Not a fan of Windows 11? Here’s how I made my system look more like Linux or MacOS

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Seelen UI is a desktop atmosphere for Home windows.
• With this app, you may obtain a Linux or MacOS look.
• Seelen UI is free to make use of and set up on Home windows 10/11.

As a longtime Linux person, my opinion of the Home windows UI has by no means actually wavered: I believe it is fairly dismal. On condition that Linux has a cornucopia of desktop environments from which to decide on, it makes excellent sense that somebody who enjoys aesthetic would take a look at Home windows and snub it like a cat snubs the brand new meals you simply purchased.

Once I acquired a laptop computer to evaluate that ran Home windows 11 (and, for some odd cause, would not let me boot from a USB drive so I may set up Linux), one in every of my first ideas was, “How do I make this extra nice for myself?”

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I remembered that builders — years in the past — had been creating “skins” to make Home windows look a bit extra pleasing for these of us who care. There have been a number of of those enjoyable initiatives, however ultimately, they began to die off.

Nonetheless, I believed, there must be one thing on the market.

Then I discovered Seelen UI, a completely customizable desktop atmosphere for Home windows.

I am not gonna lie: It is fairly cool. (Coming from a hard-core Linux person, that is saying one thing.) Based on the Seelen UI GitHub web page, it is a software “designed to boost your Home windows desktop expertise with a give attention to customization and productiveness. It integrates easily into your system, offering a variety of options that help you personalize your desktop and optimize your workflow.” Sounds about proper.

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I put in Seelen UI on that Home windows 11 laptop computer, and I used to be giddy with the outcomes. No, I am not leaving Linux due to this nifty desktop atmosphere. However I’m right here to say: Should you hate the feel and appear of the Home windows 11 desktop, Seelen UI is strictly what you need.

Why you must give Seelen UI a attempt

First off, Seelen UI is a lot extra visually pleasing than the default Home windows desktop. Past the aesthetics, you additionally get issues like:

• The choice to make use of tiling home windows
• A wide selection of configuration choices
• An built-in media module
• An intuitive option to shortly entry functions and instructions
• Totally different themes, taskbar layouts, and icons

Set up is easy

As a result of it is a Home windows app, the set up is sort of easy. The best (and advisable) technique is to find Seelen UI within the Microsoft App Retailer and set up it from there. You may as well download the binary installer (be certain to snag the most recent model), double-click on the downloaded file, and stroll by way of the set up wizard.

One factor to remember is that Seelen UI should have each Microsoft Edge and WebView put in for it to work. WebView is put in by default in Home windows 11, however it must be put in if you happen to’re operating Home windows 10. The excellent news is that WebView is included within the installer, so be certain it is enabled throughout set up (for Home windows 10).

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After set up, launch the app and stroll by way of the instructive Welcome wizard.

Now, earlier than I proceed, I wish to state a specific warning that Home windows customers are probably accustomed to. There are a number of third-party plugins and themes obtainable. As with every piece of Home windows software program, please use warning since you by no means know if what you are putting in may have a malicious payload alongside for the experience. That is to not say Seelen UI falls underneath that class, however anytime I write about putting in one thing on Home windows, I really feel it essential to state that warning.

That being mentioned…

Customizing Seelen UI

The customization of Seelen UI is pretty simple. You may discover an app known as Seelen UI in your Home windows launcher. Click on that launcher to open the Seelen UI settings supervisor, the place you can also make all types of modifications and add new modules and themes. I added the Spherical Toolbar theme, the (Virtually) Liquid Glass (ala MacOS Tahoe) Dockbar theme, and the Spherical Toolbar theme. Collectively, these three themes made for a slightly Budgie-like desktop.

For many who do not know, Budgie is a gorgeous and extremely configurable Linux desktop atmosphere.

I additionally enabled the Fancy Toolbar, which lets you customise the topbar and Dock/Taskbar. 

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After I added or enabled these themes, the Home windows 11 desktop instantly turned a completely completely different beast — one which I did not thoughts utilizing.

You can spend a number of time customizing Seelen UI, however when you get your desktop precisely the way you prefer it, you will be glad you made the trouble.

Should you’re caught utilizing Home windows however detest the way in which the desktop appears to be like and feels, give Seelen UI a attempt to see if it would not make the time you spend on Home windows a bit extra nice.