Classic Shell is free software that improves your productivity, enhances the usability of Windows and empowers you to use the computer the way you like it.

The main features are a highly customiseable start menu with multiple styles and skins; quick access to recent, frequently-used, or pinned programs; makes it easier to find programs, settings, files and documents; brings back the start button for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1; toolbar and status bar for Windows Explorer; and a caption and status bar for Internet Explorer. Classic Shell has been in active development for 4 years and has over 10 million downloads.

Under “basic settings”, it is possible to change the behaviour of the Start button. Users can also activate the new Windows 8 Start Menu. By default, the Metro interface is opened via Shift key + left-click. Also convenient is the ability to customise the behaviour of the Windows key.

The tool also provides minor tweaks for Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer. The browser can display the page title in the title bar of a web page as well as its security zone and loading progress in the status bar. For File Explorer there is a toolbar which provides access to frequently used functions. These can be expanded and customised.

The program also lets users create their own skins, and the author has created a skins tutorial.