The Best Skip Metro Suite Alternative Solutions for Windows 8 & 10

Remember Skip Metro Suite? For Windows 8 users, it was a crucial tool that allowed you to boot directly to the Classic Desktop and completely disable those pesky edge panels, including the square Start button. While Skip Metro Suite served its purpose well in the early days of Windows 8, many users are now looking for a reliable Skip Metro Suite alternative. Whether you've upgraded to Windows 10 or simply need a more modern or actively maintained solution, there are excellent options available to reclaim control over your Windows desktop experience.

Top Skip Metro Suite Alternatives

If you're seeking to restore the classic Start Menu, disable modern UI elements, or simply customize your Windows environment beyond what Skip Metro Suite offered, these alternatives provide a range of powerful features to enhance your productivity and user experience.

Classic Shell

Classic Shell is a highly popular and free, open-source Windows alternative to Skip Metro Suite. It excels at bringing back the familiar Start Menu from Windows 7 (and earlier) to Windows 10. With its extensive customization options, ability to change the Start button, multiple language support, and powerful system tweaker features, Classic Shell offers a comprehensive solution for those looking to regain a traditional desktop experience and customize it to their liking.

Start10

Start10, a commercial Windows application, is an excellent Skip Metro Suite alternative specifically designed for Windows 10 users. It seamlessly adds the familiar Windows 7 Start Menu experience to Windows 10, providing a comfortable and efficient interface. Its key feature is its deep customizability, allowing users to tailor the Start Menu's appearance and functionality to their preferences.

StartIsBack

StartIsBack is a commercial Windows application that serves as a fantastic Skip Metro Suite alternative, particularly for Windows 8 users. It focuses on returning a real, fully featured Start Menu and Start button to Windows 8, behaving exactly like the ones found in Windows 7. StartIsBack radically improves the desktop experience by bringing back familiar navigation, making it a strong contender for those who miss the classic Windows 7 interface.

Start8

Start8, a commercial Windows software, is another viable Skip Metro Suite alternative for Windows 8 users. It focuses on returning the Start Button to Windows 8 with a suite of useful features. These include the ability to search for Windows 8-style (Modern UI) apps, pin both desktop and Metro apps to the Start Menu, and utilize Jump Lists, making it a comprehensive system tweaker for desktop navigation.

Start Menu X is a freemium Windows application that offers a powerful replacement for the standard system menu, ideal for professionals. Unlike Skip Metro Suite's focus on disabling, Start Menu X enhances your Start Menu with features like Virtual Groups, allowing you to organize programs by purpose (e.g., office applications, graphics) without altering their actual file locations. Its strong customization options make it a flexible alternative.

Start Menu Reviver is a free Windows application that provides an improved Start Menu for Windows 8/7. As a Skip Metro Suite alternative, it uniquely blends traditional Start Menu functions with the Windows 8 design concept, offering quick access to applications and settings. While it doesn't boast extensive feature lists, its streamlined approach to combining old and new UI elements makes it a compelling choice for a balanced user experience.

Labrys Start Menu is a free personal Windows application that offers a unique replacement for the Windows Start menu and Run dialog. Unlike many other Start menu enhancement applications, Labrys does not mimic the layout or visual appearance of the classic Start Menu. Its focus on a distinct user interface and compatibility with Windows 10 makes it an interesting Skip Metro Suite alternative for users seeking a different approach to desktop navigation and app launching.

IObit Start Menu 8 is a commercial Windows program that functions as a strong Skip Metro Suite alternative, especially for users resistant to changing their habits in newer Windows versions. It effectively brings back the classic Start Menu, allowing users to enjoy a familiar Start Menu experience with just one click. While it doesn't list a plethora of extra features, its core functionality of restoring the beloved Start Menu is its primary strength.

Ex7forW8

Ex7forW8 is a free Windows application that directly addresses the need for a Skip Metro Suite alternative by restoring the native Windows 7 Start Menu and desktop. It achieves this by bringing back the Windows 7 explorer.exe, ensuring the Start Menu retains the full configurability expected from Windows 7. If your primary goal is to replicate the exact Windows 7 desktop environment on Windows 8, Ex7forW8 is a direct and effective solution.

GiMeSpace QuickMenu

GiMeSpace QuickMenu is a free Windows application that offers a simple and fast task launcher and switcher. While not a direct Start Menu replacement like Skip Metro Suite, it serves as a powerful launcher alternative. By pressing a custom-assigned mouse/keyboard key, a menu pops up at the cursor, allowing quick access to desired tasks. This alternative is ideal for users seeking a more agile and direct method of launching applications and switching between them.

Ultimately, the best Skip Metro Suite alternative for you will depend on your specific needs, whether you prioritize a classic Start Menu, extensive customization, or a streamlined launcher. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for your Windows desktop experience and reclaim control over your system.