Tweaker

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Features and options

Winaero Tweaker is a freeware app. It doesn’t include ads, telemetry or any other way to track the user. It comes with plenty of features and tweaks. To name a few of them:

  • Windows 11 features
    • Enable the full context menus without the ‘Show more options’ item.
    • The ability to restore the classic taskbar
    • Enable Ribbon in File Explorer
    • Change taskbar screen position, e.g. you can move it to the top
    • Change taskbar size
    • Disable background apps, all at once.
  • Shortcut tools that you can use
    • To launch an app as Administrator without a UAC confirmation.
    • To directly open any Control Panel applet or system folder.
    • To directly open any Settings page.
    • To create shortcuts to the classic Shut Down Windows dialog (Alt+F4), and Safe Mode.
    • To remove or customize the shortcut arrow overlay icon.
    • To remove the ” – shortcut” suffix.
    • To remove blue arrows from compressed files.
  • Manage Windows apps and features.
    • Restore the classic search in File Explorer without Internet options
    • Restore classic Windows Photos Viewer to use it instead of Photos.
    • Restore the classic sound volume pop-up slider.
    • Permanently disable Windows Telemetry and Data Collection.
    • Permanently disable Windows Defender.
    • Permanently disable Windows Update.
    • Disable ads and unwanted app installation (Candy Crush Soda Saga, etc).
    • Enable the built-in Administrator account.
    • Enable automatic Registry backup.
    • Change drag-n-drop sensitivity.
    • Disable Action Center and notifications.
    • Reset icon cache.
    • Reset all Group Policy options at once.
  • Networking options
    • Change the RDP port.
    • Make mapped drives accessible for elevated apps.
  • Tune up Windows appearance
    • Customize folders in This PC.
    • Customize entries in Navigation Pane in File Explorer (in the left pane).
    • Rename and change the icon for the Quick Access entry.
    • Increase the taskbar transparency level.
    • Show time seconds in the taskbar clock.
    • Disable blur for the sign-in screen.
    • Customize fonts, and the Alt+Tab dialog appearance.
    • Change the title bar color for inactive windows.
  • Context menus
    • Add handy context menus using a huge set of presets, e.g. to switch a Power Plan with one click, open a Command Prompt, add a Settings cascading menu – plenty of them.
    • Hide default entries from the context menu, e.g. Edit with Photos, Edit with Paint 3D, etc.
    • Add ‘Run as Administrator’ to VBS, MSI, CMD and BAT files.
    • Change the default app for the Edit context menu entry for images.

You can learn more about app features and find some screenshots can be found in this list.