Third-party tool "Rebound 11" aims to improve the Windows 11 UI, while keeping system files intact

Cutting corners: A new tool is leveraging the capabilities of the Windows App SDK and WinUI 3 API to deliver a "comprehensive enhancement" to the Windows 11 user interface. Rebound 11 aims to bring improved consistency to Windows through WinUI 3 apps, all while maintaining a secure and reliable user experience.

According to the developers, Rebound 11 does not modify any essential system files but offers plenty of new toys for power users to experiment with. After a "simple" installation process, the tool introduces its own WinUI apps that change several aspects of the Windows 11 experience. The package includes a couple of WordPad-style text editors, a modern file explorer, a redesigned Control Panel for managing system settings, and more.

The WinUI 3 API is part of the Windows App SDK, Microsoft's latest effort to unify the traditional Win32 and UWP application models. Both WinUI 3 and the Windows App SDK offer valuable tools for developers to explore UI development.

Rebound 11 apps integrate seamlessly with Windows 11, maintaining compatibility with both Win32 and Microsoft Store applications. The developers emphasize repeatedly that Rebound 11 avoids altering critical system components, making it a safer modding option compared to other system mods.

However, Rebound 11 is resource-intensive and requires a relatively modern PC for smooth performance. The minimum hardware requirements include a 2 GHz CPU, 4 GB of RAM, 2 GB of free storage, and a DirectX 12-compatible GPU. While Microsoft's recent update to the Windows App SDK promises significant performance improvements for WinUI 3 apps, it's unclear if the latest Rebound 11 release is utilizing the new development kit yet.

Rebound 11's approach to system modding outperforms competing tools, as its UI changes are fully reversible. The utility is compatible with most Windows software and doesn't interfere with Windows Update tasks. Its open-source nature also contributes to its claim of being safer than most mods.

Although Rebound 11 can help make the Windows 11 GUI more consistent, Microsoft is still working to improve the operating system's performance, even in basic tasks like file copying. The seemingly safe nature of Rebound 11 could offer Microsoft some lessons on managing file system changes, especially since "official" Windows 11 updates continue to cause issues for users.