Restore classic context menu in Windows 11 – Get rid of the two-step process

Taking Control of Your Right-Click Menu

The recent rollout of Windows 11 brought a host of enhancements but also some adjustments that have left certain power users dismayed. Chief among them is the redesign of the right-click context menu for file explorer. Microsoft’s intent was to declutter the menu by dividing it into two tiers: a simplified top layer displaying common options like Open, Share, and Delete, and a bottom "Show more options" section unveiling the full suite of choices.

For those of us constantly right-clicking to access specialized functionality like Git integration, this extra click feels like an eternity. The reduced convenience is simply unacceptable, so the question becomes: how can we get back the right-click menu we know and love in Windows 11?

Why Did Microsoft Change the Menu?

Microsoft’s stated rationale for overhauling the menu focuses on new users, who can reportedly find the context menu overwhelming. While this may be true, power users depend on quick access to the full menu. Fortunately, with a few tweaks, we can restore the classic right-click experience.

How to change right-click context menu in Windows 11?

To change to the old right-click context menu in Windows 11 using the Registry hack, you don’t need to go through different keys and manually edit everything. Just create a registry file with specific commands and run the file to automatically edit Registry.

Does Windows 11 have a right-click menu?

Windows 11 ships with a simplified right-click context menu for File Explorer (and the desktop) that is different from the Windows 10 context menu. If you’d like to use the classic Windows 10 right-click menu instead, you can do so by modifying your registry with a few clicks. Here’s how.

Using Registry Hacks to Revert the Menu

The most common workaround leverages the Windows registry. By adding a few keys, we can override the new default behavior. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Start menu and search forregedit.exeto launch the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate toHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes.
3. Right-click onCLSIDand create a new key titled{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}.
4. Within this key, create another new key calledInprocServer32.
5. Double clickInprocServer32and clear out any default value, leaving it blank.

Once the registry change propagates, the classic right-click menu will be restored! Keep in mind you’ll have to follow these steps again if you reset or reinstall Windows.

Alternative Methods to Access the Full Menu

If you’d rather not mess with the registry, there are a couple handy shortcuts for opening the traditional right-click menu:

• Shift + F10– Just press these keys together to bypass the new menu and open the classic one.
• Alt key– Hold down the Alt key when right-clicking to access the full menu instead of the new limited options.

These keyboard-focused techniques provide quick access without any registry editing. The only downside is having to use them each time you need the full menu.

How do I restore windows 11’s default right-click context menu?

To make the classic context menu the default, run the following command: reg.exe add “HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\ {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32” /f To restore Windows 11’s default right-click context menu instead, run the command reg.exe delete “HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\ {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}” /f

How do I fix windows 11’s context menus?

If you hate having to dig into “Show more options” in your context menu to do something you used to be able to do in Windows 10 a whole lot more conveniently, here’s the trick to fixing Windows 11’s context menus. 1. Open Regedit by hitting the Windows key and typing regedit. Hit Enter to launch it. 2.

Third-Party Tools Offer Robust Customization

For those who want maximum personalization, several utilities on sites like MajorGeeks allow full customization of the right-click menu:

• Context Menu Editor – Open source tool for modifying right-click options.

• MenuMaid – Adds transparency and color options for menu customization.

• FileMenu Tools – Comprehensive editor for tweaking context menus.

These programs offer advanced functionality like adding program shortcuts, custom icons, menu transparency, and nested submenus. The only catch is that modifying shell menus can potentially cause instability, so tweak carefully.

Does Windows 11 have a default context menu?

Otherwise, you’ll need to tweak the Registry to make the old context menu the default option. Windows 11 ships with a simplified right-click context menu for File Explorer (and the desktop) that is different from the Windows 10 context menu.

How do I restore context menus in Windows 11?

Open the ” Restore the classic context menus in Windows 11.reg ” file to bring back Windows 10-styled context menus. Confirm changes in Windows Registry, then restart File Explorer in Windows 11. If something went wrong or you want to restore the original context menus in Windows 11 for some other reason, do the following.

How to fix windows 11 context menu error?

Restart Windows Explorer or restart the Windows 11 computer. The old classic context menu will be back. If you want to restore the new Windows 11 context menu, just delete the new key you created in Registry Editor and restart your PC. How To Fix The System Registry File Is Missing Or Corrupt Error? Step 1: create a text file Windows 11.

Petitioning Microsoft for a Power User Toggle

While the registry and third-party solutions exist today, the most robust fix would be an option built into Windows itself to toggle between the new and classic right-click menus. Veterans of Windows have filed numerous feature requests asking Microsoft to add a setting for this, whether under Ease of Access or Personalization.

Judging by the volume of feedback, it seems likely Microsoft will provide an official toggle. But until then, the methods above offer workarounds to restore the classic right-click menu in Windows 11. Let us know in the comments if you have any tips for adapting to (or avoiding) the new menu!

References

1. https://www.thewindowsclub.com/get-old-right-click-context-menu-back-on-windows-11
2. https://pureinfotech.com/bring-back-classic-context-menu-windows-11/

How do I bring back the classic context menu on Windows 11?

To bring back the classic context menu on Windows 11, use these steps: Open Start on Windows 11. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry. Right-click the CLSID key, select the New menu, and select the Key option. Name the key {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} and press Enter.

Does Windows 11 have a refreshed context menu?

Starting with Windows 11, the context menu in the File Explorer is refreshed, which is compact and is based on Modern design. However, the refreshed context menu shows fewer items compared to the Legacy Context menu. This article discusses how to restore the Legacy Context menu in Windows 11, showing up by default.

How do I undo windows 11 context menu travesty?

Microsoft doesn’t include an option in Settings to undo this travesty, but there is a registry hack that, at present, will give you full context menus in Windows 11 ( h/t to Winaero ). 1. Open regedit. The easiest way is to hit Windows + R, enter regedit and hit Enter. 2. Click Yes if you are prompted by User Account Control.