Today I am going to show you ways you can customize Windows 10 to your liking.

1. Taskbar color.
You can color your taskbar by going into settings but I feel like that is limiting. Plus all the colours are always dark which sometimes people don't want. But have no fear because there is an program that can help you. Even if you like the colours dark perhaps you want a specific colour that Windows 10 doesn't have. Anyways here is the program. http://rammichael.com/getting-brighter-colors-in-windows-10

By the way if you want the color dark but you want the secondary colour what you want then configure this.

2. Taskbar Placement.
This might not matter to you but you can adjust the placement of the taskbar. You can change this by dragging the taskbar. But if this doesn't work you can adjust it in settings here.

3. Dark and Light themes.
In settings you can pick a Dark or Light theme.

4. Taskbar look.
There are several options to customize the taskbar. Here are some of them.

You can make the taskbar smaller by enabling this.

You can make the icons have labels (like in Windows XP and other versions) by changing this.

You can make your taskbar transparent or blury using this program.

https://github.com/TranslucentTB/TranslucentTB

Clear

Blur

There's also a program that allows you to change your taskbar. You can make it so programs never combine even without labels and have seconds on the system clock.

http://rammichael.com/7-taskbar-tweaker

5. Rainmeter
Rainmeter is a program that allows you to add widgets to your desktop. But not all of them are widgets if you get good one and get creative you can make cool desktops. (Here's mine.)

Here's a link to the website where you can get it. https://www.rainmeter.net/

6. Screensaver
You can change the screensaver by going into Control Panel. (not settings.) You can also get a screensaver that plays videos. I have one that plays the Wii to Wii U transfer (with the pikman.)

7. Start Menu
Do you not like the start menu? Don't worry. Simply get ClassicShell. It allows you to get 3 new start menus (that were in previous versions of Windows.) You can even customize the Windows Start Menu icon. I'd recommend it.

8. Icon Packs
You can install Icon Packs in 2 ways. One is to just going in properties and change the icon to a different ico/exe file. Or you can do another way that doesn't require you to do manual stuff.

http://unisira.deviantart.com/art/WinRemix-Icon-Pack-for-Windows-10-601279163

Visual Styles. NOT RECOMMENDED
You can get Visual Styles which will make your Windows 10 look even better. However it is a bit risky. I'd recommend making an restore point. But if you do want to get one, go follow this tutorial. (it also links how to make an restore point.)

EDIT: IF YOU WANT TO UPDATE TO CREATORS UPDATE UNINSTALL UXSTYLE BEFORE UPDATING
If you were like me and didn't know this and already updated, do ctrl+alt+delete, then hold shift while pressing restart, then go to troubleshoot, and select the option to view more stuff to do (under reset system.) then go to "go to previous version of windows" and wait. Then boom!

http://neiio.deviantart.com/art/How-to-Install-Custom-Themes-262833454

Done!
If you followed everything correctly you should now have Windows 10 all customized! By the way, you can save your theme in Control Panel. Also you can make your taskbar hide. This way to show it you must move the mouse to where the taskbar is. Anyways if you got any other tips feel free to let me and us know. Anyways cya!

Also I actually realized in Windows 10 the icons are smaller, there is an way to make them big like in Windows 7 though. Do some googlin'.

 

[EthanAddict]

Uhm you can disable telemetry in regedit. Bye bye spywares system reports.

But windows 7 is better.. Ask @TheKingy34

 

[Kingy]

But windows 7 is better.. Ask @TheKingy34

I officially verify that this statement is correct.

 

[VinsCool]

But windows 7 is better.. Ask @TheKingy34

Should add to op Glass8 too. Brings Aero back o. windows 8 and 10.

 

[slaphappygamer]

I went from Windows 7 to Windows 10. After trying to get Windows 10 and all of its bullshit background processes to calm down, I asked myself why I even upgraded. I now have Windows 7. There is a reason Windows 10 was a free upgrade to everyone, including pirates. Windows 10 IS big brother.

 

[jimbo13]

If you are worried about privacy, telemetry and Microshit just generally being a nuisance look in to Windows 10 LTSB aka Windows 9 because despite regediting telemetry there is still a lot of nasty shit phoning home and running.

Windows 9/LTSB in a nutshell is the Windows 10 kernel stripped down, minimal updates and all the telemetry removed. It's basically for ATM machines/Nuclear subs or anything sensitive a coproration or government entity needs secured.

I considered the upgrade from 7 myself thinking it may utilize my hardware better/DX12 and such and then just decided to stay on 7.

 

[Alkéryn]

Easy, download a linux flavor you like, put it on a usb key, format windows drive, install linux
there you go

 

[jimbo13]

Easy, download a linux flavor you like, put it on a usb key, format windows drive, install linux
there you go

As much as I'd like to see Linux at the forefront it is still not viable option if you need to run anything standard like Photoshop or want to game.

Hopefully Vulkan API start solving some of those problems, yes you can virtualbox/WINE and all that shit but why jump through all the hoops and get poor performance when you're still essentially running Windows.

 

[Alkéryn]

As much as I'd like to see Linux at the forefront it is still not viable option if you need to run anything standard like Photoshop or want to game.

Hopefully Vulkan API start solving some of those problems, yes you can virtualbox/WINE and all that shit but why jump through all the hoops and get poor performance when you're still essentially running Windows.

Easy, since i'm on linux, i don't play game anymore and work instead
Photoshop work well on wine

 

[Jacklack3]

Guy's I would downgrade to 7, but
1. I'd have to do complicated things and I don't think my data would carry over with it. (see https://www.howtogeek.com/220723/how-to-uninstall-windows-10-and-downgrade-to-windows-7-or-8.1/ near the bottom.)
2. If I don't like a feature, I can simply get an replacement like Classic Shell.
Now the only big problem I have is now some programs won't work or run badly because "My graphics card needs updating." which the programs used to work before on Windows 7. I made this tutorial for people like me who are in the same situation or they like Windows 10, but want to customize. And I can't get Linux because I don't have any USB's i can use and if I wanted to actually move on to Linux i'd have to do confusing partition stuff and my anxiety wouldn't like that. Instead of saying "get linux lol" or "downgrade to windows 7" think of the tutorial i made.

Should add to op Glass8 too. Brings Aero back o. windows 8 and 10.

I looked into it before but I find it a bit too confusing. Plus I don't want to have the list full of "NOT RECOMMENDED" or "ADVANCED USERS ONLY" things.

 

[VinsCool]

I looked into it before but I find it a bit too confusing. Plus I don't want to have the list full of "NOT RECOMMENDED" or "ADVANCED USERS ONLY" things.

Aw sucks. It's indeed advanced user (needs regedit stuff being done) but it's so much worth it!

 

[Jacklack3]

Aw sucks. It's indeed advanced user (needs regedit stuff being done) but it's so much worth it!

I'm actually looking at the guide now but it doesn't really explain much. Could you put a step by step guide for me and i'll check if it's too complicated?

 

[VinsCool]

I'm actually looking at the guide now but it doesn't really explain much. Could you put a step by step guide for me and i'll check if it's too complicated?

Wellllll... I did not really follow any guide. The Regedit part I mean, it was try and see until it looked like I wanted.

 

[GerbilSoft]

If you are worried about privacy, telemetry and Microshit just generally being a nuisance look in to Windows 10 LTSB aka Windows 9 because despite regediting telemetry there is still a lot of nasty shit phoning home and running.

"Windows 9"? No, it's still "Windows 10 LTSB", regardless of how much you want to make yourself feel better.

Also, you can only legally obtain Windows 10 LTSB if you have a volume licensing agreement with Microsoft.

 

[gnmmarechal]

But windows 7 is better.. Ask @TheKingy34

Gaming though.... Windows 10 beats 7.

 

[jimbo13]

Gaming though.... Windows 10 beats 7.

Not true, Benchmarks between the two go back and forth depending on the game and are neck and neck. DX12 isn't widely adopted.

 

[RevPokemon]

Not true, Benchmarks between the two go back and forth depending on the game and are neck and neck. DX12 isn't widely adopted.

But for the future 10 is better than 7

 

[jimbo13]

But for the future 10 is better than 7

How so? Game devs want the broadest possible audience and aren't going to be dropping any support for Win7 and 10 years from now when it may be relevant VulkanAPI will hopefully be a major player.

As far as gaming I don't see any performance hits from upgrading. I don't see any advantages either present or future.

 

[EthanAddict]

Not true, Benchmarks between the two go back and forth depending on the game and are neck and neck. DX12 isn't widely adopted.

TBH 7 ran Minecraft in Mid settings at stable 45 fps and now at 10 struggles to get 20 fps

 

[gnmmarechal]

How so? Game devs want the broadest possible audience and aren't going to be dropping any support for Win7 and 10 years from now when it may be relevant VulkanAPI will hopefully be a major player.

As far as gaming I don't see any performance hits from upgrading. I don't see any advantages either present or future.

DX12 will be eventually used, even if is not widely used right now.

Sent from my cave of despair where I collect souls

 

[jimbo13]

DX12 will be eventually used, even if is not widely used right now.

Not likely, as it excludes everyone not on Win10 and offers little to nothing new. Using DX12 is leaving money on the table. There are 0 DX12 exclusive games (unless you count XBONE crossplay required games).

Most games still support DX9.