Classic Shell

Classic Shell
Developer(s)Ivo Beltchev
Initial release29 November 2009 (2009-11-29)
Final release
4.3.1 / 12 August 2017 (2017-08-12)
Repository
Written inC++
Operating systemWindows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2
Available inEnglish and other
TypeShell
LicenseMIT License
Websiteclassicshell.net

Classic Shell is a computer program for Microsoft Windows that provides user interface elements intended to restore familiar features from past versions of Windows. It focuses on the Start menu, File Explorer and Internet Explorer – three major components of the Windows shell although it also does some minor tweaks for the Windows Taskbar. In particular, it can serve as a Start menu replacement for Windows 8 and Windows 10 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 source code has been released. Development has been picked up by volunteers on GitHub under the name Open-Shell.