Users have been making modifications to operating systems for years. Enthusiasts like to put out files that change settings and add cosmetic changes. No one is ever happy with the look and functionality of the stock version of Windows. There is a plethora of free and paid tools that make Windows 11 look like version 95 or 3.1. In comparison, others make your system look futuristic. For instance, there are Rainmeter mods that can make your system look incredible or multiple tools that make your desktop look amazing.

To make Windows 11 a better experience, check out running the Windows 25 mod on your system. It is an exciting community-created option that fixes the inconvenient and inopportune features that make the OS a drag. For example, by default, the Start menu is centered on that taskbar and is a clunky mess. The taskbar has some glaring omissions compared to previous versions. Also, the context menu is missing options unless you click twice. This new mod brings back prior experiences and utilizes the free Windhawk customization tool, which you may be familiar with. Initially, it was a concept video for Windows 12, but the components for the mod are now available for you to try out on your PC.

What is Windows 25?

Mods can make everything better

The name comes from its 2025 release for Windows. The Windows 25 mod answers a broader Windows community with OS complaints. It also looks fantastic. Windows enthusiast and modder AR 4789 (Windows 12 Lite) has created this modification to reflect his vision of what his Windows 11 25H2 or Windows 12 could look like. It’s a mod that can improve the Windows 11 experience. Putting Windows 25 together takes a few steps.

There are several layers to get through, and you’ll want to create a restore point in case something goes wrong, or you want to change it back to the original Windows 11 UI. Then, the steps are to install themes, mod package, Windhawk, and customize your settings. However, it also involves a lot of file renaming, file format changes, extracting files, and putting everything in the correct directories. You can see how your new Windows experience takes shape as you go through the installation steps. If you need help, check out this video from Link Vegas. The process is a bit tedious, but the video is a good guide on how to set up this mod.

How is the Windows 25 experience?

It’s quite remarkable

Once you put all the pieces into place (and the work is over), you can utilize the futuristic Windows 25 experience and start having fun. It’s like using a light version of Windows 11 with a hint of macOS. The UI includes simplified icons, transparencies, and a movable Start menu, which you can set to be Windows 10-like but with a modern look and feel. It has a consistent and light design, with an air-like feel with floating widgets, and you can change modernly designed wallpapers with your mouse. The mod is nice with the pieces in place, but you can always customize things further using other customization tools like Windhawk and StartAllBack.

For example, if you don’t like the blurred transparency of File Explorer and the Start menu backgrounds, you can adjust things for your own customized look. A feature I appreciated most was the return of the classic context menu. I don’t have to click twice for more options. You don’t have to hack the Registry to get the Windows 10 context menu; it works by default.

Will Microsoft follow suit?

Doubtful. But it's fun to imagine

For years, the community of Windows enthusiasts has been creating concept videos of what the next version of the OS will look like. Some of them included features that were close to the final version. However, I don’t think anyone predicted the touch-first pile of square icons that kicked off the Windows 8 experiment. Currently, all signs point to Microsoft releasing Windows 11 25H2 this fall. But there are rumors of a potential release of Windows 12 by early 2026. The Windows 25 mod points to what the next version could look like. It would be nice to see a light and modern-looking OS with all the functionality users want.

Making Windows 11 better with the Windows 25 mod

If you want to make significant and useful changes to how Windows 11 looks and operates, Windows 25 might be exactly what you want. As mentioned, there are other customization tools for Windows out there, like Rainmeter, Stardock’s tools, and ExplorerPatcher.

However, Windows 25 is an impressive mod that excites the Windows community. It eliminates many of the biggest annoyances and omissions that long-time Windows 11 users have complained about. Overall, it’s a wonderful experience and makes you feel like you’re using a new version of Windows. Try it and see how you like it (or don’t). If you aren’t a fan, you can always return your system to how it was set up before making the modifications. Use the restore point you created before starting the mod journey.