Latest version is 3.0.0.1, improved build upgrade handling, full support of Windows 10 Anniversary Update. See the change log below.
Ribbon Disabler is compatible with Windows 10 Anniversary Update, Windows 10 version 1511, Windows 10 RTM, Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.
Note: If you have upgraded your OS from an earlier Windows release, please download Ribbon Disabler 3.0 first and then use it to disable the Ribbon. Don't use previous releases of Ribbon Disabler, or you will end with a black screen.
Ribbon Disabler will allow you to disable Ribbon in File Explorer and preserve Paint and Wordpad working. Aslo it has an option to restore ribbon.
There is no system files what will be modified by this tool.Since version 2 the Ribbon Disabler modifies your explorerframe.dll but makes backup. It is safe.
Here is example of Explorer without Ribbon:
If you have some unwanted line before the command bar after Ribbon Disabler
If you have something similar:
please refer to the following article:
Fix: A line shows below Explorer’s address bar after disabling Ribbon in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8
It will be fixed.
Change log
Please always use only latest version.
v3.0.0.1
Fixed the issue reported by the user "R" HERE.
v3.0
The application will warn you if you upgrade a previous Windows version. It is not necessary to restore the Ribbon using older system files. Instead, you must disable the Ribbon again and will be prompted to do so. This resolves the "black screen" issue for users who performed the upgrade from earlier Windows releases. If you have upgraded your OS from an earlier Windows release, please download Ribbon Disabler 3.0 first and then use it to disable the Ribbon. Don't use previous releases of Ribbon Disabler, or you will end with a black screen.
v2.5
Fixed critical issue in the code. Every time you remove/restore ribbon in Explorer it causes wrong NTFS permissions to be set for some system files. It can cause other user accounts to be unable to work in Windows 8/Windows 10. This is fixed.
v2.0.0.1
Command line options are implemented so you can use Ribbon Disabler in your scripts.
v2.0
A new code base, with support for Windows 8 x86 and x64.
v1.0
first release with Windows 8 x64 support only
Ribbon Disabler is portable application and does not require to be installed.
Donate options for satisfied users:
Comments
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Nice piece of software
Windows 8 sucks ass
haha
Thanks, Happy Bulldozer.
thx man this is nice
Thank you
Thanks, but i dont use explorer.
I am too
FYI if you activate this as an Administrator and add an additional user to Windows 8, it will not execute after creating the account. So if you deactivate this, then the new account loads just fine. And then again - if you reactivate afterward, it disables the 2nd user account. I tried making the 2nd user an Administrator as well and turning of UAC all together and it still doesn't work. Can you fix this?
i will look into the problem
a windows message came up that says that there was something worng with CLR203r / System.Drawing :(
in the last comment I said, that it fails. But it was my fault. I started it from network. If I start it locally, then it runs and does it well - thanks a lot
))
I don't get you people. Why abandon Win7, install Win8 and then disable ribbon, get classic startmenu, disable startscreen... gives me LOL.
I just go with the flow
The Ribbon is helpful. No more going into folder options or anywhere else. I dont know why anyone would want to disable it.
Look at the downloads counter. Not everyone agree with you
hi.
how you got tranparency (aero glass) back to win8???
i miss aero glass soooo bad in win8 :(
I agree, but it is hard to get it working.
could you explain it to me?
i will try it ^^
is it possible for win8-rtm?
k.r.
(btw. sry for my poor english ^^" )
It is not possible without damage for Windows.
Don't even try.
I would like to have no ribbon and no command bar at all in the explorer. So maybe you could build in an option to your program that you can choose between just removing ribbon and replacing ribbon with command bar.
I have absolutely no use for both of them, shortcuts do everything for me i need. I hated the command bar in 7 and hate ribbon in 8, so I would be stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The themeee, we want that theme in the screenshots, omfg
ah, in the pictures is windows 8 release preview or RTM? It is possible to make the navigation bar background transparent using DWMGlass by BigMuscle?
Is there going to be a version that will work for Retail Windows 8?
I can't download anything from your site and there's some really great things I want... like Ribbon Disabler, Win8Aero, Win7Aero, WinAeroGlass, etc. Please fix this ASAP!
Works perfect! Great work guys! Thumbs up and cheers.
This tool is wonderful, after a restart, any folder i'd open would close itself automatically ..... .
Hi,
i wanted to deleted the ribbon thing, so I clicked on "disable" and my computer restarted but... the only thing I got when I open my session is a black screen with only the cursor that I can move. The desktop and menu don't show, I can only see the lock screen but when I go back on menu/desktop that's black screen...
I don't know what to do, maybe I'd just have to enable the ribbondisabler but as I told you, I can't cause I have a black screen..
I also tried with my dad's session and it does the same..
It'd be nice if you could answer asap. Thank you a lot
how can i use this thing
Anyone know how he got that Aero theme? I want it!!
Please add Windows 8.1 RTM support.
It works already there. You can use it in Windows 8.1 RTM.
I just upgrade to win 8.1 and apply the ribbon disabler v2.5. After logout and login. Nothing display. I can only use ctrl-alt-del to start the task manager. And found that "c:\windows\explorer.exe" can't work.
I just upgrade to win 8.1 and apply the ribbon disabler v2.0. After logout and login. Nothing display. I can only use ctrl-alt-del to start the task manager. And found that "c:\windows\explorer.exe" can't work.
I just upgrade to win 8.1 and apply the ribbon disabler v2.0. After logout and login. Nothing display. I can only use ctrl-alt-del to start the task manager. And found that "c:\windows\explorer.exe" can't work.
Then I download and apply ribbon disabler v2.5. The windows still can't work normal. There are error message once I try to explorer something, the message is "can't find the program entree point. ?Createlnt@Value@DirectUI@@SAPEAV12@H@Z(in dynamic link program library C:\WINDOWS\system32\explorerframe.dll).
I am sorry, you should not use the old version of Ribbon Disabler. See the change log.
I curse the people who give it to you.
Version 2.0 was buggy, and applying 2.5 over it will not help.
Run sfc /scannow from the Elevated command prompt, reboot your PC when SFC will finish its work.
Then you will be able to use Ribbon Disabler 2.5
dear sir, thanks for your great help. The desktop come back. But the ribbon disabler v2.5 still doesn't work
I just updated to Windows 8.1. I tried using the ribbon disabler but upon restart, the screen just goes black after the log in screen. There is nothing i can do except ctrl+alt+del. Despite not being able to see anything, i tried to follow the instructions you left for the gentleman who seems to have had the same issue. It doesn't seem to work. PLEASE HELP!! i really need my laptop for school :(
I also had the problem of blank screen when upgrading to windows 8.1. I tried many things to get it back, but nothing I tried could get rid of blank screen. Fortunately, I had just made an image prior to upgrading to windows 8.1. I restored the image back to windows 8, and had to download and install windows 8.1 again. I sure would appreciate getting the ribbon disabler to work with windows 8.1. Thanks for your efforts.
Hi,
Same problem as above. I just downloaded Win 8.1, then applied Ribbon disabler and voila! Black screen directly after logging on. I know, I know, not to bright on my part.
Ctrl+alt+del works and I can get to the task manager, but that's about it.
I need help fixing this. If anyone can help me out, I would be in your debt.
Thanks
If you previously used Ribbon Disabler under Win8, this problem will occur if you run it again after upgrading to Windows 8.1. That's because Ribbon Disabler will overwrite a Windows system file called "explorerframe.dll" with the older backup copy that it created under Win8. This older version of the dll is incompatible with Win8.1, and this causes the black screen.
The solution: *before* using Ribbon Disabler, you must first delete the older backup file called "explorerframe.winaero" located in Windows\System32. You'll need to have "Show hidden files and folders" enabled to do this.
Now you should be able to run Ribbon Disabler without crashing Windows.
For Alex & any other users who are still dealing with the black screen, here's how to fix it:
1) Pres ctrl+alt+del and click on Task Manager.
2) From Task Manager, click on "More details", then File, Run.
3) Run "cmd" with administrator privileges.
4) From the command line, type sfc /scannow, then press Enter.
5) Let System File Checker do its thing & finish. Re-start Windows if prompted.
This should repair the Windows system file that got nuked by Ribbon Disabler.
Once Windows is up and running again, if you want to use Ribbon Disabler without crashing Windows, follow the instructions in my post above.
JohnB
Pls someone can provide us the measures .. we upgraded to win 8.1 and install the ribbon disabler again... but our computer crash! what can we do? thxxx!!
I do not know guy that's happened there at your PCs, but here is live video from my PC:
I have no idea how I can help you.
The "black screen" problem will only occur for those users who previously ran Ribbon Disabler under Win8 (i.e.: prior to updating to Win8.1).
Once you understand how Ribbon Disabler works, it's easy to see why this problem occurs.
Ribbon Disabler works by applying a resource hack to a Windows system file called "explorerframe.dll". At the same time, it also creates a backup copy of the original dll, which it renames as "explorerframe.winaero". This backup file is used by Ribbon Disabler in case you ever want to undo things & restore ribbon functionality.
So, for anyone who previously ran Ribbon Disabler under Win8 (i.e.: prior to updating to Win8.1), your Windows\System32 folder will already contain a file called "explorerframe.winaero".
[My post is too long, so I had to split it in two. Continued below...]
[continued from previous post above]...
Here's the scenario; please try to follow my logic here:
1) After updating to Win8.1, you notice that the ribbon is back. That's because the update installs a newer, unhacked version of explorerframe.dll.
2) Like most people, you assume that you just need to run Ribbon Disabler again. You run Ribbon Disabler, but you notice that the "Disable Ribbon Explorer" option is greyed out. That's because it detects the existence of the older backup file, explorerframe.winaero, and it assumes that the ribbon has already been disabled.
3) So, you go ahead and click on the only thing you can: "Enable Ribbon Explorer". Once you do this, explorerframe.dll gets replaced by the older backup file that was created under Win8. This older version is incompatible with Win8.1, and it causes the dreaded black screen.
As I posted previously, the solution is to simply delete the file "explorerframe.winaero" from your Windows\System32 folder *before* running Ribbon Disabler for the first time under Win8.1.
nice work
thank you man
Would it be possible to add option to disable/hide the command bar as well?
it is possible, but I see no reason.
Without the command bar, Explorer is completely unusable.
Thank you so much! Working great on Windows 8.1!
Nice. I'd love to be able to disable the folder bar though. It's pretty redundant (that's what right-click was invented for). I've tried following a few tutorials but none of them have worked so far.
Looking at JohnnyZero's posts, I noticed that AFTER re-enabling. Black screen still occurs. Doing an SFC /SCANNOW via CMD, via TaskMan to see if it will fix the problem.
How did you make the upper border of Windows Explorer transparent, Sergey? By default it's supposed to be white.
It was Windows Consumer Preview.
Ah... Well, I should have known. It's a neat tool anyway.
Isn't there anyway to check for updates auto?
I accidentaly enabled the wrong one and now my windows will not boot, black screen after HP logo please help. I've restarted a lot of times and automatic repair doesnt start. No usb or disc recovery tool
Could someone tell me why should we remove the ribbon? Thank you.
Thanks
Hi! My System32 folder doesn't have explorerframe.winaero file, but I do have explorerframe.dll and explorerframe.dll.151. I got the black screen after installing th first time, and had to do the /sfc bit. I've got hidden files and folders showing as well as protected OS files. Help? :(
Hi--not sure if anyone still reads this, but this no longer works after the recent Windows 8.1 update.
Anybody else having issues? After a recent update, all of a sudden ribbon came back and I can't disable it. :( Hope it gets fixed soon, thanks.
I have Update 1 installed. just tried. it disables correctly
No, it doesn't. Black screen on boot.
Seems this won't work with newest update of Windows 8.1
Yeah same here it doesn't work with Update 1 of Windows 8.1
where the link for the v2.5. The download button only gives me the v2.0
nice tool but there is no way to disable that without modify system file?
example when i go to below folder ribbon automatically hided itself
i think there is a hidden way to do that for other folder too
C:\Windows\Downloaded Program Files
Can we disable the up button?It look ugly and unnecessary .
I don't know if this is the right place to ask this. I came across this great website while desperately searching for a way to modify the word 2013 (the entire office suite) ribbon. I can't tolerate the WHITE on WHITE. The built in three shades of grey offered as an alternative are too depressing to look at all day. I need some color - I am going to downgrade if I can't find a solution. I was hoping one of themes would do the job, but now I suspect they will not be able to modify the ribbon within the suite.
Does anyone know if there is a solution? So, far I haven't been able to find anything.
Thanks for this perfect software...it works fine on Windows 8.1 but when applied , i have a new bar under the menus , as seen on your screenshots (organize,open,burn...) ???? it's a remain of the ribbon or an other windows item that i can fix ??? truly yours.
thought I should let you guys know: as of Nov. 13 2014s windows technical preview build 9879 this no longer works and causes "this pc" to no longer work. the entire file explorer stops working until you run "sfc /scannow"
It just didn't work in Windows 8.1
Great. It works. Thanks!!!
Doesn't seem to work in Win 8.1 update 1 x64 ...i get some framework error upon trying to disable the ribbon...i can copy the exact error message later when i get home.
- Win 8.1 Pro update 1 x64
EndUpdateResource Failed: 5.
See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.
************** Exception Text **************
System.Exception: EndUpdateResource Failed:5
at DLL.DeleteResource()
at Ribbon_disabler2.Form1.btnDisable_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)
We absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be exactly I’m looking for. Does one offer guest writers to write content for you personally? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome weblog!
After starting the computer Ribbon Disabler with a delay of 10 seconds, and it's not pretty.
thanks
nice
Great software thanks
Any word on whether this is going to be updated to work with Windows 10?
I know that it was reportedly working fine with some of the early preview releases, but at some point last Fall it stopped working.
I dread the thought of not being able to disable the Ribbon in Windows 10
Yes, precisely. There's no way I'm using windows 10 for anything other than testing until I can rid it of that ugly ribbon and get sensible plain text menus back.
I suspect that Microsoft may have changed the architecture of Windows 10's exploreframe.dll such that the Ribbon resource can't be as easily disabled as it could in Windows 8/8.1. The Ribbon is probably more "integrated" into the overall Windows UI than in previous versions.
I haven't used Windows 10 at all yet, so I don't even know if it still includes the "Always show menus" option like Windows 7/8. Anybody?
In any case, I sure hope that Sergey will be able to update Ribbon Disabler to work with Windows 10. Maybe he's been holding off for the "final" release on 7/29.
I was happy to use on windows 8.1 "ribbon disabler" to get rid off this ...ugly ribbon and when i go to Windows 10 to discover the same ribbon (yeurkkk) , i read somewhere that it is compatible ,so i try to use it but have a black screen after logoff , like comments above ! is it ,perhaps, coincidental with the Nvidia drivers bug certain report or "ribbon disabler " is NOT compatible with Windows 10 ? thanks anyway for the great work of Winaero to permit to keep hands on the machine that, obviously , Microsoft want not !!!
I just tried this on my fresh install of Windows 10, and IT WORKED. No more chaotic, ever-changing, keyboard-hostile ribbon.
Thank you!
I downloaded Iit from a guy on YouTube. HE didn't say that it was windows 10 only and now all i get when i log on is blackscreen. Typing this with my iPad please help!
1) Pres ctrl+alt+del and click on Task Manager.
2) From Task Manager, click on File, Run New Task.
3) Run "cmd" with administrator privileges.
4) From the command line, type sfc /scannow, then press Enter.
5) Let System File Checker do its thing & finish. Re-start Windows when prompted.
I'm happy to report this works for me in Windows 10. Since ExplorerFrame.dll is already being modified, would it be possible to also disable the distracting command bar? Menu bar all the way!
Is v3 uploaded on the site yet? Just downloaded the "recent" one and still getting a message that it is not the latest version.
Command line options are not working anymore (version 3.0.0.1)
Where can i get the latest version?
winaero.com/download.php?view.18
Hi Sergey, how do I disable the 'organize, open, burn, new folder' toolbar? It just reminds me of another piece of the ribbon. Is there a way to disable that toolbar on windows 8? I guess I'm just used to the windows xp look. Thanks! It's much appreciated. =)
It require some other patch, if I am not mistaken. I will consider to implement it. But I can't promise that it will be very soon.
It will take some time, which is unfortunately very limited for me.
Awesome, thanks for your reply. That's understandable about your time. Thanks again =)
Any one know how to fix ''up'' button? Theme color doesn't apply to it
hi
where is the download link for v.3?
i can only find the version 2 .
chibo, I just not renamed the file.
But i will do, if this is an issue.
The application's main window shows the correct version number.
The file is renamed. Just to not confuse users.
This is so great. The ribbon is bad design justified by a great deal of flawed logic that ignores some important factors. It's very nice to be able to make it disappear. Thank you!
Jozsef, you are welcome!
Help, Help! I have used previous releases of Ribbon Disabler after upgrading my Windows and ended with a black screen. Now, what should I do?
What the heck is a ribbon disabler?
hello am using the RibbonDisabler am sirshing for the command line options to use it silently can you help me?
Thanks
Hello, is there my ribbon disabled version for Microsoft office?