How you can add your own options to the Windows context menu

The context menu in Windows 11’s File Explorer serves as a convenient gateway for executing various actions, many of which are tied to the applications installed on your system. While numerous applications automatically generate context menu entries, users may desire to create personalized shortcuts for easier access. This can be achieved with a bit of effort and technical know-how.

There are two primary methods to add items to the Windows context menu: utilizing the Registry Editor or employing third-party applications. This discussion will concentrate on the former, which does not necessitate any additional software installation. However, it is crucial to note that modifications will not affect the modern context menu in Windows 11. To view your new entries, you must either select Show more options or hold down the Shift key while right-clicking to access the classic context menu. Alternatively, users can set the extended context menu to open by default, a feature that is more straightforward in Windows 10.

How to add items to the Windows context menu with Registry Editor

To add items to the context menu using the Registry Editor, follow these steps:

1. Open Registry Editor by searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Navigate to the appropriate folder based on where you want to add the options:
   1. For right-clicking on a file: HKEYCLASSESROOT*shell
   2. For right-clicking a folder in the left-side navigation pane: HKEYCLASSESROOTDirectoryshell
   3. For right-clicking an empty area or folder on the main pane: HKEYCLASSESROOTDirectoryBackgroundshell
      
      If you lack administrator permissions, replace HKEYCLASSESROOT with HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareClasses to modify settings for your account only.
3. Right-click the shell folder and select New > Key.
4. Name the new folder with a recognizable title.
5. Select the newly created folder and double-click the (Default) value in the right pane to edit it. Enter the text you wish to display in the context menu, then click OK.
6. To add an icon to the context menu entry, right-click an empty area in the right pane and choose New > String value. Name this new item Icon.
7. Double-click the Icon item. To use the icon for an application, enter the path of the app’s executable file. For example, for the Brave browser, the path would be:

   "C:UsersjoaocAppDataLocalBraveSoftwareBrave-BrowserApplicationbrave.exe"

8. Right-click the folder created in step 3 and select New > Key again, naming this folder Command.
9. Click the Command folder and double-click the (Default) value in the right-side pane.
10. Enter the command you want the item to execute. For instance, to open the Brave browser, you would copy the path to the app’s main executable file:

    "C:UsersjoaocAppDataLocalBraveSoftwareBrave-BrowserApplicationbrave.exe"

11. If you wish to pass the current path of the file you’re right-clicking to the app, append %1. For folders or empty areas, use %v instead. The final value might look like this:

    "C:UsersjoaocAppDataLocalBraveSoftwareBrave-BrowserApplicationbrave.exe" "%1"

12. Click OK to finalize the entry.
13. Repeat this process for any additional entries you wish to create.

Should you need to remove any entries, simply delete the key you created in step 3.

Creating shortcuts to websites

Additionally, you can configure commands to open specific websites. To do this, include the URL of the desired website alongside the browser’s executable path. For example, the command would be:

"C:UsersjoaocAppDataLocalBraveSoftwareBrave-BrowserApplicationbrave.exe" https://www.xda-developers.com

Creating shortcuts to specific Windows features

The aforementioned steps can be applied to most installed applications. However, certain built-in Windows features do not have a single executable file. Instead, these features are identified by a CLSID, which can be referenced in the Command key. Below is a table of useful CLSIDs for various Windows features:

Simply copy and paste any of the commands from the right side of the table into the value data field of your Command key.

Using a third-party app

If directly editing the registry feels daunting, consider using third-party applications that simplify the process of adding options to the context menu. While these applications generally offer similar functionalities to the Registry Editor, they often provide a more user-friendly interface.

One noteworthy option is Custom Context Menu, available on GitHub and the Microsoft Store. This application allows users to add options to the modern Windows 11 context menu, facilitating the creation of new entries with titles, paths, arguments, and icons in a more intuitive manner.

Alternatively, Open++ is another tool that works with the classic context menu, allowing for similar customization.

Make the context menu more useful

Regardless of the method you choose, enhancing the context menu on Windows can significantly streamline your workflow. By adding shortcuts for frequently used applications or actions, you can tailor the menu to better suit your needs, whether you’re using Windows 11 or an earlier version. With a little creativity and technical insight, the context menu can become a powerful tool in your daily computing experience.