Home windows 11 can foster high-quality, native apps experiences

Microsoft Home windows has been round for the better part of 40 years, making it one of the long-standing client working techniques of all time. By means of the a long time, the OS has amassed a gargantuan catalog of pc applications and software program purposes, a few of which have gone on to develop into really iconic.

For higher or worse, Home windows’ standing as a legacy desktop working system comes with some caveats — together with decades-old baggage within the app ecosystem division. Lots of the best third-party apps on the platform make the most of antiquated interface paradigms, outdated visuals, and total really feel misplaced within the modern-day.

Fortunately, a choose variety of Windows builders have taken it upon themselves to craft really trendy app experiences for the Home windows 11 period and past. These apps embrace Microsoft’s trendy Fluent Design ideas, supply responsive and touch-friendly interface components, and include darkish modes, transparency, and several other different visible thrives.

Listed here are my picks of a few of the greatest trendy third-party Home windows 11 apps — every of those entries affords native person interface components, Fluent Design theming, and way more.

1 Ambie White Noise

Excellent for kicking again and stress-free

Ambie White Noise

Ambie White Noise is a fluid and trendy Home windows 11 app that makes it straightforward to review, to loosen up, or to go to sleep to ambient sounds of nature.

In case you’re like me and have hassle sleeping when there is a ruckus or chatter within the background, then Ambie is the proper resolution. As with different white noise apps, there is a number of stress-free nature scenes and soothing sounds to select from right here, which can assist to drown out undesirable noise whereas selling restfulness within the course of.

Ambie is a fantastically constructed app that matches proper in with Home windows 11’s trendy Fluent Design pointers. The app is free to begin with, however a paid Ambie+ subscription is required to unlock the total number of sounds and white noise choices. The free model is all it is advisable to get began with Ambie’s Focus Timer and Focus Session instruments, which act as a pomodoro mode.

Associated

These 5 apps are my secret to a better Windows 11 experience

Check out these quality-of-life Home windows 11 apps to reinforce your expertise with Microsoft’s desktop OS.

2 Character Map UWP

Simply entry Home windows’ huge font and character database

Character Map UWP

Character Map UWP is a third-party alternative for Home windows’ default Character Map choice software, and it gives a clear and trendy interface design.

The default Home windows Character Map is one thing of a sizzling mess. It hasn’t been up to date in years, and so its interface stands proud like a nineties-themed sore thumb. Fortunately, the free third-party Character Map UWP app serves as a swish alternative. The app is a completely modernized resolution for searching by way of and copying typefaces, fonts, and characters.

Character Map UWP is greater than a fairly face, too: the app has superior choices for copying and exporting characters, a comparability software, help for a number of tabs, a font properties pane, and extra.

Associated

My favorite 8 Windows 11 apps that put Microsoft’s default offerings to shame

When you have a Home windows 11 PC, you are lacking out in case you’re not utilizing these default app replacements.

3 ClipShelf

Clipboard historical past, however inside simpler attain

ClipShelf

ClipShelf is a well-designed Home windows 11 clipboard supervisor app that makes it straightforward to pin your copy historical past inside a devoted graphical person interface.

Home windows has a built-in clipboard administration software, however I want utilizing the free ClipShelf app as an alternative of Microsoft’s default resolution. Clipshelf provides an attractive Home windows 11-themed strip to the highest or backside of your show, and populates along with your clipboard historical past for straightforward entry and cross-referencing functions.

ClipShelf additionally gives its personal set of keyboard shortcuts for straightforward entry, in addition to a number of customization instruments. The app is free to make use of, although a few of its extra superior options are locked behind a paywall.

Associated

I need these totally 90s apps back on my PC immediately

We have waited lengthy sufficient, Microsoft: Home windows Film Maker and MSN Messenger deserve a Home windows 11 repatriation.

4 FluentCast

Native podcasting meets Home windows

FluentCast

FluentCast is a contemporary and feature-packed podcast app for Home windows 11 that features auto-download, playback historical past, and way more.

Sadly, Home windows 11 nonetheless lacks a local first-party podcasting application to name its personal. Fortunately, the third-party FluentCast app is right here to the rescue. The app is a free resolution that appears and feels each bit like an in-box Home windows expertise, which makes it an awesome match for the OS.

Along with all of the podcast streaming fundamentals that you simply’d look forward to finding, FluentCast affords up iTunes integration for looking by way of well-liked exhibits listed on Apple’s personal podcasting service. Different helpful options embody auto downloads, playback historical past, picture-in-picture, new episode notifications, and extra.

Associated

These 5 things are holding Windows 11 back from greatness

Home windows 11 is a robust and feature-rich working system, but it surely’s being held again from greatness in a number of key methods.

5 Fluent Emoji Gallery

Microsoft’s emoji rock — now you possibly can view them in catalog kind

Fluent Emoji Gallery

Fluent Emoji Gallery is the best strategy to flick thru Microsoft’s trendy Fluent-style emoji pictograms, with choices to view in 3D, 2D, and monochrome.

When Microsoft redesigned its emoji library just a few years again, it hyped up its new Fluent-themed pictographs to an awesome diploma. Personally, I am a giant fan of the brand new look, particularly when in comparison with competing emoji kinds available on the market. In case you’ve ever needed to peruse by way of the total catalog of accessible smileys, symbols, and extra, then the free Fluent Emoji Gallery app is your one-stop store resolution.

The app at the moment comprises over 1,594 particular person emoji designs, every of which is sourced from official Microsoft repositories. What makes Fluent Emoji Gallery such a pleasure to make use of is its trendy and Home windows 11-styled interface design, which serves as pure eye sweet.

Associated

Windows 11 is copying one of the iPhone’s best features

Microsoft is gearing as much as launch a brand new iPhone-inspired Begin Menu characteristic that makes app group a breeze on Home windows 11.

6 FluentWeather

Fluid climate forecasts with out the interface bloat

FluentWeather

FluentWeather is a wonderful third-party climate app for Home windows 11 that follows trendy Fluent Design interface pointers.

There are a number of glorious climate purposes accessible for Home windows 11, however none hit the mark fairly in addition to FluentWeather. This free app is laser-focused on offering a clear, native-feeling forecasting interface, and it succeeds in doing so — it places a lot of Microsoft’s personal in-box outs to disgrace when it comes to visible coherency and person expertise.

FluentWeather is open-source, and affords up a ton of insightful climate metrics. All the things you’d look forward to finding is current and accounted for, together with day by day climate forecasting particulars, changeable temperature models, background refresh help, and extra.

Associated

Microsoft has a Windows 10 problem, and the clock is about to strike midnight

Home windows 10 can be sundown as of October 14, 2025, and Microsoft actually desires you to hop on the Home windows 11 bandwagon.

7 Ink Workspace

The best companion for Home windows Inkers

Ink Workspace

Ink Workspace is a well-designed Home windows 11 app that gives a central location for varied digital inking-based options and instruments.

In case you use a digital pen for Home windows Inking functions, then the free Ink Workspace app is the proper software for you. When launched, it opens a devoted flyout panel that is crammed with helpful info and quick-access hyperlinks.

A Windows 10 reside tile-esque app launcher might be configured, as can a fast note-taking pane and a lately opened recordsdata part. The app additionally gives glanceable entry to your pen battery stage, in addition to recommendations on different ink-friendly Home windows purposes accessible on the Microsoft Retailer.

Associated

The 6 steps I take to make Windows 11 look and feel more like macOS

With out an excessive amount of work, you possibly can arrange any Home windows 11 PC to operate extra like an Apple Mac — here is how.

8 FlowBoard

A Fluent canvas of countless potentialities

FlowBoard – FireCube’s Version

Flowboard is an open-source and free-flowing whiteboard utility that makes glorious use of Home windows 11’s trendy interface design ideas. 

There’s a number of utility to be present in a digital free-form whiteboard app, and FlowBoard is an exemplar of the style. The app is free and open-source, and affords up an attractive Fluent Design canvas for taking notes, doodling, and extra.

FlowBoard is well-optimized for contact enter with its broad pill kind issue help, and it really works properly with digital pens just like the Surface Slim Pen 2. The app’s canvas is infinitely zoomable, making it a versatile software for placing pen to (digital) paper.

Associated

Microsoft is reportedly ready to take on the 11-inch iPad Pro

In keeping with an unique Home windows Central report, Microsoft is planning on launching a smaller Floor Professional and Floor Laptop computer later this yr.

9 Mica™️

Take pleasure in the great thing about Microsoft’s Mica materials

Mica™️

Mica™️ is a simple-yet-mesmerizing Home windows 11 utility that shows a window crammed with Microsoft’s Mica materials, together with just a few extra choices.

Mica™️ is maybe the quirkiest app on this checklist, however I can not assist however adore it for what it’s. Upon launching the app, you are greeted with a no-thrills window crammed with Microsoft’s translucent Mica material from one nook to the following. Proper-clicking anyplace on the display opens the settings pane, with choices to regulate opacity and the like.

At first blush, Mica™️’s utility may not appear apparent, however I’ve discovered it to be the proper PC screensaver. When mixed with the pulsating ‘Bloom’ impact, I discover myself staring into Mica to elicit a way of rest. Microsoft has uncared for to replace Home windows’ screensavers for years at this level (the Management Panel applet nonetheless depicts a CRT monitor on display), and so Mica™️ has assumed complete management of my very own makeshift setup.

Associated

These 5 apps are better than Windows Explorer for organizing your files

Discover some effectivity with these Home windows apps.

10 Protecc

Take pleasure in two-factor authentication in model

Protecc – 2FA Authenticator TOTP

Protecc is an open-source two-factor authentication (2FA) code technology software that provides an interface impressed by Fluent Design ideas. 

Two-factor authentication is an integral part of securing your on-line accounts from fraud, hacking makes an attempt, and different dangerous digital actors. In brief, it provides one other step to the login course of, with authenticator apps checking although strings of digits that act as keys.

Most individuals consider cellular apps like Google Authenticator or 2FAS relating to authentication instruments, however Protecc is a PC program equal that is price its deserves. The app is free and open-source, has built-in help for Home windows Hi there biometric authentication, and serves up your auto-generated codes in a trendy Fluent-style interface.

Associated

How to make Task Manager an efficiency weapon for your Windows computer

You’ve got been utilizing Process Supervisor unsuitable this entire time.

11 Unigram

One of the best Telegram shopper for Home windows

Unigram—Telegram for Home windows

Unigram is a third-party Telegram shopper utility for Home windows 11 that provides a local feel and appear, safe messaging, and syncing help.

Social media apps have a fairly dangerous monitor document relating to following native working system design pointers, opting to implement their very own in-house styling as an alternative. Unigram is a Telegram Messenger app for Home windows 11 that bridges the divide, mixing safe messaging with trendy and fluid visible design.

UNigram is a free utility, and it maintains Telegram’s potent mixture of 56-bit symmetric AES encryption, 2048-bit RSA encryption, and Diffie–Hellman safe key trade for holding all of your chat logs secured and locked down.

Associated

I use these 7 essential PowerToys tools to enhance my laptop’s capabilities

PowerToys is likely one of the greatest free downloads for enhancing Home windows and boosting productiveness due to these options.

12 Wintoys

Highly effective customization instruments wrapped in a sexy bundle

Wintoys

Wintoys is a one-stop-shop Home windows 11 app that gives many customization choices, restore instruments, and a built-in cleaner characteristic.

Wintoys is an extremely helpful Home windows 11 utility that gives quick access to various system features and instruments. The app can floor key PC specs, can operate as a restore software sans-Terminal instructions, and can assist you save area through its cleaner characteristic.

Better of all, Wintoys is a completely free piece of software program, and it expertly melds energy person options with an intuitive and trendy interface design that makes it really feel straight out of Microsoft’s personal app portfolio.

Associated

I improve my Windows 11 performance with these 7 easy tricks

Home windows 11 feeling sluggish? 7 of the perfect methods to troubleshoot and enhance efficiency with step-by-step directions.