Microsoft is shipping Windows 11 with a new simplified right-click context menu, making it easier for the end user to navigate. However, you may prefer the classic menu that you were used to with Windows 10 (and earlier).
Next, we explain how you can restore Windows 10 context menu in Windows 11 Home or Pro.
How to Recover (Restore) the old context menu in Windows 11
Here is an example of the new context menu in Windows 11. You can still get the classic menu you are looking for, but you have to do an extra click on “Show more options” or use the keyboard shortcut Shift + F10.
Important: Doing this requires the Registry to be “hacked”, which is not for the faint of heart. If you make a mistake, it can make your system unstable or worse. Make sure to back up the Registry, create a system restore point, or create a full backup of your PC first.
To get started, press the Windows key on your keyboard or click the button Beginning. In the search bar, scribe: regedit and press Enter, or choose the result of the Registry Editor in the search list.
Then head to the following path in Registry Editor. Note that you can copy and paste into the address bar to get there faster than expanding each key individually.
ComputerHKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARECLASSESCLSID
Now right click on an empty area in the right section and go to New> Password and paste the following:
{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}
Then right-click on the key you just pasted and go to New> Password and give it a name:
InprocServer32
Double click the default key under InprocServer32 to open it. Do not enter a value – close it. That will make the value input be at White instead of “Value not established”.
It is almost over. Exit Registry Editor and restart your Windows 11 PC.
Using the Windows 10 context menu in Windows 11
After restarting your PC, right-click on a file and you will find the familiar context menu that you are used to. The same context menu will also appear when you right-click in File Explorer.
You won’t have to go through the additional step of clicking “Show more options” in the new simplified menu.
