Calm UI: Customizing Your Windows 11 Desktop

Overview
Calm UI is a free and open-source application designed to transform the look and feel of your Windows 11 desktop, providing a customizable desktop environment similar to Linux desktop environments (e.g., Gnome, KDE).

Key Features of Calm UI

• Customizable Desktop Environment: Offers a fully customizable desktop experience for Windows 10 and 11, akin to having a desktop environment in Linux.
• Mac-like Elements: Includes features like a Mac-style dock, animations, wave animations, and a top bar similar to Mac or Linux.
• Plugin Support: Supports plugins allowing users to fully customize their desktop environment.
• Theme and Resources Management: Users can change themes, plugins, widgets, icon packs, wallpapers, and sound packs through the resources section.
• System Tray and Transparency Options: Users can customize the system tray, choose between vertical or grid layout, and adjust transparency settings.
• Multiple Monitor Support: Compatible with setups involving multiple monitors.
• Animation and Dock: Themes can be downloaded to enhance animations, and a customizable dock can replace the Windows taskbar, offering animations and hiding features similar to Mac.

Installation and Customization

• Available through Microsoft Store or by downloading the .exe or MSIX file.
• Upon installation, users can install plugins for customization.
• Simple to customize with categories available for resources like themes and plugins.
• Functionality to enable and disable themes and toolbars as per user preference.

Use and Preference

• Users can selectively enable or disable features like the top bar, themes, and windows manager.
• Options like the Power Toys command pallet can be used if preferred over the default app launcher.
• Dock functionality stands out by completely hiding the Windows taskbar and delivering animations.

Conclusion

Calm UI is a versatile tool for users seeking to customize their Windows desktops extensively, providing a comprehensive suite of customizable features while remaining free and open source. The community supports it, and it's getting better over time with new themes and plugins. Users needing assistance or having suggestions can engage in the comments section of the platform or video, fostering community interaction.