The 6 steps I take to make Home windows 11 feel and appear extra like macOS

The graphical person interfaces of each Windows 11 and macOS Sequoia are already fairly related — in spite of everything, each working programs have taken inspiration from each other for many years at this level.

That being mentioned, there are nonetheless various apps, instruments, extensions, and different utilities that may take issues to the subsequent degree. They are saying that imitation is the sincerest type of flattery, and so listed below are 5 issues you are able to do to show your Windows 11 PC into one thing resembling more of a Mac.

1 Middle your Home windows 11 taskbar

The best option to bestow a Mac-like look onto your Home windows desktop

By far essentially the most straight ahead and user-accessible technique of macOS-ifying your Home windows PC’s interface, is by opting to heart your taskbar. The choice is ready this fashion by default on contemporary installations of Home windows 11, however in case it is not, comply with these steps:

1. Click on on the Settings app.
2. Navigate to Personalization > Taskbar.
3. Scroll down till you see Taskbar behaviors.
4. Click on on the Taskbar alignment drop-down menu after which click on on Middle.

Similar to that, all of your pinned icons will probably be shuffled to the middle of your taskbar, versus the traditional left-justification. This format has its professionals and cons when in comparison with the normal Home windows fashion, however it undoubtedly gives a extra macOS dock-like feel and appear.

In case your PC runs Windows 10, then you definitely will not discover the choice to heart your taskbar inside the Settings app. As an alternative, you may have to depend on third-party utilities — some widespread options on the market embody:

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2 Invert the colour of your mouse cursor

A easy pallette swap can go a good distance

For a few years, Home windows has shipped with a white coloured mouse cursor by default. In distinction, macOS has historically include a black cursor out-of-the-box. Fortunately, it is quite simple to customise the looks of the arrow pointer throughout each working programs.

So as to swap your default Home windows cursor from its regular white colour to one thing extra akin to macOS, comply with these steps:

1. Navigate to the Settings app by way of the Begin Menu, the search interface, or the Fast Settings panel.
2. Head to Bluetooth & units > Mouse > Mouse Pointer > Mouse pointer fashion.
3. Faucet or click on on the Black pointer theme to pick it.

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3 Obtain the Movement Launcher app

Movement Launcher

A macOS Highlight-esque app that brings speedy file looking out capabilities to Home windows.

In case you’re one of many many individuals who disapprove of Microsoft’s fashionable OS search implementation inside the Start Menu, then Movement Launcher is a good various. The app is free and open-source, and it is analogous in design to Apple’s glorious Mac Spotlight search interface.

The app contains choices to configure a customizable hotkey to set off the search window, various theming choices, in addition to a whole community-driven ecosystem of plugins. Alternatively, the free Fluent Search app accessible on the Microsoft Retailer affords the same expertise, with a easy design that extra carefully resembles Fluent Design principles.

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4 Obtain the QuickLook app

Unlock a macOS Preview-style expertise for Home windows

QuickLook

An app that brings a macOS-like Preview interface to the Home windows OS.

Some of the helpful macOS options is the built-in Fast Look Preview instrument, which lets you rapidly look at nearly any file, with out having to open a devoted app to take action. In case you’re transitioning over from macOS to Home windows and miss the comfort of Preview, then the free QuickLook app is a must-download.

The app works equally to its macOS equivalent, permitting you to ‘peak’ at paperwork, photos, movies, and extra just by highlighting a file and urgent the Spacebar. QuickLook works like a appeal whereas providing a nice design language, and in my view, it bridges a serious hole between macOS and Home windows.

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5 Obtain the whole suite of Apple-published apps from the Microsoft Retailer

Sure, Apple publishes apps on the Microsoft Retailer, and so they’re fairly good

The legacy iTunes program has been accessible for Home windows PCs for a lot of, a few years now, however it’s akin to abandonware in 2024. Fortunately, Apple has just lately taken the freedom to port over a few of its main service-based apps to the Microsoft Retailer on Home windows.

It goes with out saying that if you wish to make your Home windows 11 PC function extra like a Mac, then downloading these Apple apps is a should. They’re surprisingly well-built, profiting from Microsoft’s newest improvement instruments and interface pointers. Whereas we might not have iMessage or FaceTime apps on Home windows anytime quickly, there is a rising number of apps accessible from Apple.

The next Apple-published apps can be found for obtain straight from the Microsoft Retailer:

Moreover, if you happen to use a Chromium-based net browser like Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome in your Home windows PC, then contemplate downloading Apple’s iCloud Passwords extension for some added net login integration.

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6 Obtain the MyDockFinder app

The very best all-in-one answer for a complete macOS makeover

MyDockFinder

A full-fledged Home windows Shell substitute app that brings the macOS dock and menu bar expertise to Microsoft’s OS.

Final however not least, if you happen to really need to rework your Home windows 11 working system into one thing carefully resembling macOS, then there’s the nuclear selection: MyDockFinder. This app ports over the Mac dock, menu bar, Management Middle, and different interfaces to Home windows, whereas additionally providing extra customization choices from the get-go.

MyDockFinder will be downloaded by way of the Steam storefront, with a one-time payment of $5. There are different third-party choices accessible for emulating the macOS interface — together with Rainmeter, RocketDock, and others — however I discover MyDockFinder to be essentially the most polished and least fiddly possibility on the market.

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