Windows 11 24H2: Windows 10 taskbar is not available

[kusabi-kuon]

Before reporting your issue

• I have confirmed that this issue does not happen when ExplorerPatcher is not installed
• I do not have "register as shell extension" enabled
• I have tried my best to check existing issues

Repro ExplorerPatcher versions

ExplorerPatcher 22631.5335.68.2

Repro Windows Versions

Windows 11 24H2 26100.4770 x64

3rd party tweak software installed

None

Describe the bug

On my new laptop running Windows 11 24H2 (build 26100.1150, x64), the "Windows 10" taskbar style option in ExplorerPatcher no longer works. When I select "Windows 10" under Taskbar style, the following message appears:

⚠️ Windows 10 taskbar is not available in this version of Windows.

As a result, the taskbar does not switch to the classic Windows 10 layout.

There is another option, "Windows 10 (ExplorerPatcher)", which does apply a Windows 10-like taskbar, but its behavior and UI are not identical to the original "Windows 10" option. I would prefer to use the classic Windows 10 taskbar if possible.

This functionality worked fine on my previous laptop running Windows 11 23H2. I assume that some internal changes in Windows 11 24H2 are now preventing this feature from working.

Please let me know if there are any plans to reintroduce support for the original Windows 10 taskbar style on 24H2.

Expected outcome

When selecting "Windows 10" under Taskbar style, I expected the taskbar to switch to the classic Windows 10 appearance — with the old taskbar layout, icons, and behavior — as it did in previous versions such as Windows 11 23H2.

Actual outcome

After selecting "Windows 10" under Taskbar style, a warning message appears stating:

⚠️ "Windows 10 taskbar is not available in this version of Windows."

The taskbar does not change to the Windows 10 layout, and the option has no effect. I am unable to use the classic Windows 10 taskbar at all.

Although the alternative option "Windows 10 (ExplorerPatcher)" is still available, it looks and behaves differently from the original Windows 10 taskbar.

Additional info

No response

Crash Dumps

No response

Media

No response

[pyrates999]

Open up EP Properties application, go to taskbar, and set taskbar style to Windows 10 (ExplorerPatcher), not Windows 10. We no longer offer more support on the stock Windows 10 taskbar.

https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/wiki/Frequently-asked-questions#i-just-installed-explorerpatcher-but-my-taskbar-stays-the-stock-windows-11-taskbar-how-to-change-it-to-the-windows-10-one

please see this for more info: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/wiki/ExplorerPatcher's-taskbar-implementation

if you do not see Windows 10 (ExplorerPatcher), you need to uninstall and install the latest version of EP from here: https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases

you upgraded to windows 11 24h2 from 23h2 without uninstalling EP first before doing the upgrade

[kusabi-kuon]

Understood — thank you for the clarification. I’ll use the “Windows 10 (ExplorerPatcher)” option going forward.

Thanks again for your work. Closing this issue.