Windhawk is a free, open-source customization platform for Windows from Ramen Software. On its own it changes nothing. It loads mods, small programs you choose from a catalog, that change how Windows and other apps behave: taskbar size, grouping, Explorer details and much more. Each mod is published as source code, and Windhawk compiles it on your PC.
When to use Windhawk
- Changing specific Windows 11 behaviors that Settings does not expose, one mod at a time.
- Replacing older tweak tools. The ExplorerPatcher FAQ notes that 7+ Taskbar Tweaker’s author moved its tweaks into Windhawk mods.
- When you want to read exactly what a change does before you apply it.
When not to use it
- On a work PC without IT approval. Windhawk injects its engine into most running processes by design. The maintainer notes this is “a technique that’s often misused,” so enterprise security tools may block it.
- If you won’t read the mods. A mod can change almost anything in the programs it targets.
- For the 2.0 alphas on a PC you depend on. They are pre-releases.
Requirements
Windhawk 1.x runs on 64-bit and 32-bit Windows, and on ARM64 since v1.6. The online installer (about 11.6 MB) downloads the required dependencies only when needed; the offline installer (about 149 MB) includes them. The installer can also extract a portable copy. The 2.0 pre-releases support only Windows 10 and newer, 64-bit x64 and ARM64.
Verify your download
Download from windhawk.net or github.com/ramensoftware/windhawk only. The maintainer has named windhawk.org as a domain-squatting site. The installer is signed: right-click it, open Properties > Digital Signatures, and the signer should read “Open Source Developer, Michael Maltsev.” Then compare Get-FileHash .\windhawk_setup.exe with the SHA-256 below. Our Windhawk safety check covers antivirus warnings and clean uninstalls.
Questions
Is Windhawk safe?
The official release is open source and code-signed. Its risks come from how it works, injecting into other programs, and from the mods you choose. See our full safety check.
Why does my antivirus flag Windhawk?
Because it injects code into running programs. The maintainer calls individual detections false positives and suggests reporting them to the vendor. Check the file’s hash first.
Are mods removed when I uninstall Windhawk?
Not by default, according to the developer. Disable and remove mods first, then uninstall.
Can I install Windhawk with winget?
Yes: winget install RamenSoftware.Windhawk. The manifest points to the official v1.7.3 file with the same hash.
