Frosted Glass Explorer For Windows 11 (Windhawk)

Frosted Glass Explorer For Windows 11

The Frosted Glass File Explorer for Windows using Windhawk is a modern customization that transforms the default File Explorer into a sleek, elegant, and visually immersive interface. Inspired by glass-morphism design, this style introduces soft blur effects, subtle transparency, and smooth light diffusion, giving File Explorer a premium frosted-glass appearance while maintaining excellent readability.

If you take a look at the Frost-glass-Explorer-style.webp preview, you can see how beautifully the background colors gently shine through the explorer windows. Unlike older transparency mods that made text hard to read, this style perfectly balances the blur and clarity. It gives your desktop that clean, aesthetic, and premium workstation vibe without breaking the familiar Windows 11 workflow.

Key Features

Here is what makes this Frosted Glass style a must-have for customization lovers:

Premium Glass-Morphism UI: Brings a beautiful and modern frosted glass look to your default File Explorer.
Soft Blur & Transparency: Allows your vibrant wallpapers to subtly shine through the windows for a dynamic look.
Excellent Readability: Carefully balanced contrast ensures all texts, folders, and icons remain crisp and easy to read.
Powered by Windhawk: Lightweight, completely safe, and runs smoothly without permanently modifying core system files.
Seamless Integration: Blends perfectly with Windows 11’s rounded corners and modern design language.

Download Windhawk To Use The Style

Windhawk

Compatibility

Windows 11 21H2: May work, but not recommended for the best experience
Windows 11 22H2: May work, but compatibility can vary
Windows 11 23H2: Recommended
Windows 11 24H2: Recommended
Windows 11 25H2: YES work, but test carefully after Windows updates

Installation steps:

Download & Install windhawk.
install & Open Translucent Windows Mods
Go to the “Advanced” tab.
Copy the content below to the text box under “Mod settings” and click “Save”.

{
  "backgroundTranslucentEffect": "acrylic",
  "backgroundTranslucentEffectRegion": "",
  "styleConstants[0]": "ContentBG=<SolidColorBrush Color=\"{ThemeResource SystemChromeAltHighColor}\" Opacity=\"1\" />",
  "styleConstants[1]": "Background=<WindhawkBlur BlurAmount=\"15\" TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SystemAltLowColor}\" TintOpacity=\"0.2\" />",
  "styleConstants[2]": "ElementBackground=<WindhawkBlur BlurAmount=\"20\" TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SystemAltLowColor}\" TintOpacity=\"0.4\" />",
  "styleConstants[3]": "ElementBackground2=<WindhawkBlur BlurAmount=\"20\" TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SystemAltLowColor}\" TintOpacity=\"0.2\" />",
  "styleConstants[4]": "ButtonBackground2=<WindhawkBlur BlurAmount=\"20\" TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SystemAltLowColor}\" TintOpacity=\"0.35\" />",
  "styleConstants[5]": "AccentBackground=<WindhawkBlur BlurAmount=\"15\" TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SystemAccentColorLight1}\" TintOpacity=\"0.2\" />",
  "styleConstants[6]": "SearchGlassBackground=<WindhawkBlur BlurAmount=\"25\" TintColor=\"{ThemeResource SystemAltLowColor}\" TintOpacity=\"0.45\" />",
  "styleConstants[7]": "BorderBrush=<LinearGradientBrush StartPoint=\"0,0\" EndPoint=\"0,1\"><GradientStop Color=\"#50808080\" Offset=\"0.0\" /><GradientStop Color=\"#50404040\" Offset=\"0.25\" /><GradientStop Color=\"#50808080\" Offset=\"1\" /></LinearGradientBrush>",
  "styleConstants[8]": "ElementBorderBrush=<LinearGradientBrush StartPoint=\"0,0\" EndPoint=\"0,1\"><GradientStop Color=\"#50808080\" Offset=\"1\" /><GradientStop Color=\"#50606060\" Offset=\"0.15\" /></LinearGradientBrush>",
  "styleConstants[9]": "BorderThickness=0.3,1,0.3,0.3",
  "styleConstants[10]": "ElementBorderThickness=0.3,0.3,0.3,1",
  "styleConstants[11]": "CornerRadius=12",
  "styleConstants[12]": "ElementCornerRadius=8",
  "controlStyles[0].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#PART_LayoutRoot",
  "controlStyles[0].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[0].styles[1]": "HorizontalAlignment=Stretch",
  "controlStyles[1].target": "FileExplorerExtensions.FirstCrumbStackPanelControl#FirstCrumbStackPanel",
  "controlStyles[1].styles[0]": "Visibility=1",
  "controlStyles[2].target": "Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#RootCommandSearchGrid > Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border#BorderElement",
  "controlStyles[2].styles[0]": "Visibility=1",
  "controlStyles[3].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Primitives.NavigationViewItemPresenter#NavigationViewItemPresenter > Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#LayoutRoot",
  "controlStyles[3].styles[0]": "BorderThickness=$ElementBorderThickness",
  "controlStyles[3].styles[1]": "Background:=$ElementBackground",
  "controlStyles[3].styles[2]": "BorderBrush:=$ElementBorderBrush",
  "controlStyles[3].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=$ElementCornerRadius",
  "controlStyles[4].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#NavigationBarControlGrid",
  "controlStyles[4].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[4].styles[1]": "BorderBrush=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[5].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#HomeViewRootGrid",
  "controlStyles[5].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[5].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=$ElementBorderBrush",
  "controlStyles[5].styles[2]": "CornerRadius=$ElementCornerRadius",
  "controlStyles[5].styles[3]": "BorderThickness=$ElementBorderThickness",
  "controlStyles[5].styles[4]": "Margin=4,0",
  "controlStyles[6].target": "FileExplorerExtensions.GalleryViewControl#GalleryViewControl > Grid",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=$ElementBorderBrush",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[2]": "CornerRadius=$ElementCornerRadius",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[3]": "BorderThickness=$ElementBorderThickness",
  "controlStyles[6].styles[4]": "Margin=4,0",
  "controlStyles[7].target": "FileExplorerExtensions.GalleryViewControl#GalleryViewControl > Grid > Grid#GalleryRootGrid",
  "controlStyles[7].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[8].target": "ToolTip",
  "controlStyles[8].styles[0]": "Background:=$ElementBackground",
  "controlStyles[8].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=$ElementBorderBrush",
  "controlStyles[8].styles[2]": "BorderThickness=$ElementBorderThickness",
  "controlStyles[8].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=$ElementCornerRadius",
  "controlStyles[9].target": "Grid#TabContainerGrid > Border#LeftBottomBorderLine",
  "controlStyles[9].styles[0]": "Visibility=1",
  "controlStyles[10].target": "Grid#TabContainerGrid > Border#RightBottomBorderLine",
  "controlStyles[10].styles[0]": "Visibility=1",
  "controlStyles[11].target": "TabViewItem > Grid#LayoutRoot",
  "controlStyles[11].styles[0]": "Margin=5",
  "controlStyles[11].styles[1]": "Height=28",
  "controlStyles[11].styles[2]": "BorderThickness=$ElementBorderThickness",
  "controlStyles[11].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=$ElementCornerRadius",
  "controlStyles[11].styles[4]": "BorderBrush:=$ElementBorderBrush",
  "controlStyles[12].target": "TabViewItem > Grid#LayoutRoot > Canvas",
  "controlStyles[12].styles[0]": "Visibility=1",
  "controlStyles[13].target": "TabViewItem > Grid#LayoutRoot > Grid#TabContainer",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[13].styles[1]": "BorderBrush=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[14].target": "TabViewItem > Grid#LayoutRoot@CommonStates",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[0]": "Background@Selected:=$ElementBackground",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[1]": "Background@PointerOverSelected:=$AccentBackground",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[2]": "Background@PointerOver:=$AccentBackground",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[3]": "Background@Normal:=$ElementBackground",
  "controlStyles[14].styles[4]": "Background@PressedSelected:=$ButtonBackground2",
  "controlStyles[15].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border#BottomBorderLine",
  "controlStyles[15].styles[0]": "Visibility=1",
  "controlStyles[16].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Shapes.Path#LeftRadiusRenderArc",
  "controlStyles[16].styles[0]": "Visibility=1",
  "controlStyles[17].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Shapes.Path#RightRadiusRenderArc",
  "controlStyles[17].styles[0]": "Visibility=1",
  "controlStyles[18].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#TabContainer",
  "controlStyles[18].styles[0]": "Visibility=0",
  "controlStyles[19].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Viewbox#IconBox",
  "controlStyles[19].styles[0]": "Visibility=1",
  "controlStyles[20].target": "CommandBarOverflowPresenter#SecondaryItemsControl > Grid#LayoutRoot",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[0]": "Background:=$ElementBackground",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[1]": "BorderThickness=$ElementBorderThickness",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[2]": "BorderBrush:=$ElementBorderBrush",
  "controlStyles[20].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=$ElementCornerRadius",
  "controlStyles[21].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.AutoSuggestBox#FileExplorerSearchBox",
  "controlStyles[21].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[22].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.AutoSuggestBox#FileExplorerSearchBox > Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#LayoutRoot",
  "controlStyles[22].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[22].styles[1]": "CornerRadius=$ElementCornerRadius",
  "controlStyles[23].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.AutoSuggestBox#FileExplorerSearchBox > Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#LayoutRoot > Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBox#TextBox",
  "controlStyles[23].styles[0]": "Background:=$SearchGlassBackground",
  "controlStyles[23].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=$ElementBorderBrush",
  "controlStyles[23].styles[2]": "BorderThickness=$ElementBorderThickness",
  "controlStyles[23].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=$ElementCornerRadius",
  "controlStyles[24].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#FileExplorerAddressBarGrid",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[0]": "CornerRadius=$ElementCornerRadius",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[1]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[2]": "BorderBrush:=$ElementBorderBrush",
  "controlStyles[24].styles[3]": "BorderThickness=$ElementBorderThickness",
  "controlStyles[25].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.AutoSuggestBox#PART_AutoSuggestBox",
  "controlStyles[25].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[26].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.AutoSuggestBox#PART_AutoSuggestBox > Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#LayoutRoot",
  "controlStyles[26].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[26].styles[1]": "CornerRadius=$ElementCornerRadius",
  "controlStyles[27].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.AutoSuggestBox#PART_AutoSuggestBox > Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#LayoutRoot > Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBox#TextBox",
  "controlStyles[27].styles[0]": "Background:=$SearchGlassBackground",
  "controlStyles[27].styles[1]": "BorderBrush:=$ElementBorderBrush",
  "controlStyles[27].styles[2]": "BorderThickness=$ElementBorderThickness",
  "controlStyles[27].styles[3]": "CornerRadius=$ElementCornerRadius",
  "controlStyles[28].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#RootContainer",
  "controlStyles[28].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[29].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Border > Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Button#AddButton",
  "controlStyles[29].styles[0]": "RenderTransform:=<TranslateTransform Y=\"-8\" />",
  "controlStyles[30].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.TextBlock#TextLabel",
  "controlStyles[30].styles[0]": "Visibility=1",
  "controlStyles[31].target": "Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.Grid#SubItemChevronPanel > Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Controls.FontIcon#SubItemChevron",
  "controlStyles[31].styles[0]": "RenderTransform:=<TranslateTransform X=\"-5\" Y=\"12\" />",
  "controlStyles[32].target": "FileExplorerExtensions.CommandBarControl_Wave1, FileExplorerExtensions.CommandBarControl",
  "controlStyles[32].styles[0]": "Visibility=Collapsed",
  "controlStyles[33].target": "FileExplorerExtensions.NavigationBarControl",
  "controlStyles[33].styles[0]": "Grid.RowSpan=2",
  "controlStyles[33].styles[1]": "Margin=0,0,0,1",
  "controlStyles[34].target": "Grid#DetailsViewControlRootGrid",
  "controlStyles[34].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[35].target": "StackPanel#DetailsViewThumbnail",
  "controlStyles[35].styles[0]": "Background=Transparent",
  "controlStyles[36].target": "AutoSuggestBox#FileExplorerSearchBox > Grid#LayoutRoot > TextBox > Grid@CommonStates > Border#BorderElement",
  "controlStyles[36].styles[0]": "Background :=<WindhawkBlur BlurAmount=\"15\" TintColor=\"#25ffffff\" />",
  "controlStyles[36].styles[1]": "CornerRadius = 14",
  "controlStyles[36].styles[2]": "BorderThickness = 1",
  "controlStyles[36].styles[3]": "BorderBrush:=<LinearGradientBrush StartPoint=\"0,0\" EndPoint=\"1,1\"><GradientStop Color=\"#80ffffff\" Offset=\"0.0\" /><GradientStop Color=\"{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefault}\" Offset=\"0.55\" /><GradientStop Color=\"#80ffffff\" Offset=\"1\" /></LinearGradientBrush>",
  "controlStyles[37].target": "Grid#PART_LayoutRoot",
  "controlStyles[37].styles[0]": "Background :=<WindhawkBlur BlurAmount=\"15\" TintColor=\"#25ffffff\" />",
  "controlStyles[37].styles[1]": "CornerRadius = 14",
  "controlStyles[37].styles[2]": "BorderThickness = 1",
  "controlStyles[37].styles[3]": "BorderBrush:=<LinearGradientBrush StartPoint=\"0,0\" EndPoint=\"1,1\"><GradientStop Color=\"#80ffffff\" Offset=\"0.0\" /><GradientStop Color=\"{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefault}\" Offset=\"0.55\" /><GradientStop Color=\"#80ffffff\" Offset=\"1\" /></LinearGradientBrush>",
  "controlStyles[38].target": "TabViewItem > Grid#LayoutRoot",
  "controlStyles[38].styles[0]": "CornerRadius=12",
  "controlStyles[38].styles[1]": "Margin=2,4,0,4",
  "controlStyles[38].styles[2]": "Height=27",
  "controlStyles[38].styles[3]": "BorderThickness=1",
  "controlStyles[38].styles[4]": "BorderBrush:=<LinearGradientBrush StartPoint=\"0,0\" EndPoint=\"1,1\"><GradientStop Color=\"#80ffffff\" Offset=\"0.0\" /><GradientStop Color=\"{ThemeResource SurfaceStrokeColorDefault}\" Offset=\"0.55\" /><GradientStop Color=\"#80ffffff\" Offset=\"1\" /></LinearGradientBrush>",
  "controlStyles[39].target": "TabViewItem > Grid#LayoutRoot@CommonStates",
  "controlStyles[39].styles[0]": "Background@Selected:=<WindhawkBlur BlurAmount=\"15\" TintColor=\"#25ffffff\" />",
  "controlStyles[39].styles[1]": "Background@PointerOverSelected:=<WindhawkBlur BlurAmount=\"15\" TintColor=\"#35ffffff\" />",
  "controlStyles[39].styles[2]": "Background@Normal:=<WindhawkBlur BlurAmount=\"15\" TintColor=\"#15ffffff\" />",
  "explorerFrameContainerHeight": 87
}

How to Remove

One of the best things about using Windhawk is that you are always in control. If you ever want to go back to the standard Windows 11 File Explorer look, you can remove or disable this style in just a few seconds.

Open the Windhawk application on your PC.
Go to your installed mods and find the Frosted Glass Explorer style.
Simply click the Disable button if you want to turn it off temporarily, or click Uninstall to remove it completely.
Close Windhawk. The changes should apply instantly, but if they don’t, just restart your computer or restart File Explorer from the Task Manager.

Start Menu & Taskbar

The redesigned Explorer features refined spacing, smooth edges, gentle shadows, and balanced contrast, creating a cleaner and more modern browsing experience. File lists, navigation panels, and title bars appear sharper and more polished, improving usability without sacrificing performance.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: This Frosted Glass Explorer customization is shared for educational and personalization purposes only. Link Vegas Theme is not affiliated with Microsoft, Windhawk, or the original creators of this UI modification.

This is not an official Microsoft update or product. While Windhawk is generally safe because it does not permanently modify core system files, applying third-party interface changes can sometimes cause minor visual glitches depending on your specific Windows version. We always recommend creating a System Restore point before applying any visual customizations to your PC.

Final Word

The Frosted Glass Explorer for Windows 11 is an excellent way to elevate your everyday desktop experience. By utilizing Windhawk, it brings a highly desired glass-morphism aesthetic to your File Explorer without the risks associated with traditional system patching.

If you appreciate clean, modern, and translucent UI designs, this customization is definitely worth trying. It completely transforms the vibe of your workstation while keeping everything fully functional and easy to read. Pair it with a vibrant wallpaper to get the most out of the transparency effect, and enjoy your beautifully customized Windows 11 setup!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Frosted Glass Explorer style safe to use?

Yes, absolutely. Because this customization is powered by Windhawk, it applies visual changes in the system memory without permanently replacing or modifying core Windows files. This makes it much safer than traditional theme patchers.

Will this slow down my computer or File Explorer?

Windhawk and its mods are designed to be extremely lightweight. While rendering the soft blur effect uses a tiny amount of system resources, it is highly optimized and you should not notice any performance drops on a modern PC.

Why does the glass effect look different on my desktop?

The frosted glass effect is translucent, which means it adapts to whatever is behind the window. The colors, lighting, and contrast of your current desktop wallpaper will heavily influence the final look of your File Explorer. For the best premium look, try using a vibrant, colorful, or abstract wallpaper.

Does this customization work on Windows 10?

This specific styling is optimized for Windows 11’s modern architecture, rounded corners, and File Explorer layout. While the Windhawk software works on Windows 10, this specific frosted glass effect is meant for Windows 11 users.

Will Windows updates break this style?

Sometimes major Windows 11 feature updates can temporarily break UI mods. If your File Explorer looks strange after a Windows update, simply open Windhawk, disable the mod, and wait for the developer to release an updated version of the style.