One of the best Windows customization tools gets big update

Those who do not like what the stock Windows 11 has to offer, particularly in areas like File Explorer, Start menu, and the taskbar, have probably heard about Windhawk, a modding tool and a repository of various tweaks and useful upgrades that let you do all sorts of stuff. From fixing flashbangs in File Explorer to wild Start menu layouts, tray area upgrades, new features for File Explorer, and a lot more. With the latest release, Windhawk becomes even better.

Windhawk version 1.7 introduces several important upgrades. For one, the app is now much faster when installing and updating modules, thanks to downloading pre-compiled mods. Also, you can now install previous versions of modifications, filter existing mods, search the list of installed mods, and more.

Here is the complete changelog:

• Windhawk now downloads pre-compiled mods by default instead of compiling them locally, significantly speeding up installations and updates. This can be disabled in the settings.
• Added support for viewing and installing older mod versions.
• Settings editor improvements:
  • Added a textual mode for editing settings in YAML format.
  • Settings can now be saved with Enter or Ctrl+S.
  • A warning is shown when leaving the settings tab with unsaved changes.
• Multiple user interface improvements, including:
  • Added search, filtering, and list view for installed mods.
  • Added additional filtering options in the Explore view.
  • Mod cards in the Explore view now show additional metadata, and display a rating breakdown on hover.
  • Added back/forward navigation via Alt+Left/Right and mouse back/forward buttons.
  • Added zooming support with Ctrl+Plus/Minus, and reset zoom with Ctrl+0.
  • Custom process inclusion/exclusion lists for mods are now shown in the target processes tooltip.
• Windhawk can now be updated with a single click from the About tab. (This becomes active starting with the next update.)
• Mod description images now load from GitHub. Previously, some images loaded from Imgur, which is now blocked in the United Kingdom.
• Mod development: Added support for the @license and @donateUrl metadata fields.
• Added the following translations: Arabic, Hindi, and Thai.

Additionally, there is quite a long list of engine improvements, which you can check out in Windhawk's GitHub Releases page. You can download the latest update from the same page as well. Just keep in mind that mods like Windhawk could be potentially disruptive, and they sometimes have a steeper learning curve when it comes to personalization. Before using any mods, back up important data to make sure you can recover your stuff should the unexpected happen.

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Posted Saturday 6 December 2025 at 12:41 pm AEST (my time).

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