Liteshell Alternatives
Liteshell is described as 'tiny windows shell (explorer.exe) replacement designed for slow PCs. Is a minimalist's shell - no screen space is occupied by the shell. When you right-click on the desktop or press a hotkey, a menu provides access to your programs, documents, tasks and anything else you' and is an app in the os & utilities category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Liteshell for Windows. The best alternative is Cairo Shell, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Liteshell are BB4Win, WindowBlinds, SharpEnviro and bbLean.
Liteshell alternatives are mainly Desktop Environments but may also be System Tweakers. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Liteshell.
Cairo is a desktop environment for Windows. Its goal is to develop a desktop experience that increases productivity and advances current technology standards.
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BB4Win (Blackbox for Windows) is an alternative shell for Microsoft Windows. The program aims to emulate the look and feel of a Linux based desktop. The BB4Win project was discontinued in 2005 but various branches have been built from the source.
DiscontinuedLatest release 2009, see http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/
WindowBlinds is a computer program that allows users to skin the Windows graphical user interface. It has been developed by Stardock since 1998, and is the most popular component of their flagship software suite, Object Desktop.
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SharpEnviro (or SharpE) is an open source shell replacement system for Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. When using SharpEnviro the default Windows desktop is replaced by a new and more powerful desktop environment.
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DiscontinuedAs of december 2011 the SharpEnviro project is no longer under active development. All files provided come without any warranty or support! It is uncertain if or how well the previously released versions of SharpEnviro will work with any new or updated Windows system after Windows 7 Service Pack 1.
bbLean is the lean version of Blackbox for Windows. It tries to keep balance between features and complexity, to give you some efficient means within a compact shell.
DiscontinuedThe project is no longer developed. Last version, 1.17.1, released in May 2009, can be still downloaded from the official website.
Emerge Desktop is a replacement Windows "shell" (the desktop environment normally provided by Windows Explorer) for Windows 2000 and above. In order to replace Windows Explorer as a shell, it provides a system tray (the area that collects the icons collected at the...
DiscontinuedEmerge Desktop is no longer maintained. Last version, 6.1.3, released in 2012, and the source code are still available on SourceForge
GeoShell - The premier minimalist Windows shell replacement. It replaces the default Explorer interface. It features menu bars—“geoBars”—that can be dragged-and-dropped anywhere on the users screen. There are also desktop menus that can be triggered whenever a user clicks...
DiscontinuedThe official website is no longer available. Last version, 4.11.10, can be still downloaded from SourceForge.
Easily create and add additional style modes to Windows 10. (Stardock alternative software to its WindowBlinds, for Windows 10).
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Talisman Desktop is a configurable Windows shell replacement introduced in 1997 by Lighttek Software. It is available in a number of languages including English, French, Spanish, Swedish, Portuguese, Russian and Italian.
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SmartWindows streamlines the way you work. It is perfect for professionals looking to optimize the overall work experience or switch between projects. You can save display preferences for applications with the help of a few clicks.
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