Windows 10 is about to disappear as Microsoft has announced that it will prevent the loss of loose software updates after October 14, 2025. At the same time, there are many reasons why you may be hesitant to upgrade to Windows 11 or you might. . I can’t update at all. Fortunately, there’s a good way: giving your Windows 10 PC a fresh coat of paint that will make it look a lot like a new Windows 11 computer.
Needless to say, this may not magically make your Windows 11 PC work, but it will give it a new look and add useful features of the new operating system.
Before we go any further, keep in mind that you can still easily upgrade your unsupported PC to Windows 11, but this isn’t an option for everyone as it won’t work as well as Windows 10 on low-end hardware. At the same time, after the October 2025 end-of-support deadline, Microsoft announced that it would double the value of Windows 10 updates once a year. So while this aesthetic overhaul will come in handy in the meantime, time is running out to acquire a new computer. .
That said, here’s how you can create a near-perfect Windows 11 look for your Windows 10 PC.
Before you begin, create a new system restore point. Don’t skip this step!
We’ll be converting several vital settings, so having a recent repair point ensures that you can safely return to your existing settings with all your files intact in case something goes wrong. You’ll also be able to undo your settings if you don’t like traditional desktop look later.
Search for Restore Windows Taskbar.
Select Create Restore Point in the search effects to open the System Properties menu.
On the System Protection tab, select your hard drive and make sure coverage is set to Enabled. If it’s disabled, click Configure, and then turn on System Protection.
With formula coverage enabled, highlight the unit in the list, and then select Create.
Add a description for the new repair point, and then click Create.
Wait for the backup procedure to complete.
If you want to use the repair point, return to the System Properties menu by following the steps above, then click System Restore and follow the on-screen instructions.
Next, we’ll make Windows 10 look more like Windows 11, adding the new taskbar and Start menu, rounded corners of folders and taskbar, new icons and backgrounds, and much more.
To do this, you want to install a traditional third-party desktop theme and a set of icons based on Windows 11, which requires a lot more work than simply installing the theme from the Microsoft Store. If you’d rather check Windows 11 temporarily and temporarily, there’s a way to see the new operating system interface yourself without installing anything. That said, if you want a more complete experience (and can’t install the beta), a traditional theme is your best bet.
However, before you can apply the traditional theme, you need to install several third-party applications that the theme wants to run.
There are a lot of things to set up, but don’t get too overwhelmed; The full install commands for each app or registry are located on each of the download pages indexed below, and all of those apps are open source and/or qualified for use.
Here’s what you need:
SecureUXTheme: This app allows you to install third-party Windows 10 themes without affecting your formula files.
OldNewExplorer: Changes the menus in Windows Explorer.
StartisBack ($4. 99; free trial available): Adds a better Windows 7-based Start menu. The full edition costs $4. 99 one-time, but the trial edition can be used indefinitely (albeit with limited features). You want to use the free trial, the traditional Windows 11 theme.
Stardock Curtain Mod: Complements folder windows in Windows 10, as they are in Windows 11.
RoundedTB Mod in the Windows Store: Adds rounded edges to your taskbar.
Once you’ve installed the necessary apps on your PC, it’s time to make it look like you’re running Windows 11. For this, we’ll use niivu’s Windows 11 theme for Windows 10 (it just requires a loose DeviantArt). account). The Niivu installation commands can be discovered here, but here is the simplified version:
First, you want to know which edition of Windows you’re running on. Press the Windows R key.
Type “winver” and press Enter.
Write down the edition number and then the window.
Download the niivu theme above.
Unzip the file.
In the unzipped folder, open the folder for Windows.
Open the Windows Explorer window and go to This PC > [drive] > Windows > Resources > Themes and copy the downloaded files.
Once the files are in the folders of the right type, right-click on your desktop.
Select “Customize. “
In the “Themes” section, choose the Windows 11 theme from the list. It will be immediately applied to your desktop.
At this point, your Windows 10 desktop will be pretty close to the default Windows 11 theme, but there are a few optional tweaks you can make to bring it even closer:
Install traditional Windows icons from niivu for Windows 10 (requires the 7TSP app).
Niivu also recommends installing Xoblite to improve the functionality of the context menu, although this is not necessary.
Again, these are optional modifications, but they will make Windows 10 look and behave even more like Windows 11.
The result of Windows 11’s stringent hardware requirements is that it’s a much more secure operating system, at least on paper. The combined Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and SecureBoot requirements deserve to help protect Windows 11 devices from malware, ransomware, and remote takeovers. .
Some Windows 10 PCs already have TPM and SecureBoot. Of course, this means that those computers can probably run Windows 11 if needed, but it’s still worth checking if your PC can use those features.
Enabling your TPM or SecureBoot will load load load security on your PC at the hardware level, but Windows 10 will disable them by default. We’ve already explained how to check and allow your PC’s TPM (if you have one), so let’s talk about SecureBoot.
SecureBoot prevents your apps from installing if the code isn’t well verified and will prevent your processes from deleting your device at startup. So, this is definitely a wonderful feature if it is available to you.
Here’s how to do it, if you can use it:
Search for the formula data on the taskbar and then in the search results.
In the System Information window, scroll down and you’ll see that BIOS mode is set to UEFI and Secure Boot is enabled.
If Secure Boot is disabled, then it is disabled. If it says Unsupported, well, it’s not available for your PC or your BIOS mode is set to BIOS.
In either case, it is possible to enable UEFI and Secure Boot from the boot menu of your BIOS. This will vary depending on your motherboard and firmware, but a quick Google search deserves to point you in the right direction.
A word of caution, though: only replace your PC’s BIOS settings if you’re sure you know what you’re doing. And even if you know, there’s still a chance that switching to UEFI or enabling Secure Boot could lead to primary issues. . If it works, you probably won’t have any problems. But if you don’t, you’ll have to take drastic steps to reset your motherboard and regain access to your PC. This includes opening your PC and temporarily cutting off the motherboard’s battery. And if you get it wrong, you end up with a useless PC.
Enabling SecureBoot and your PC’s TPM (if you have one) will get you as close as possible to the fundamental security features of Windows 11, but there’s a lot more you can do with your Windows 10 PC and all the apps and files on it. Here’s a quick checklist:
Enable passwordless sign-ins and two-factor authentication for your Microsoft account.
Sign up for ransomware prevention on OneDrive.
Use an encrypted password manager for your login information.
There are also several security enhancements that business users and IT professionals implement if they use Windows 10 on their networks.
As I’ve said many times before, you can’t make Windows 10 mimic Windows 11 in any way, but if you allow those extra layers of security and take the time to apply the traditional themes and UI modifications, it’s easy to fool yourself into thinking it’s genuine.
Windows 11 manipulation is a great option for those of us who can’t upgrade yet, but don’t feel left out. Windows 11 is still going through a lot of development issues, so Windows 10 is the best position to be while the successor manages.
Brendan is a freelance and content author from Portland, Oregon. He covers generation and games for Lifehacker and has also written for Digital Trends, EGM, Business Insider, IGN, and more.
Pranay Parab is a generation freelance journalist in Mumbai, India. It covers generation for Lifehacker and specializes in tutorials and detailed features.