The right-click menu in Windows 11 is basically a shortcut to a set of features and tools, adapting to the context of what you click along the way. You can use it to copy and paste files, edit images, interact with the clipboard, drag file properties, print documents, share files with other people, and much more.
What you may not know is that you can customize this right-click menu for yourself, bringing in the apps and shortcuts you use most and getting rid of the ones you don’t need. It makes the list more useful than ever, with the potential to increase your computing productivity even further.
There are two ways to make changes to what you see in the right-click menu in Windows 11: Either edit the Windows registry yourself, or get third-party software to do the job for you.
If you’re new to Windows, the registry is essentially a sprawling configuration file for Microsoft’s operating system—it’s something most users will never have to interact with, but it’s the place to go for advanced hacks like this one.
Important Note: Before we go any further, we have to say that you edit the registry at your own risk – change the wrong setting the wrong way, and that can cause serious problems. As long as you’re careful and stick to the tried and trusted guidelines (including the ones we’re about to give you), you should be fine. However, like sideloading Android apps or browsing on public Wi-Fi, there are a few additional risks that you should be aware of. We recommend backing up the registry before you start – Microsoft’s help for that is here.
- Open the Windows 11 Start Menu, search for “regedit” in the top box, and then choose Registry Editor When the shortcut appears to launch the tool.
- You then have a huge list of so-called registry keys (or folders) on the left, each of which contains text strings and numeric values that Windows 11 refers to when it needs to know how to act.
- After each change you make, restart your computer for it to take effect.
If you’re new to Windows, the registry is essentially a sprawling configuration file for Microsoft’s operating system—it’s something most users will never have to interact with, but it’s the place to go for advanced hacks like this one.
Important Note: Before we go any further, we have to say that you edit the registry at your own risk – change the wrong setting the wrong way, and that can cause serious problems. As long as you’re careful and stick to the tried and trusted guidelines (including the ones we’re about to give you), you should be fine. However, like sideloading Android apps or browsing on public Wi-Fi, there are a few additional risks that you should be aware of. We recommend backing up the registry before you start – Microsoft’s help for that is here.
- Open the Windows 11 Start Menu, search for “regedit” in the top box, and then choose Registry Editor When the shortcut appears to launch the tool.
- You then have a huge list of so-called registry keys (or folders) on the left, each of which contains text strings and numeric values that Windows 11 refers to when it needs to know how to act.
- After each change you make, restart your computer for it to take effect.
Here’s a tweak to try first: Windows 11 changed the design of the right-click menu, placing most options behind a file View more options submenu. To return to how Windows 10 works, where all options are available right away:
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Classes \ CLSID key
- Right-click CLSIDand choose New > key.
- key name {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}.
- Right click on the key you just created on the left, and choose New > key Again, his name InprocServer32.
- Open this key, right-click (shortening) Enter in the right pane, and select modify.
- Leave everything as it is and click Yes.
Restart your computer for the change to take effect. If you want to undo your changes, just right-click on the new keys you created and select them wipe up.
Here’s a tweak to try first: Windows 11 changed the design of the right-click menu, placing most options behind a file View more options submenu. To return to how Windows 10 works, where all options are available right away:
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Classes \ CLSID key
- Right-click CLSIDand choose New > key.
- key name {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}.
- Right click on the key you just created on the left, and choose New > key Again, his name InprocServer32.
- Open this key, right-click (shortening) Enter in the right pane, and select modify.
- Leave everything as it is and click Yes.
Restart your computer for the change to take effect. If you want to undo your changes, just right-click on the new keys you created and select them wipe up.
One way you can edit your right-click menu is to add program shortcuts to it so they are always within easy reach.
- In the Registry Editor navigation pane on the left, navigate to Computer \ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ directory \ background \ shell.
- Right-click on a file coincidence folder, then select New > key And give it the name of the program you are adding.
- Right-click on this newly created key (or folder), and select New > key Again, give it a name order.
- with the order Selected folder on the left, double-click on the file (shortening) value on the right.
- In the next dialog box, enter the full path to the program you want to run it in value data field, and then click Yes.
The next time you open the context menu, right-click and select View more optionsYou should see the program listed. To undo your changes, simply delete the registry keys you created (right-click and wipe up).
One way you can edit your right-click menu is to add program shortcuts to it so they are always within easy reach.
- In the Registry Editor navigation pane on the left, navigate to Computer \ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ directory \ background \ shell.
- Right-click on a file coincidence folder, then select New > key And give it the name of the program you are adding.
- Right-click on this newly created key (or folder), and select New > key Again, give it a name order.
- with the order Selected folder on the left, double-click on the file (shortening) value on the right.
- In the next dialog box, enter the full path to the program you want to run it in value data field, and then click Yes.
The next time you open the context menu, right-click and select View more optionsYou should see the program listed. To undo your changes, simply delete the registry keys you created (right-click and wipe up).
Another handy tool is adding options to move and copy files to specific folders – this can come in handy when you’ve right-clicked a file or group of files.
- The key you need to navigate to is HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ AllFilesystemObjects \ shellex \ ContextMenuHandlers
- Right-click ContextHe chooses New > keyand call it move to folder.
- Double-click a file {shortening} The value in this new key and array {C2FBB631-2971-11D1-A18C-00C04FD75D13} as a value before clicking Yes.
To create an option to copy files instead of moving them:
- Head to himself Context key, but this time the new key you create inside it is called “Copy to Folder”, and the value you need to set to (shortening) Series {C2FBB630-2971-11D1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}.
- Select any of these new entries in the right-click menu and a small window will appear, letting you choose a destination folder.
- As always, to remove options, delete the keys you created.
On a related note, you can edit the options that appear upon selection send me in the right-click menu, allowing you to send files to specific folders, devices, or programs. this no Need to modify the registry:
- from Start in Windows menu, run a file Being Feasibility
- Enters Shell: Sendto in the text box and press Enters.
- A new File Explorer window will appear, and any shortcuts you create here (to an app or folder, for example) will appear in the Send to list.
- To create a shortcut, right-click an empty part of the left pane and choose New > Shortcut.
On a related note, you can edit the options that appear upon selection send me in the right-click menu, allowing you to send files to specific folders, devices, or programs. this no Need to modify the registry:
- from Start in Windows menu, run a file Being Feasibility
- Enters Shell: Sendto in the text box and press Enters.
- A new File Explorer window will appear, and any shortcuts you create here (to an app or folder, for example) will appear in the Send to list.
- To create a shortcut, right-click an empty part of the left pane and choose New > Shortcut.
A quick search on the web will reveal several third-party applications that will do some registry editing for you and put it into an interface that is much more user-friendly than the one offered by Windows 11 Registry Editor. I tried them and they worked for me. As before, use them at your own risk: some are a few years old now, and some parts of the Windows Registry have changed over time.