How to enable Settings header design on Windows 10 version 1903

Windows 10 May 2019 Update ships with a new header design in the Settings app homepage, if you're not seeing it, here's how you can enable it manually.

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@Pureinfotech
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Enable header design on Settings app
Enable header design on Settings app

UPDATED 5/22: On Windows 10, starting with version 1903, May 2019 Update, the Settings app is getting a number of changes, including a new header design in the homepage that allows you to take quick actions for things like signing in and managing your account. In addition, it also gives you an “easy to glance” at system status, such as when updates are available.

While it’s a new interesting experience inspired by the Microsoft account homepage design, it’s not clear if the feature will be available for everyone. However, if you’re running the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, and you don’t see the header, there’s a way to force it to appear in your installation using a third-party tool called “mach2” from Rafael Rivera.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to force the new homepage header design for the Settings app available with the May 2019 Update.

How to enable top banner design on Settings

Use these steps to enable the new header design in the Settings app on Windows 10 1903:

Warning: This is a third-party application, and it’s offered without any warranty. Although it should work as advertised, you should use it only at your own risk. Also, there’s a chance that Windows Defender Antivirus may identify this app as malicious, but according to the author, it’s a false positive.

  1. Open this GitHub website.

  2. Download the latest mach2 zip folder.

  3. Double-click the zip folder.

    Quick tip: You’ll need to download the zip folder that correspond to your system architecture (x86 or x64), you can check the version of Windows 10 that you’re running on Settings > System > About.

  4. Click the Extract all button from the “Compressed Folder Tools” ribbon.

  5. Click the Extract button.

    Extract zip files on Windows 10
    Extract zip files on Windows 10

  6. Copy the path to the folder.

  7. Open Start.

  8. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

  9. Type the following command to navigate to the mach2 folder and press Enter:

    cd C:\YOUR\FOLDER\PATH\Downloads\mach2_0.3.0.0_x64

    In the command remember to change the path to the folder with your path.

  10. Type the following command to enable the Settings header and press Enter:

    mach2 enable 18299130

    Enable Settings header design on Windows 10 version 1903
    Enable Settings header design on Windows 10 version 1903

  11. Restart your device.

Once you complete the steps, open the Settings app, and you should now see the new header design with quick access to frequent settings and its notifications as well as with the current user information.

Update May 22, 2019: These instructions has been re-tested and it works on a device upgraded to Windows 10 version 1903 from version 1809 using the official Update Assistant tool.

About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.