This project aims to bring back a productive working environment on Windows 11.
New features
The configuration interface is now accessed by right clicking on the taskbar and choosing “Properties” (previously, it was available in the Win+X menu). This behavior works when either the Windows 10 or Windows 11 taskbar is enabled. As well, you can launch the “Properties” window directly by pressing Win+R and typing rundll32 C:\Windows\dxgi.dll,ZZGUI, followed by Enter.
Implemented a setup program:
To install, simply run ep_setup.exe. File Explorer will restart and the program will be enabled right away.
To uninstall, there are 2 options:
Run ep_setup.exe again.
Via “Programs and Features” in Control Panel, or “Apps and features” in the Settings app.
Learn more about the setup program here
Implemented automatic updates; there are 3 settings to choose from when File Explorer starts:
Notify about available updates (default) – the program will check for updates and display a notification if a new build is available; you can go to “Properties” and install the update from there
Prompt to install available updates – the program will check for updates, download them if any, and prompt you to install them automatically
Do not check for updates – the program never checks for updates in the background
Of course, you can manually check for updates at any point using “Properties” – “Updates” – “Check for updates”. To install the update you were notified about, go to “Properties” – “Updates” – “Update”.
When installing an update, you will be prompted using UAC to allow elevation – always check that the update originates from matches what you expect; official updates are currently served via https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher.
Learn more about how to configure updates on your system, including how to set a custom endpoint here
Implemented a proper right click menu for the Windows 11 taskbar – it displays the most common options, similar to previous Windows releases and the Windows 10 taskbar, including frequently accessed items like “Taskbar settings”, “Task Manager” and “Show the desktop”
System tray icons are now left intact when switching between the Windows 10 and Windows 11 taskbars, or when switching builds, reinstalling the application etc. Basically, now, once you set a certain layout for the system tray with the Windows 10 taskbar, it will always be remembered, instead of the annoying behavior where Windows was discarding your choices in order to accommodate the Windows 11 taskbar
Feature enhancements
Hardcoded symbols are now based on file hashes, not build numbers
Better organization for the settings in “Properties”
Update toast notifications are displayed only as long as they are required. Subsequent notifications no longer have to wait for the previous ones to timeout, but rather they replace the previous ones (#346) (.2)
Fixes
Mitigated an issue that prevented the Windows 11 taskbar from displaying properly under certain circumstances
Fixed an issue that would crash the Windows 11 taskbar when it was enabled after positioning the Windows 10 taskbar on either side of the screen (left/right)
Fixed a bug in “Windows 10 Window switcher” that may have lead to explorer.exe crashing when more than 20 windows are opened on the screen (probably the cause for a lot of crashes)
Fixed numerous issues when injecting processes, including as shell extension; reliability improvements
Adjusted the padding of the system tray hidden icons indicator so that it is now properly centered vertically when using the classic theme mitigations
Fixed a memory leak in “Settings Manager”
Removed verbose output from “Settings Manager”
Corrected import from dxgi.dll
Fixed typo in configuration UI (#346) (.1)
Fixed typos and spelling in error message (#346) (.2)
Fixed bug that prevented “Properties” from working when invoked from Quick Launch or other toolbars (#349) (.2)
As you may have noticed, releases do not contain unpacked files anymore. Thus, for people looking for a quick way to get the unpacked files, the release notes now include a link to the artifacts generated during during the build process. The artifacts include the usual DLLs (including dxgi.dll), plus symbol files and all the helper executables generated during the build. (#351) (.2)
Setup program version is synchronized with the version of the application (.2)
Fixed a mismatch between the default value for the setting “Add shortcut to program settings in Win+X menu” displayed in the UI and actually used in the software (#352) (.2)