Are you new to Windows 11 and finding the context menu in File Explorer cumbersome? You’re not alone. Many users have noted that the new right-click menu requires extra steps to access the familiar options, which can be frustrating and time-consuming. This blog post will guide you through the steps to restore the old context menu, making your file management more efficient.
Why Change the Context Menu?
The redesigned right-click menu in Windows 11 does not display all available options immediately. You have to click on “Show more options” to view the full menu, which can interrupt your workflow. This is especially annoying if you frequently use certain options to open files or perform actions with other applications. Although you can bypass this by holding down the Shift key while right-clicking, restoring the old context menu is a more permanent solution.
Steps to Restore the Old Context Menu
Follow these steps to restore the old context menu:
1. Open the Windows Registry Editor by pressing Win + R, typing “regedit” (without quotes), and hitting Enter. Alternatively, you can search for Registry Editor in the Start menu and open it.
2. Navigate to the following location in the Registry Editor by pasting it into the address bar: ComputerHKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesCLSID
3. Right-click inside the right pane and select “New > Key.” Name this key as {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} including the parentheses.
4. Select the newly created key, then right-click in the right pane again and select “New > Key.” Name this key “InProcServer32” (without quotes).
5. The key will have its data set to “value not set.” Open the key and close it to reset its value to blank.
6. Restart your computer or open Task Manager, right-click on Windows Explorer, and select Restart. When you right-click in File Explorer, the old context menu should now appear.
Beginner-Friendly Alternative
If you’re not comfortable making changes in the Registry Editor, there is an easier way. Download the necessary registry files from this link and follow these simple steps:
1. Download the zip archive and extract it.
2. Inside, you’ll find a file named “restore-the-old-context-menu.reg.” Double-click it and allow User Account Control (UAC) to make changes.
3. Confirm the actions in the subsequent pop-ups. This will automatically create the required registry key.
4. Reboot your computer or restart Windows Explorer from the Task Manager to apply the changes.
To revert to the new context menu, use the file named “enable-the-new-context-menu.reg” from the same download, following the same steps as above.
Conclusion
Restoring the old context menu in Windows 11 File Explorer can greatly improve your efficiency by reducing the number of steps needed to access necessary options. Whether you choose to manually edit the registry or use the provided registry files, the process is straightforward and easy to revert if needed.
