Open-Shell provides three menu layouts: Classic, Classic with two columns, and Windows 7 style. Pick the navigation structure before selecting a skin. A skin changes presentation; it does not automatically turn one layout into another.
What to do
- Open Start Menu Style in the menu settings. Compare the available layouts by how you access programs, folders, and system destinations rather than by the preview image alone.
- Select one layout and apply it with a built-in skin. Open a long Programs list and verify that its navigation fits your display.
- Check the Customize Start Menu tab after switching styles. Layout-specific items and available presentation options may differ.
- Export the working configuration before trying a different style. Compare the same few everyday actions so the choice reflects usability, not only appearance.
Check the result
Test app search, access to your main work folder, and the power menu. A style that looks attractive but hides a required action is not yet configured for your workflow.
Limits & precautions
Windows 7 style describes a menu layout, not a downgrade of the operating system or a promise of every historical Windows feature.
Questions & answers
Does a Windows 7 skin switch the menu style?
Select the appropriate layout first; skin files and styles are related but distinct.
Can I change styles later?
Yes. Back up the current configuration before switching and check style-specific items afterward.
Sources & scope
Documentation checked October 30, 2026. These instructions are documentation-led, not a claim of hands-on testing on your Windows build.