StartIsBack (StartIsBack+, StartIsBack++, AKA: StartIsBack Plus, StartIsBack Plus Plus) is a series of auxiliary desktop enhancement software, specially designed for replacing the gaudy and notorious Metro UI of Window 8/8.1/10 with Windows XP/7's classic and efficient start menu (has the most popular style and function) - which process can also be referred to as "Restore the classic start menu".

StartIsBack is not only very compact and easy to use (without any complicated settings), and almost the most effective and perfect one among all similar tools. It contains flexible and diverse customization options (comes down to button, appearance, style, type, function and other configurations), and in particular, it has the fewest bugs. In addition, StartIsBack supports directly and instantly booting to the desktop after startup, so as to skip the Start screen navigation interface of Metro UI.

In a word, with StartIsBack, we can say goodbye to the whole Metro UI completely now, I mean really and totally!

Edition Statement

AppNee provides the StartIsBack, StartIsBack+ and StartIsBack++ full installers and activators or unlocked files, Pre-Activated versions, as well as portable full registered versions for Windows 8, 8.1, 10 (both 32-bit and 64-bit).

Installation Notes

for v2.9.2:
  1. Download and install program
  2. Copy the unlocked file to installation folder and overwrite
  3. Done
for Setup version with unlocked files:
  1. Install
  2. Go to program files and rename:
    • "StartIsBack32.dll" to "StartIsBack32_backup.dll"
    • "StartIsBack64.dll" to "StartIsBack64_backup.dll"
    • "StartIsBackCfg.exe" to "StartIsBackCfg_backup.exe"
  3. "UpdateCheck.exe" to "UpdateCheck_backup.exe"
  4. Copy patched files to program folder
  5. Reboot
  6. Done
for Setup version with activator:
  1. Download and install StartIsBack++
  2. Run the activator 'SiBActivator.exe' as administrator
  3. Done

Warning

  • Installing StartIsBack will cause all open folders to be closed; Uninstalling it will cause the system to log out! So, do prepare ahead of time (especially save files).

Download URLs

Version Download Size
StartIsBack (for Windows 8)
v2.1.2 Final 918 KB
StartIsBack+ (for Windows 8.1)
v1.7.6 Final 1.06 MB
StartIsBack++ (for Windows 10)
v1.3.4 reserved 1.16 MB
v2.9.20 2.26 MB
(Homepage)