The context menu (right-click menu) in Windows 11 is a big source of frustration for many users. It's slower, requires extra clicks to access familiar options, and is less intuitive than the classic menu. If you miss the simplicity and speed of the old right-click menu, you can bring it back.
Why is Windows 11's context menu so bad?
Windows 11 is supposed to be a step up from Windows 10 , but for many users, Windows 11 feels like a new look on the same old interface. In fact, with its focus on minimalism, Windows 11's changes often seem designed more for the mobile experience than for improving usability on the desktop.
One of the biggest annoyances in Windows 11 is the context menu. Instead of the familiar function menu from Windows 10, you’ll find an overly simplified version. It only offers basic actions, most of which can be performed more quickly with keyboard shortcuts. Adding to the confusion, essential options like cut, copy, paste, and rename have been replaced with confusing icons.
If you want full access to the options, you have to click Show more options , which restores the classic menu — but at the cost of an extra click. The change in styling between the new and old menus makes this transition even more frustrating. The classic menu isn't gone; it's just hidden behind an unnecessary step.
The fact that Windows 11 still keeps the classic context menu behind this mask allows it to be restored as the default menu. While Microsoft doesn't provide a built-in toggle to switch between the two menus, there is a way to do this using the Registry Editor.
How to restore the old context menu in Windows 11
Restoring the classic right-click menu in Windows 11 is simple with a quick Registry tweak. To get started, press Win + R on your keyboard, type regedit , and press Enter to open the Registry Editor .
Warning : Modifying the Registry can potentially cause problems for your system, so only proceed if you are confident you can follow instructions correctly and know what you are doing.
In Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Classes > CLSID in the left pane. Be sure not to confuse this with the .cls folder - they are completely different.
Right click on CLSID , go to New and select Key. Name this new subkey {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}.
Next, you will need to add a subkey within this key. Right-click on the new key, select New > Key and name it InprocServer32.
Now, select InprocServer32 in the left pane. You will see a default value titled (Default) on the right. Double click on it and press OK without entering any text. This will initialize the subkey with a blank value.
That's it! To apply these changes, you'll need to restart Windows Explorer . Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc , locate Windows Explorer , right-click it, and select Restart .
Now, when you right-click in Windows Explorer, you will see the old classic context menu.
Windows File Explorer does the job, but only just. No quick previews, clunky cloud access, and tedious batch operations make day-to-day file management more difficult than it needs to be.
Windows 10 support is coming to an end, and if your computer can't run Windows 11, it's headed for the scrap yard. But there's a clever tool that can get Windows 11 running on your old computer, thanks to a simple hack.
Game Mode, Windows 10/11's performance booster, can do more than just squeeze a few extra frames per second out of your favorite FPS.
When you first bought your computer, it booted up in seconds and ran like a dream. But things have changed over time.
This document is about deleting .tmp files, not how to clear your internet history or browser cache.
There are many ways to take screenshots on Windows computers, you can take them using keyboard shortcuts or using third-party software.
Installing a VPN will help keep your Windows 11 computer more secure.
Windows offers a number of useful accessibility options, ideal for customizing your PC's interface, improving comfort, and even operating things completely hands-free.
If Windows 11 taskbar Widgets are not working, unavailable, not opening, frozen, or malfunctioning and restarting Widgets doesn't help, then you can reset the widgets on your computer.
Using this tool, you can safely check suspicious files, install suspicious software, or browse dangerous websites without risking damage to your main computer.
You may wonder why Task Manager is disabled? But don't worry! The following article will guide you through the best solutions to fix Task Manager when it is not working.
Microsoft introduces redesigned Advanced Settings page in Windows 11, adding system customization for developers and users with new features
Docker makes it easy to build, run, and manage containers. However, you may encounter an Invalid Reference Format error when running or building an image.
Whether you're working at a coffee shop or checking email at the airport, these more secure alternatives will keep your data secure without sacrificing your connection.
When you think of a monitor, you might imagine it connected to a PC or laptop. However, that monitor can actually work with many other devices.
