Windhawk Website (GitHub) Releases Download: https://ramensoftware.com/downloads/windhawk_setup.exe Windhawk is a mod-based universal customization solution for Windows Aug 22, 2022
Scroll through browser tabs using mouse wheel with this Windhawk mod By Harryson Sotomayor - October 17, 2022
Windhawk 1.0 Beta: new version of the modular Windows customizer By Martin Brinkmann - December 31, 2022 Windhawk 1.0 Beta Released (December 25, 2022) Website (GitHub) Announcement: Windhawk v1.0 beta: Stability, control, fixes, and more Changelog Releases Download: https://ramensoftware.com/downloads/windhawk_setup.exe or via GitHub: https://github.com/ramensoftware/windhawk/releases/download/v1.0/windhawk_setup.exe Spoiler: Changes 1.0 Beta v1.0 (December 25, 2022) For users Added a changelog tab for mods. Added an "Advanced" tab for mods with debug logging functionality, easy settings exporting, and options to override the mod's target processes. Added advanced settings with an option to hide the tray icon, an option to exclude processes from Windhawk, and several other options. Added the mod initialization dialog, which shows information about mods which take a long time to initialize. A common reason for that is symbol downloading, in which case the download progress is shown. Added the Loaded Mods dialog which can be accessed from the tray icon's right click menu. Added an exit option without UAC in case something goes wrong, can be used by holding Shift and right clicking on the tray icon. Running the Windhawk UI no longer requires UAC. For developers Updated to VSCodium 1.74.2 and LLVM MinGW 15.0.0. The compiler now uses C++20 and includes WinRT headers. Added mod preview to the editing mode. Better syntax highlighting for special Windhawk comment blocks (readme, settings) in the code editor. Updated the new mod template, inspired by Kyle Halladay's X64 Function Hooking by Example guide. Extended the function hooking API, now hooks can be created and removed at any time. Added decorated symbols to the symbols enumeration API. Improved editor indentation and formatting rules. Bug fixes Removed the confusing suggestion to download a language pack for non-English Windows versions. Windhawk still doesn't have proper support for localization. Improved compatibility with Firefox. Fixed an incorrect update notification after updating to the latest version. Fixed an incorrect memory free which caused tools such as Application Verifier to show a warning. The bug was harmless in practice aside from the warning with development tools. Fixed unnecessary mod reloading if FALSE is returned in Wh_ModInit. Updating a disabled mod no longer enables it.
With the way MS keeps chopping away at a cleaner USER DEFINED and more professional/convenient computer experience with Windows, the more this sort of software seems can better the end user's tolerance for it. Thanks @mood
Windhawk 1.1 Beta Released (January 25, 2022) Website (GitHub) Announcement: Windhawk v1.1 beta: Translations, stability improvements Changelog Releases Download: https://ramensoftware.com/downloads/windhawk_setup.exe or via GitHub: https://github.com/ramensoftware/windhawk/releases/download/v1.1/windhawk_setup.exe Spoiler: Changes 1.1 Beta v1.1 (January 25, 2023) Windhawk can now be translated to other languages. To contribute a translation, please refer to the windhawk-translate repository. To improve stability, Windhawk no longer injects code into critical system processes by default. This can be configured in the advanced settings. Added support for environment variables in include/exclude process paths. Added an indication in the tray icon when a new Windhawk version is available. Added the "light threads" injection method to the advanced settings, which might fix compatibility with some programs. Fixed some settings (update checking, require UAC) sometimes resetting after an update. Fixed launching the Windhawk UI for non-administrator users. Fixed Windhawk portable failing to launch on Windows versions older than Windows 10. Fixed Windhawk UI stuck with a blank screen on startup in some Windows environments. Fixed Windhawk UI sometimes opening for all logged in users instead of just the user running it.
I just updated from Windows 11, version 23H2 to 24H2. Several programs I had used on 23H2 for modifying the taskbar unfortunately cannot be used any longer in the old way or they are not compatible with the new version (especially the very useful "7+ Taskbar Tweaker"). So I had to look for alternatives and finally I ended with Windhawk and some of its "mods". And I can say that until now I am very happy by having chosen Windhawk. I was already able to revert my taskbar into the pleasant state it had before 24H2, and to work with Windhawk is quite easy. Some practical details of the user interface are not designed in the best way, e.g. partly dark letters on a dark background - how straining for the eyes! But that's no big problem as you do not have to work with the program all the time. There is a small linguistic detail that I do not understand: What is meant by the term "mod", used by Windhawk for the individual programs that can be installed? Does it mean "modification" or "module" or something else? Perhaps someone knows the answer.
It's almost like Windows current developers are just deliberately frustrating users anymore. The constant workflow interruptions are the most foolish lame brain ideas they keep excelling at. Windhawk All The Way!
Thanks for the info, and a question to you: does Windhawk offer all of the features from 7+ Taskbar Tweaker? That's a tool I have been using on Windows 8/10, so it's really important to me. I'm afraid that if I buy a new Win 11 machine, the taskbar might drive me nuts, I'm very oldskool.
Until now not all features, but at least many of them. Michael (the developer both of "7+ Taskbar Tweaker" and of "Windhawk") writes in his blog: Source: https://ramensoftware.com/windhawk Me too. Indeed, the taskbar of Windows 11 is quite annoying when you are accustomed to its older look and functionality. But the good news is: I think that with a few steps you can restore it more or less in the same way you like it and you are accustomed to it. To begin with the end of the story: I achieved it by installing "Windhawk" and some of its mods (not more than two or three), dropping at the same time the "7+ Taskbar Tweaker" and the "ExplorerPatcher". ________ The story in detail: The initial problem (for me) was that the "7+ Taskbar Tweaker" is not compatible with Windows 11, version 24H2 (which necessarily I had to install a few days ago, leaving version 23H2) - not even compatible in combination with the "ExplorerPatcher" (that's the way it worked in the past). I had used "ExplorerPatcher" primarily for creating in general a pleasant taskbar á la Windows 10 under Windows 11 (colour, size etc.); and "7+ Taskbar Tweaker" especially for two features: - No annoying thumbnail previews in the taskbar - A bigger field ("button") for "Show desktop" in the uttermost right corner of the taskbar. Especially for the second feature it was extremely difficult to find an alternative. (E.g. "ExplorerPatcher" itself unfortunately does not offer it.) But with Windhawk I found all what I needed. (If it is of importance for you, I can tell you which mods I have installed and what I use them for.) In return (and before starting to use Windhawk) I uninstalled "ExplorerPatcher", though it was (and remains) an extremely useful program. But it is not compatible with all mods of Windhawk, e.g. the one I need for changing the size of the "Show desktop" button (namely the mod "Taskbar tray system icon tweaks"). And concerning my other favorite feature of the "7+ Taskbar Tweaker", the developer himself informed in his blog about its implementation in Windhawk about a year ago: Source: https://ramensoftware.com/windhawk-mod-disable-taskbar-thumbnails So as you can see: Windhawk obviously tries to become step by step an adequate replacement for "7+ Taskbar Tweaker" regarding Windows 11. Here is the list of the Windhawk mods available at the moment: https://windhawk.net/mods PS: Yes, that's my impression too.
Ok thanks for all of the info, and I know exactly how you feel. After I had to reinstall Windows 10 a year ago, 7+ Taskbar Tweaker wouldn't work anymore, I think it was somehow blocked by SpyShelter, not sure what fixed it, but without this tool it was pure hell. BTW, see screenshot for my settings, I'm guessing that WindHawk most likely already covers this stuff, didn't even know there were so many mods available. And I will never use ExplorerPatcher again, it made my system unusable, Windows Explorer wouldn't load anymore.
That's a pity. I cannot say anything bad about ExplorerPatcher for the relatively short time I had used it. Only good experiences. But anyway, in your case this will be one more argument to change to Windhawk. Concerning your settings of the 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, they are quite similar as mine were. So I think I can confirm your assumption: What I can say from a first sight: - To avoid the thumbnail preview (taskbar item "Hovering" in 7+Taskbar Tweaker) see in Windhawk the already above mentioned mod Disable Taskbar Thumbnails - To disable grouping (if necessary - in the meantime you can choose this again by Windows itself) there is the mod Disable Grouping on the taskbar - In general for designing the appearance of your taskbar: mod Windows 11 Taskbar Styler
OK thanks for all of the information, it seems that Windhawk has been improved quite a lot, I remember in the beginning it was quite basic.
Once, untill Windows 7, there were some software to change completely Windows GUI, and make it like Mac, or Linux. Then Microsoft armored Windows to block those programs. As usually.
