Three alternative shells to change the look of Windows 11

ZDNET highlights three alternative shells you can use to change how Windows 11 looks and behaves: Seelen-UI, Cairo Desktop and Start11. The report says two of the options are free and the other is paid, and they can make Windows 11 resemble macOS, Linux or simply a more customized UI.

Seelen-UI is presented as the most dramatic option. According to the article, it lets you move panels, change transparencies, alter the menu, apply themes and icons, add tiling windows, use an integrated media module and install plugins such as Fancy Taskbar and (Almost) Liquid Glass.

ZDNET’s author says Seelen-UI is fairly straightforward to use, is free, and in a previous 2025 review called it the best alternative shell they’d tried. Cairo Desktop is described as a flexible, efficiency-focused shell. The article says Cairo provides a more efficient programs menu, removes ads, supports folder stacks and acts as an interactive file browser where you can double-click folders to navigate without opening a separate file manager.

It also offers a dynamic desktop overlay and lets you add, remove and organize apps and categories in the desktop menu. Start11 is the most subtle option and focuses on the Start menu and taskbar. The article notes it was created by WindowBlinds and offers multiple Start menu styles (including Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows 11 and other presets) that can be customized along with the panel.

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