How to Customize the Context Menu in Windows 11
The context menu is the pop-up list that appears when you right-click files, folders, or your desktop in Windows 11 to copy, paste, rename, and open items.
Apps often add extra options to this list over time, which makes the menu long and messy. Windows 11 includes built-in settings that let you remove clutter and choose what appears when you right-click.
Open Settings Personalization Context menu to turn off unwanted file actions, app extensions, and adjust additional options. This cleans up your right-click menu in File Explorer on Windows 11, hiding clutter and keeping only the shortcuts you actually use.
Step 1Open the New Context Menu Settings Page
To customize the context menu in Windows 11, open the main Settings app by pressing the Win and the I key on your keyboard. Search for context menu options in the search box, or open the personalization section.
The context menu is the list of commands that pops up when you right-click a file, folder, or your desktop. You can find the new settings page using either method below:
- The shortcut method: Right-click on any empty space on your desktop or inside a folder in File Explorer . At the very bottom of the menu, click on Customize menu. This takes you right to the correct settings page.
- The main settings method: Press the Win+I on your keyboard to open the main Settings app . Click on Personalization in the left-hand column, and then click on Context menu on the right side of the screen.
Make sure your system is fully updated through Windows Update .
Step 2Choose Which File Actions You Want to See
File actions (built-in Windows shortcuts for managing files and folders) let you choose which tools appear in the menu. You can customize the context menu by turning these options on or off using the toggle switches in your settings to hide shortcuts you do not use.
File actions are built-in shortcuts from Windows for managing your files and folders. Windows changes these options based on what kind of file you click on.
- Look for the section labeled File actions on your screen.
- Review the list of available toggles for different file types and commands.
- Flip the switch next to any feature you want to turn off to remove it from your right-click list. Turn switches back on if you need the shortcut again.
If you hide something important by mistake in the File Explorer context menu settings, you can return to this screen and turn the switch back on.
Step 3Control App Extensions and Extras
App extensions (extra commands added by programs you install, such as zip tools or photo editors) let you control third-party buttons in Windows 11. You can customize the context menu by disabling these extra shortcuts in your settings to stop outside apps from cluttering up your right-click list.
App extensions are extra commands added by programs you install, such as text editors or cloud storage tools. Managing them stops your menu from getting too long.
- Under the File actions section, look for an option named App actions and click on it to open the menu.
- Look through the list of app extensions tied to your right-click menu.
- Turn off the switches for apps you rarely use, or hide entire submenus if you want a simple look.
Tip: Cleaning out old app extensions can help your computer feel a bit faster. Windows will spend less time building a huge list of commands every time you click.
Step 4Bring Back Classic Menu Styles and Extra Commands
Additional options at the bottom of the settings page let you bring back classic menu styles and change how advanced properties look in Windows 11. You can customize the context menu to restore familiar layouts from older versions of Windows if you prefer the way things used to work.
The additional options section controls where your main commands live and how they look. You can change button layouts and where advanced properties appear.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the settings page to find the Additional options section.
- Toggle the settings to list your main commands—like Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete, and Share—as a clean text list directly in the menu instead of a row of small icons across the top.
- Adjust settings like moving the Properties button down to the very bottom of the list if you prefer the classic Windows layout.
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Summary
What to do next
Your right-click menu now reflects your preferred layout and tools. Test the changes by right-clicking a file in File Explorer to verify that unwanted items no longer appear.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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