Classic Shell

Classic Shell is a computer <a href="/facts/Computer_program/e38jH9N9">program</a> for <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a> that provides <a href="/facts/User_interface/e9sPEWVD">user interface</a> elements intended to restore familiar features from past versions of Windows. It focuses on the <a href="/facts/Start_menu/ubDBJLDX">Start menu</a>, <a href="/facts/File_Explorer/oQW5yNnJ">File Explorer</a> and <a href="/facts/Internet_Explorer/uL8a4Y5l">Internet Explorer</a> – three major components of the <a href="/facts/Windows_shell/QG3MUJh7">Windows shell</a> although it also does some minor tweaks for the Windows <a href="/facts/Taskbar/uLQUAwz6">Taskbar</a>. In particular, it can serve as a <a href="/facts/Comparison_of_Start_menu_replacements_for_Windows_8/97cAYfQV">Start menu replacement</a> for <a href="/facts/Windows_8/eRtw96T3">Windows 8</a> and <a href="/facts/Windows_10/be9IHehJ">Windows 10</a> systems.
Developed by Ivo Beltchev, it was first released in 2009, and has been downloaded nearly 40 million times by the end of 2024.
Development by Beltchev has ceased, and the project's <a href="/facts/Source_code/o9J6Jv23">source code</a> has been released. Development has been picked up by volunteers on GitHub under the name Open-Shell.

Classic Shell open-in-new

Classic Shell