RetroBar 1.8

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway"). Not sure which one to download? Try 64-bit.

New features

• 32-bit system support (#143)
• New themes:
  • Windows XP Embedded Style (#266, thanks @mutoyoru!)
  • Windows XP Olive Green (#195)
  • Windows XP Royale (#263)
  • Windows XP Royale Noir (#235, thanks @lpmusicon!)
  • Windows XP Zune Style (#266, thanks @mutoyoru!)
  • Windows Vista Classic (#296, thanks @xoascf!)
• Scrolling over the volume icon changes volume (#264, thanks @xoascf!)
• Support for additional languages:
  • Czech (#238, thanks @mrflamist!)
  • English (United Kingdom) (#256, thanks @mrflamist!)
  • German (#230, thanks @0x5066!)
  • Greek (#257, thanks @ColdSalt09!)
  • Turkish (#232, thanks @mutoyoru!)
• System notification area icons that are monochrome white are now dark when necessary (#41)

Improvements

• Accuracy improvements for the Windows XP Classic theme (#248, thanks @xoascf!)
• Custom themes can use large icons by setting UseLargeIcons to True (#289)
• Default task context menu item is now correctly bold (#253, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed clock position on Windows XP Blue and Silver themes (#270)
• Fixed Explorer taskbar sometimes stuck in autohide after closing RetroBar
• Fixed Start button not appearing as pressed (#255, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed Start button showing outline (#133, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed windows sometimes maximizing to the wrong size, especially on Windows 7
• Improved reliability of customized notification area icons (#261)
• Updated languages:
  • Polish (#301)
  • Portuguese (#229, thanks @pedro-fixingstuff!)
  • Simplified Chinese (#228, thanks @wcxu21!)
  • Spanish (#247, thanks @xoascf!)
  • Vietnamese (#241, thanks @michioxd!)

RetroBar 1.7

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• Collapsed icons in the notification area are individually configurable (#47)
• Taskbar buttons and quick launch icons can be re-arranged via drag-and-drop (#19)
• System theme option with XP flag (#28)
• Support for additional languages:
  • Arabic (#196, thanks @WindowsNinetyTen!)
  • Italian (#212, thanks @Davoleo!)
  • Polish (#219, thanks @setmatrix!)

Improvements

• Updated the properties window layout to more closely resemble Windows XP, with accurate previews (#221)
• Font smoothing settings are respected in context menus
• The context menu near the clock shows all items
• Prevented duplicate instances of RetroBar starting (#136)
• Fixed RetroBar not starting with Magnifier open in docked mode (#186)
• Fixed pressing quick launch buttons occasionally shifting the taskbar (#225)
• Updated languages:
  • Russian (#216, thanks @1280px!)
  • Spanish (#211, thanks @xoascf!)
• License is now included

RetroBar 1.6

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• Windows XP Silver theme (#115, thanks @xoascf!)
• Option to use software rendering if necessary (#57, #130)
• Right-to-left language support (#132, thanks @xoascf!)
• Support for additional languages:
  • Hebrew (#142, thanks @novatiberium!)
  • Japanese (#182, thanks @noyciy7037!)
  • Vietnamese (#160, thanks @michioxd!)

Improvements

• Fixed Chromium-based apps, Firefox, and others incorrectly thinking the taskbar is auto-hidden and displaying a gap at the bottom of their window (#53)
• Fixed clock not reflecting changes to system region settings (#156, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed middle-click on UWP apps not opening a new instance on supported apps (#174)
• Fixed Open Shell Menu sometimes not appearing correctly (#159)
• Fixed some applications not starting from quick launch due to an incorrect working directory
• Improved appearance of scrollbars on Windows XP Blue theme (#185, thanks @xoascf!)
• Updated languages:
  • French (#176, thanks @xoascf!)
  • Hungarian (#179, thanks @webmaster442!)
  • Portuguese (#166, thanks @pedro-fixingstuff!)
  • Russian (#163, thanks @1280px!)
  • Simplified Chinese (#154, thanks @wcxu21!)

RetroBar 1.5

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• Option to show the taskbar, notification area, and clock on multiple monitors (#13)
• Left-clicking the clock now opens Action Center on Windows 10 (#146)
• Added new languages:
  • Brazilian Portuguese (#113, thanks @pedro-fixingstuff!)
  • Hungarian (#134, thanks @webmaster442!)
  • Russian (#122, thanks @1280px!)
  • Simplified Chinese (#111, thanks @wcxu21!)

Improvements

• Fixed the start button getting stuck on Windows 7
• Fixed double-clicking the clock on Windows 11 also opening notification center
• Fixed a line showing next to the Windows XP Blue start button with high DPI (#43, thanks @xoascf!)
• Fixed appearance of the notification area toggle with no pinned icons visible
• Improved accuracy of Task Manager menu item (#116)
• Improved appearance when changing DPI with RetroBar running

RetroBar 1.4

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• The taskbar can now be shown on any side of the screen, even on Windows 11 (#50)
• Balloon notifications are now shown when RetroBar is running (#51)
• Windows 11 support
  • Power/Network/Volume notification area icons now correctly open the action center (#65)
  • Left-clicking on the clock now opens the calendar and notification center (#46)
• Support for multiple languages (#34 - thanks @xoascf!)
  • English
  • Español (translation by @xoascf)
  • Français (translation by @VoXaN24)
• When an update is available, an unobtrusive notification will appear in the RetroBar context menu (#105)

Improvements

• Start button correctly stays pressed when the start menu is open for non-English users, Windows 7 and 8, as well as alternate Start menus such as Open Shell, StartIsBack, and Start8/10 (#40, #60)
• Log files are now available in %localappdata%\RetroBar\Logs
• Improved keyboard navigation (#72)
• System theme now uses the system font (#20)
• Fixed some notification area flyouts appearing at the top of the screen (#81)
• Fixed some minor issues when changing themes
• Fixed some Windows 8 shell windows incorrectly appearing in the taskbar

RetroBar 1.3

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• Font smoothing is now configurable
• Option to start RetroBar automatically at logon (#12)
• Uses the Windows 10 start button context menu for better usability
• Windows XP-style collapsible notification area option (#25)
  • Always shows system icons (power, network, sound)

Improvements

• Start button correctly stays pressed when the start menu is open, and clicking it again closes the start menu (#33)
• The properties window can no longer have multiple instances
• Fixed a condition that could cause the notification area to be unresponsive
• Fixed .scf files such as "Show Desktop" not working (#21)
• Fixed settings being forgotten in certain cases
• Fixed the Explorer taskbar sometimes appearing while RetroBar is open

RetroBar 1.2.15

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

New features

• Click in the taskbar margins to activate buttons (#22)
• Drag over a taskbar button to restore that window (#16)
• Middle-click on taskbar buttons to open a new window
• More windows visible at a time in a scrolling taskbar
• Support for hiding system notification icons via GPO/registry (#11)
• Support for transparent themes
• Watercolor theme (modeled after build 2416 for the most part)

Improvements

• Fixed appearance and behavior of flashing taskbar items
• Fixed appearance and behavior of the taskbar overflow scrollbar
• Fixed layout of taskbar when using non-integer scaling
• Fixed overflowed taskbar button size sometimes being incorrect
• Fixed overflowed taskbar not scrolling to active window when switching windows
• Fixed RetroBar covering some full-screen apps
• Fixed some notification icons not appearing or working incorrectly (#11)
• Fixed some windows not restoring correctly when clicked in the taskbar
• Fixed sounds not playing for minimize/restore when enabled
• Fixed system theme not updating when system color scheme changed
• Fixed UWP app icons not showing for some windows

RetroBar 1.1.1

• Added a basic quick launch toolbar (#8)
• Improved compatibility

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

RetroBar 1.0.17

• Fixed custom themes not appearing (#7)
• Bug fixes

Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").

RetroBar 1.0.8

Initial release! Just unzip and run (since the app isn't signed, Windows Defender will likely require you to choose "more info," then "run anyway").