Hide Cortana
Microsoft’s virtual assistant is an integral part of Windows 10, designed to make everyday tasks simpler. Cortana was not in Windows 7, so you may want to hide it from the taskbar. To hide Cortana, right-click a blank space on the Windows taskbar, located at the bottom of the screen, then select Show Cortana Button if it has a check mark next to it.
Hide the Task View Button
Also found in the taskbar, the Task View button displays all open windows in a slimmed-down, tiled format. This button was not part of Windows 7. To hide it, right-click on the taskbar and select Show Task View button to clear the check mark.
Modify the Start Menu With Classic Shell
The free-to-use Classic Shell application allows you to customize the Start menu and other components so that your desktop closely resembles the Windows 7 version.
Download Windows 7 Wallpaper
If you’re aiming for the genuine Windows 7 look, replace your wallpaper with the classic logo on a sky blue background.
Modify the Windows Color Scheme
The default color scheme in Windows 10 is darker than the Windows 7 color scheme. Take the steps below to lighten things up and better mimic the classic colors.
Revert File Browsing Settings With OldNewExplorer
The Windows Explorer file browsing interface underwent a significant overhaul in Windows 10, with multiple changes from what is now known as the classic version. While these upgrades were meant to improve the overall user experience, many Windows 7 purists do not see these upgrades as improvements. If you’re one of these folks, follow these instructions to revert some of the settings to the old state.
