The End of an Era for Classic Windows
For many long time PC users, nothing feels more old school Windows than the tiny Run box that has been around for decades. It is simple, fast, and extremely useful for power users who want to launch tools and settings without digging through menus.
With Windows 11, Microsoft appears to be getting ready to redesign this classic Run dialog with a more modern interface. It is a small change on the surface, but it says a lot about how Windows is evolving away from its Windows 10 and earlier roots.
The updated Run box has been spotted in Windows 11 Build 26534, which seems to be a server build rather than a normal consumer preview. That means the feature is not live for most users yet, but the code is there and people are already testing it.
According to early reports, you will be able to switch the new design on by going to Settings, then System, then Advanced. There will be a toggle for the modern Run dialog, so if you prefer the classic look and feel, it sounds like you will still be able to keep it for now.
What the New Run Dialog Changes
The Run dialog is one of those Windows tools that most casual users barely touch, but PC gamers and hardware enthusiasts often know well. It is a quick way to launch commands like:
dxdiag for the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, which shows GPU, CPU and driver information
msinfo32 for detailed system information
msconfig for startup and boot configuration
regedit for the Windows registry editor
These tools are handy when you are diagnosing game performance issues, checking hardware details, or troubleshooting overclocking and driver problems. The Run box offers a super fast way to open them with just a keyboard shortcut.
The new design does not remove that core function, but it changes how the interface looks and behaves. Instead of the very plain old Windows style with hard edges and a basic dropdown, the modern Run dialog uses Windows 11 styling with softer edges, cleaner lines, and better integration with dark mode.
One early concern was that the new design might remove the ability to see previous commands quickly. In the old box you could open a dropdown list of everything you had run before.
However testers have shown that recent commands are still available, they are just displayed differently. Instead of a dropdown, your previous commands appear right above the text box inside the Run window itself. They are visible immediately and clickable, which should make repeat commands even easier to use.
There is one clear loss though. The classic Browse button, which let you open a file picker to locate an executable on your drive, is missing in the new interface. For users who liked to point Run directly at random tools or portable utilities, that removal might be a bit annoying.
Performance, Power Users, and Control
For people who use Windows mainly for gaming and performance focused workloads, looks are only part of the story. What really matters is how quickly tools launch and how responsive the interface feels.
The old Run dialog is incredibly snappy. You press Windows plus R and it is simply there almost instantly. Because of that, some users are worried that a heavier, more modern UI could slow it down. When you are launching dxdiag to double check your GPU driver version or firing up msconfig to tweak startup before a benchmark run, those small delays can be frustrating.
Recent Windows 11 updates have drawn criticism for performance quirks and bugs, especially around File Explorer and other system components. That does not inspire total confidence that a redesigned Run box will be just as light and instant as the old one.
The good news is that Microsoft appears to be keeping this change optional. Early information suggests you can simply turn the modern Run dialog off and go back to the traditional version. In fact it may even ship turned off by default at first while Microsoft gathers feedback.
That gives PC gamers and enthusiasts a bit of control. If you value pure speed and minimalism, you can keep the classic Run box. If you prefer a cleaner visual match with the rest of Windows 11, and if performance holds up, you might enjoy the refreshed look.
There is also a certain charm in the contrast between old and new. The modern Run dialog will still launch long standing tools like the registry editor, which still looks very much like old Windows. So even as Microsoft modernizes the surface of the OS, some of that deep legacy Windows feeling will continue to live right underneath.
Overall, this redesign is not a game changer for performance or gaming, but it is another sign that Microsoft is steadily moving away from the Windows 10 era. For anyone who has used the same Run box for decades, seeing it change is a reminder that the Windows platform is still in motion, for better or worse.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/software/windows/looks-like-the-run-dialog-box-is-getting-a-sleek-new-look-on-windows-11/
