Picture this: You’re deep in code, right-clicking to quickly edit a file, only to be greeted by Windows 11’s minimalist context menu. The option you need? Hidden behind a “Show more options” click. Frustrating, right? As a developer, every extra click slows you down. Luckily, there’s a straightforward fix to bring back the classic, full right-click menu—no more hunting for your favorite commands.
Why Did Microsoft Change the Menu?
Windows 11 introduced a cleaner, more modern UI, but at the cost of burying many useful context menu options. While the intention was to reduce clutter, for power users and developers, this means extra steps for basic tasks like “Edit” or “Open with Notepad.” If you value speed and efficiency over aesthetics, restoring the full menu is a no-brainer.
How to Restore the Full Context Menu
You can revert to the classic right-click menu with a simple registry tweak. Here’s how:
reg add "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32" /f /ve
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Hit Win + S, type “cmd”, right-click and choose “Run as administrator.”
- Run the Registry Command: Paste the first line above. This creates a registry key that tells Windows to use the old menu.
- Restart Windows Explorer: The next two commands kill and restart Explorer, applying your changes instantly.
Practical Tips & Gotchas
- Backup Your Registry: Registry edits are powerful but risky. Always back up before making changes.
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Reverting the Change: To undo, simply delete the
{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}key in the registry and restart Explorer. - Windows Updates: Major updates may reset this tweak. If your menu reverts, just repeat the steps.
- Why Not Use Third-Party Tools? Registry edits are cleaner, don’t require extra software, and are less likely to break with updates.
Final Thoughts
Windows 11’s streamlined context menu might look pretty, but for those of us who live and breathe efficiency, it’s a step backward. Don’t settle for extra clicks—take control and restore your workflow. If you run into trouble, drop me a line; I’m always happy to help fellow devs cut through the nonsense.
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