How To Make Windows 10 Look Like Windows 98

How to make Windows x await similar Windows 95

Windows 95 was ane of the most important advancements in personal computers ever, introducing features similar the Kickoff push and taskbar that take remained commonplace on PCs for decades now.

If yous have fond memories of Windows 95 or 98, it's non difficult to bring those classic looks to your Windows 10 PC. You won't necessarily be able to run all the mid-to-late '90s programs you lot recollect (not without more work, at least), but you can go back to the days when the Get-go push button was a little gray box and Winamp really whipped the llama's ass.

Install a classic Windows theme

Windows 10 doesn't have the all-encompassing theming capabilities that some previous versions of Windows had past default (retrieve Windows XP's visual styles?), and while applications that tin re-enable theme back up practise exist, virtually of them rewrite at least a few Windows organisation files and can cause your PC to intermission after OS updates.

The least-dangerous pick for a Windows 95-like pattern is the Windows classic theme by DeviantArt user kizo2703. It's a modified version of Microsoft'south ain high-contrast theme, so while it mostly only changes the colors of windows and menus, it doesn't require modifying Windows system files or installing any software.

Once you download information technology (DeviantArt requires creating a free business relationship to download files, unfortunately), re-create the classic.theme file to C:\Windows\Resources\Ease of Access Themes and double-click on information technology to activate. The easiest way to go at that place is to paste that path into the address bar in the file manager. You can turn the theme off later past opening the Windows Settings app, clicking 'Personalization,' and then picking a different option on the 'Themes' tab.

If y'all want to make adjustments without selecting a whole new theme, notice the High Contrast settings in Windows.

Install OpenShell

The next step towards a Windows 95 theme is to supercede the Beginning Carte with something more retro. Open up-Shell, an open up-source continuation of the Classic Shell project, is perfect for this. Download the latest version of Open-Shell from the official website, and so run the installer. Open-Vanquish tin can optionally change some aspects of File Explorer and Windows Explorer, but I turned those parts off during installation.

After Open-Shell is washed installing, it volition give you a few layout options y'all tin can cull from. The 'classic style' is closest to Windows 95, but we can become a little closer. Download this settings file (ctrl+s in your browser), click the 'Skin' tab in the Open up-Beat out settings, click the 'Backup' push button, and select 'Load from XML file.' Pick the settings file you simply downloaded, and now your Start Menu should look a piffling closer to the classic Windows 95 style.

Finally, download this bitmap image of the Windows 95 kickoff button and select it from the custom kickoff push section in Open-Shell for an even more authentic feel. If yous motility the image file later on, Open-Shell volition revert dorsum to the Aero button, and so keep the image in your Documents binder or somewhere else safe.

Alter a few more settings

There are a few additional changes you tin can brand for a more accurate Windows 95 experience. Offset, head over to the Taskbar settings (correct click the Taskbar and select 'Taskbar settings'), and change 'Combine taskbar buttons' to 'Never'. This will evidence window titles adjacent to the app icons, just like the default design in before versions of Windows. Y'all tin also turn on 'Employ minor taskbar icons' if y'all desire the Windows 95 kickoff button to fit in a little better.

Turning off some animations can also help. This can be done by opening the Settings app, selecting 'Ease of Access,' clicking the 'Display' department, and turning off 'Evidence animations in Windows.'

Download some archetype Windows software

Now that your PC looks every bit close to Windows 95 as possible (without modifying system files), it's fourth dimension to complete the setup with some popular applications from the '90s. In virtually cases, Windows doesn't let you install older versions of organization applications, so using early versions of Windows Media Thespian or Cyberspace Explorer isn't going to happen for the most role. Nevertheless, there are some bully 3rd-party applications from the era that remain compatible with Windows 10.

Winamp was one of the virtually popular music players during the '90s, and the last official version continues to piece of work on Windows x. While we expect for the next release, you tin download Winamp 5.6 from here. Later installation, be sure to pick the Winamp Classic pare.

Another fun application that (mostly) yet works on Windows 10 is Paint.exe from Windows 95. It'due south bachelor for download from the Internet Archive. Nevertheless, you lot might need to gear up Compatibility Mode to Windows 95 for it to open properly (right-click mspaint.exe > Backdrop > Compatibility > Compatibility mode).

There are a few other applications from the era that are like shooting fish in a barrel to find—hither's our guide to running one-time Windows games—only you should probably avert anything that used to connect to the internet. We've come a long way in network security and sandboxing since 1995, and so some of that software could exist a security risk. If y'all want to get down that route, installing the existent Windows 95 in a virtual machine would be best.

If you lot just desire to tool around in the real deal, there'due south a Windows 95 version on Github that yous tin run in Windows 10 or Linux.

Corbin is a tech announcer, software programmer, and longtime PC Gamer freelance author, currently based in Northward Carolina. He now focuses on the globe of Android as a full-time writer at XDA-Developers. He plays a lot of Planet Coaster and Fallout and hosts a podcast all about forgotten stories from tech history.