How to Get Rid of Rounded Corners in Windows 11

By / September 15, 2025

One of the biggest visual changes in Windows 11 is its sleek, modern design—especially those rounded corners on windows, menus, and dialog boxes. While many users love the new aesthetic, some find it distracting or prefer the sharp, squared-off look of Windows 10.

If you’re one of those who’d rather go back to straight edges, you might be wondering: Can I get rid of rounded corners in Windows 11?

The short answer: Yes, but not directly through Settings. Microsoft doesn’t provide a simple toggle for this. However, there are a few tricks and workarounds you can try.

Let’s break it down step by step.

Why Windows 11 Has Rounded Corners

Windows 11 was designed with a softer, more modern feel. Rounded corners:

  • Make the UI look smoother and friendlier.

  • Improve readability and visual flow.

  • Match the design trends of apps and web platforms.

But if you like things crisp and sharp, they can feel unnecessary.

Can You Disable Rounded Corners in Windows 11 Directly?

Unfortunately, Windows 11 does not include a built-in option to turn off rounded corners. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with them forever—there are indirect ways to flatten them.

Method 1: Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration

Rounded corners rely on your PC’s GPU rendering. If you disable hardware graphics acceleration, Windows may revert to square edges.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.

  2. Go to the Advanced tab.

  3. Under Performance, click Settings.

  4. In the Performance Options window, select Adjust for best performance.

  5. Click Apply → OK.

👉 This will not only remove rounded corners (on some systems) but also disable animations and shadows, giving your PC an old-school look.

Method 2: Switch to High Contrast Themes

Another trick is using High Contrast Mode, which sometimes forces Windows to use square corners.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.

  2. Navigate to Accessibility → Contrast themes.

  3. Choose a high-contrast theme from the dropdown.

  4. Click Apply.

⚠️ Downside: This changes the overall appearance drastically, so it might not look appealing to everyone.

Method 3: Use Registry Tweaks (Advanced Users)

You can tweak Windows Registry to modify UI rendering. While there’s no direct key for rounded corners, some experimental tweaks may disable transparency and indirectly flatten corners.

Steps:

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

  2. Navigate to:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize

  3. Look for EnableTransparency → set value to 0.

  4. Restart your PC.

👉 This removes transparency effects, which sometimes makes corners appear sharper.

Method 4: Third-Party Tools

If you’re serious about customization, third-party tools can help:

  • StartIsBack or ExplorerPatcher → allow deep Windows 11 UI tweaks.

  • Custom Shell Themes → some community themes bring back squared corners.

⚠️ Warning: Always download tools from trusted sources to avoid malware or system instability.

Method 5: Downgrade to Windows 10 Look

If you absolutely dislike Windows 11’s UI, you can make it mimic Windows 10.

  • Use Classic Shell or Open-Shell to bring back old menus.

  • Apply a Windows 10 theme (many are available online).

  • Disable Windows 11-specific effects (animations, transparency).

This won’t fully remove rounded corners everywhere, but it gets pretty close.

Pros and Cons of Removing Rounded Corners

âś… Pros

  • Sharper, cleaner look for those who prefer minimalism.

  • May slightly improve performance on older PCs.

  • Feels more like Windows 10, which many users are comfortable with.

❌ Cons

  • No official support from Microsoft.

  • Some methods may break UI consistency.

  • High contrast themes can make apps look outdated.

Will Microsoft Add an Option in the Future?

So far, Microsoft has not announced any plans to add a toggle for rounded corners in Windows 11. They seem committed to the design language. But with enough user demand, they might consider it in future updates.

Conclusion

While Windows 11 doesn’t let you directly disable rounded corners, you can reduce or eliminate them using performance settings, contrast themes, registry tweaks, or third-party tools.

If you value function over style, these methods will help you bring back a sharper, more classic look. But if you like a modern design, it might be worth embracing the rounded corners for now.

FAQs

1. Can I completely remove rounded corners in Windows 11?

Not officially. But you can reduce them using tweaks, themes, or third-party tools.

2. Will disabling rounded corners improve performance?

Yes, in some cases. Disabling visual effects reduces GPU usage slightly.

3. Do third-party apps work safely for this?

Only if downloaded from trusted sources. Always back up your system before installing.

4. Does high contrast mode remove rounded corners?

It can make them less noticeable, but it changes the entire UI.

5. Is it better to downgrade to Windows 10 for square corners?

If you absolutely hate Windows 11’s design, downgrading to Windows 10 is an option—but it means losing new features and future updates.

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