Windows 11 does not include one general setting for adding, removing, or rearranging every File Explorer right-click command. What you can change depends on what you clicked and which apps are installed. Start with the built-in menu tools, then use the related app or file-type setting when that is the result you want.
How to change right-click options in Windows 11
- Right-click the file or folder you want to use. The commands depend on the selected item, so begin with the actual file, folder, or desktop location.
- Check the common action icons. Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Share, and Delete can appear as icons at the top of the Windows 11 menu. Hover over an icon to see its name.
- Select Show more options when a command is missing. This opens the fuller menu for that item, including legacy app extensions that do not appear in the streamlined menu.
- Change the default app when you want a file type to open differently. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for the file extension or protocol, and choose an available app. This changes which app opens that type of file; it does not create a general-purpose right-click command.
- Manage the app that owns an unwanted command. Check that app’s own settings or support documentation. If you no longer use the app, remove it through Settings > Apps > Installed apps when the app offers an uninstall option.
Windows 11 uses a shorter File Explorer context menu for common actions. Microsoft says that older Windows 10 extensions remain available through Show more options. Right-click the item, select Show more options, and then choose the command you need. This is the safest solution when an existing app command is simply hidden from the first menu.
You can also hold Shift while right-clicking in File Explorer to open the expanded menu directly. If you are using only the keyboard, select the item and press Shift + F10 to open its context menu. For more keyboard methods, see our guide to right-clicking without a mouse in Windows 11.
Change which app opens a file type
Changing a default app is appropriate when the right-click task is really about choosing which program opens a file. For example, you can set a different app for .txt files without editing the Registry.
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps, then Default apps.
- Search for the file extension or link type you want to change, such as
.txt. - Select the current app and choose one of the available apps.
Windows uses the app association to decide which program opens that type of file. It does not promise that every app will add a command to the first right-click menu. Microsoft documents the available steps in its guide to changing default apps.
Remove an app command safely
A right-click command can be supplied by the app that installed it. Windows does not provide a universal consumer control for deleting arbitrary File Explorer commands. Check the app’s settings or support site first. If the command belongs to an app you no longer need, use the app’s normal uninstall path instead of deleting Registry keys whose purpose is unclear.
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find the app that owns the command.
- Select More, then Uninstall, if you intend to remove the app.
- Follow the on-screen steps and then check the context menu again.
Why a generic Registry guide is not enough
Context-menu integration is specific to the app and the type of item it handles. Microsoft documents app developers registering commands and extension handlers for defined scenarios. A generic instruction to add or delete keys under ContextMenuHandlers does not identify which app owns a command or provide a complete, supported procedure for adding one. Avoid Registry modifications and downloadable Registry files when the goal is to use an existing command, change a default app, or remove an app you no longer use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make every old command appear in the first Windows 11 menu?
Windows 11 does not provide a general Settings switch for that. Use Show more options to access legacy commands for the selected item.
Why is a command missing after I right-click?
It may be available under Show more options, or it may be supplied only when an associated app is installed and supports that item type. Check the app developer’s documentation for app-specific behavior.
Does changing the default app add a new right-click command?
No. It changes which app opens the file type or link type you choose.
Should I delete Registry keys to remove a menu item?
Not as a general troubleshooting method. Use the owning app’s settings or its standard uninstall path when you no longer need the app.
Summary
- Right-click the item you want to use.
- Check the common action icons.
- Select Show more options for older app commands.
- Use Default apps to change file associations.
- Use the app’s settings or uninstall path to manage app-owned commands.
Windows 11 makes the first right-click menu shorter, but it still provides access to compatible older commands through Show more options. Use built-in menu access, Default apps, and the owning app’s supported controls instead of attempting a generic Registry change.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.