The Windows 11 right-click menu has undergone a much-needed design overhaul. Previously, in Windows 10, the menu items were arranged in an endless vertical list, leading to a cluttered desktop. Windows 11 addresses this issue with a visually appealing approach by using truncated items and prioritizing frequently used commands. Here's a comprehensive guide on the new default settings in Windows 11 and how to revert to the classic Windows 10 menus.

Dislike the default menu options? Consider using a Windows context menu editor to customize your experience.

Table of Contents

• What Are Windows 11 Context Menus?
• How to Display Full Context Menus in Windows 11
• How to Revert to New Context Menus in Windows 11
• Applications of Windows 11 Context Menus
• Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Windows 11 Context Menus?

Windows 11 context menus are an essential feature of the operating system, accessible across the desktop, File Explorer, files, folders, apps, and other elements via a right-click. These menus provide a comprehensive list of commands relevant to the selected item, including essential file operations like Cut, Copy, Paste, Refresh, Share, Open With, Send To, and Properties, as well as less frequently used auxiliary commands.

A significant visual upgrade from Windows 10, Windows 11 adopts a minimalist approach, displaying the most crucial and commonly used options first. This design ensures that essential menu items are readily available, unlike the previous version where there was no clear organization of right-click commands. The new menus present these options in a truncated format.

Truncated Context Menus in Windows 11

By default, Windows 11 uses a truncated format for its context menu items. Although this might be initially frustrating due to the need for additional clicks, it enhances productivity in the long term compared to the traditional Windows context menu.

The advantages of the Windows 11 context menus include:

• Essential items at the top: Commonly used global commands such as cut, copy, paste, delete, and rename are conveniently located at the top and grouped together.
• Related commands grouped: In Windows 10, "Open" and "Open with" were separated, which was inefficient. Windows 11 corrects this, saving users time.
• Easy access to Properties: In Windows 10, accessing "Properties" required scrolling to the bottom. In Windows 11, it's among the top five items, evenly spaced with other essential commands.

Frequently used options like copying the path and compressing to ZIP are also prominently displayed.

Windows 11 does not remove any entries from the right-click context menu compared to Windows 10. Instead, less frequently used commands are grouped under "Show more options" or accessible via the shortcut Shift F10.

The truncated context menu in Windows 11 significantly improves upon Windows 10's full context menu, which becomes cluttered as more apps are added.

Different Context Menu Types in Windows 11

• Global Context menus: These appear universally on files, folders, and applications, covering general Windows actions like cut, copy, paste, rename, and share.
• File Context menus: Specific to certain file types, such as the different options for a PDF versus a video file in VLC.
• Application context menus: App developers create these, offering options tailored to their specific applications.

How to Display Full Context Menus in Windows 11

If you prefer the original full display version of the context menus, you can switch back using the following methods, depending on whether you want a temporary or permanent solution.

1. Display Full Context Menu in a Folder

1. Navigate to the three-dot icon in the topmost ribbon of your chosen folder and select "Folder options."
2. Uncheck the "Launch folder windows in a separate window" option, then check it again and click "Apply."

3. This action will reveal a broader range of options, including the ability to pin files/apps.

2. Adjust the Context Reading Level for Buttons and Controls

If the truncated menu doesn't meet your needs, you can adjust the context level for buttons and controls to show more options.

1. Use the Windows 11 search menu to find the option for context level for buttons and controls.

2. Change the default setting from "immediate context" to "full context of old and new controls."

3. Windows 11 Full Context Menu Using CLSID

For a more permanent solution to display the full context menu, you can use a registry hack involving CLSID, which is a unique identifier for Windows applications.

1. Open the Registry editor with Win R.
2. Navigate to:

<code>Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID</code>

3. Right-click CLSID and create a new key named:

<code>{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}</code>

4. Add "InprocServer32" as a new key and set its value to "not set."

5. Edit the string value to be empty and click "OK."

6. After restarting, the full context menu will be available, providing direct access to options like running as administrator, opening file location, and pinning to Start.

7. Additional options like Personalize, Display settings, Refresh, and Paste shortcut will also be accessible on the desktop, closely resembling the Windows 10 classic context menu.

How to Revert to New Context Menus in Windows 11

To return to the new style of context menus in Windows 11, simply delete the registry key created earlier. After restarting or relaunching Windows Explorer.exe, the new context menu style will reappear.

Applications of Windows 11 Context Menus

Both Microsoft and third-party applications are increasingly supporting the new Windows 11 context menus. Here are some examples:

1. Paint

In Windows 11, Paint's context menus are streamlined and displayed in a ribbon header, with options like cut, copy, share, delete, rename, and properties accessible via minimal icons.

2. File Explorer

In any folder, the context menu options such as cut, copy, paste, move, and creating new documents/zip folders are easily accessible from the top dashboard, reducing the need for scrolling.

3. VLC

VLC was among the first external applications to adopt Windows 11 context menus, providing a clear option to enable them during installation.

These new context menus are also prominently featured within VLC's media player interface.

More app developers are expected to adopt the Windows 11 context menu style in the coming months, enhancing the overall user experience.

4. Photos

The Photos app in Windows 11 also supports the new context menus, making photo and video editing more visually appealing with relevant menu icons.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I remove application-specific context menu entries in Windows 10/11?

Application-specific entries can clutter the context menu. To remove them, use the Registry Editor and navigate to:

<code>Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers</code>

Delete the unwanted application-specific entries.

2. Can I use freeware utilities to edit the right-click context menus in Windows 11?

Yes, there are third-party tools available for customizing the right-click context menus. However, it's recommended to use built-in Microsoft tools like Notepad, Command-line, and Windows Terminal for registry edits.

The new Windows 11 context menus are not just about aesthetics; they also offer enhanced functionality, as detailed in this guide.

As Windows 11 gains popularity, consider our comprehensive guide for downloading and installing it on your Windows 10 PC, including pre- and post-installation tips.

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