Replace default Windows 11 features with these best apps

What I love about Windows is that there is a third party app for just about everything you want to do. There are even alternative third-party apps for the default Windows features.

Whether the huge Start menu is bothering you or moving data between multiple folders in File Explorer is giving you headaches, there are apps to solve all of these problems. Microsoft may be deaf to our feature requests, but third-party developers are willing to offer alternative apps with the features we need.

Below I have compiled a list of alternative apps that are much better than the standard features of Windows 11.

Process Hacker: An Alternative to Task Manager

Process Hacker may not have the sleek interface of the Windows Task Manager, but it's much more powerful. It uses color codes to make it easier to identify processes such as systems, third party services, services, etc. You can also quickly see recently opened/closed processes using green and red colors.

It also has a dedicated tab for disk usage where you can see full read/write history and even change process priorities for faster speed. While the performance it provides is similar to the Windows Task Manager, the graphs are color-coded to make the data easier to read.

There is also a search option to find all handles and DLLs associated with processes, which can be useful for closing stubborn processes. In addition to providing additional information, Process Hacker is highly customizable, allowing you to customize how information is viewed.

Alternatively, you can also try Process Explorer, which offers similar information and comes with VirusTotal integration for virus scanning.

Why is it better?

• Color coded information.
• Extended disk usage information.
• Find handles and DLLs.
• Customizable interface.
• Save current processes in a text file.
• Information about custom tray icons.

Microsoft has a way to completely change the start menu with a version update, so given that start menu alternatives will be available for people who don't like the changes. I recommend StartAllBack for this, as it's one of the few apps that has been updated to work seamlessly with Windows 11.

It replaces the start menu with the classic Windows 7 style start menu with pinned apps, important folders/settings and a search bar at the bottom. The Start menu is fully customizable, you can change its style, size, and the content you want to see.

It also replaces the taskbar and removes many features in Windows 11, such as the ability to change the location, icon size, icon position, and style of the taskbar. You can also disable taskbar changes if you only want to replace the Start Menu.

Why is it better?

• Simple.
• Access Folder/Quick Access Settings Windows 7.
• Customize the start menu style.
• Wide customization options.
• Improves the taskbar.

Listary: An Alternative to Windows Search

When you search the Listary, it shows apps, folders, documents, and all types of files in a rated interface. This makes it easy to access all types of content in one place related to your keyword. You can apply actions directly from search results such as copy, delete, properties, etc.

Unlike Windows Search, you're also not tied to Bing and Microsoft Edge for web searches. You can use a hotkey or keyword to directly search your favorite website and open it in your default browser. This allows you to search Google Search, Wikipedia, YouTube, Amazon, Facebook and many other services right from the Listary interface.

As a longtime user, I find this to be much faster and less resource intensive compared to Windows search. While it works alongside Windows Search, you can disable Windows Search to free up resources.

Why is it better?

• Faster and easier.
• Opens all types of files/folders associated with keywords.
• Search for websites from the Listary interface.
• Create your own commands for accessing files/applications.
• Apply actions in search results.

HWiNFO: system information tool

The System Information tool in Windows only shows basic information about your PC's hardware, such as name, power, model, etc. HWiNFO is a great alternative that shows information about extensions in an interactive interface.

It shows information and its changes in real time, such as the current processor frequency or voltage. Apart from hardware specifications, it also shows all supported and unsupported features. This makes it easier to check if your PC supports a particular feature that a program might need, such as the need for a TPM to install Windows 11.

I love its "Sensors" feature, which shows you the sensors on your PC in real time. You can see real-time changes in component temperature, CPU/GPU usage, memory usage, disk read/write speed and more.

If you need something simpler, CPU-Z is a good option. It shows changes in real time and has the ability to compare your PC.

Why is it better?

• Offers extensive information on technical specifications.
• View all supported and unsupported hardware features.
• View information from all PC sensors.
• Save reports in various formats.

Double Commander is an alternative to Explorer

You will find that File Explorer is very limited if you need to manage files and folders in different locations frequently. Double Commander is a file management application that offers a double window with unlimited tabs for data management.

It opens two windows next to each other so you can quickly move/copy data between two locations. You can also open an unlimited number of tabs in both windows to quickly manage data in multiple locations. I also like that there are keyboard shortcuts for almost all actions, making it easier and faster to manage data.

Apart from simple data access, it can perform many other actions such as splitting files, creating/extracting archives, merging files, bulk renaming, editing metadata, comparing files, and more. Best of all, you can save your sessions to continue later and pick up where you left off if you close the app.

Why is it better?

• Double view from the window.
• Open an unlimited number of tabs.
• Built-in file viewer.
• Additional file management tools.
• Autosave current session.

Avast One: The Windows Defender Alternative

Windows Defender does a great job of protecting against malware, but it's not enough when it comes to online privacy and security. Avast One not only protects against malware, but also against online threats.

It will protect against browser hijacking and phishing attacks, as well as tracking. Also, it will notify you in case your passwords are leaked as a result of a data breach. Important folders on your PC are also protected from ransomware attacks.

For ultimate online privacy, you need a VPN, and Avast One makes that easy by offering a built-in VPN. You can connect to 50+ locations with unlimited data; even the free version of Avast One offers 5 GB of VPN data per week.

Why is it better?

IObit Uninstaller: the best uninstaller

Whether you uninstall apps from the Control Panel or from Settings, the Windows 11 Uninstaller casually gets rid of all app-related data. IObit Uninstaller not only removes all data associated with an application, but also allows you to bulk uninstall applications.

Just select the apps you want to uninstall from the list and hit the "Uninstall" button at the top. Once confirmed, the app will uninstall all apps along with any leftover data such as registry entries and app data. It will also automatically get rid of application prompts such as survey dialogs.

Apart from mass removal, it also helps to remove viruses and system applications. There are dedicated sections for these apps, and it can also remove stubborn apps.

Why is it better?

• Mass removal of applications.
• Delete residual data.
• Remove viruses and system applications.
• Bulk removal of browser add-ons.
• Sort apps by size or time.

Greenshot: an alternative to scissors

The Snipping Tool in Windows allows you to take a screenshot using a keyboard shortcut, but its capabilities are very limited. I recommend Greenshot as it's a lightweight tool with all the features you need to easily take and share screenshots.

Like the Snipping Tool, it offers multiple screenshots, but comes with a ruler and keyboard shortcuts to easily take screenshots. Screenshots can be automatically saved to a location of your choice or published online.

The tool has no interface and works directly from the system tray. You just need to set up the output location and keyboard shortcuts to start using the tool.

Why is it better?

• Automatically save screenshots to your preferred location.
• Use the ruler to see the size of the screenshot.
• Upload screenshots directly to websites.
• Adjust the screenshot quality.

Bonus 😎

Although ThisIsWin11 is not a replacement for the Windows 11 Settings app, it does offer many automatic configuration options that should make your Windows experience much better. Just go through the list of recommended changes and uncheck the ones you don't want to apply. After that, click the "Fix Issues" button and all changes will be applied. You can even remove viruses with this application.

Summarizing

All of the above applications are in most cases better than the standard Windows features. However, they can also have disadvantages, for example, Avast One is much heavier on system resources compared to Windows Defender. So make sure you review each app carefully to make sure it doesn't negatively impact your experience.

If you like it, I'm sure you'll find these must-have apps for Windows 11 interesting.