Windows 11 has introduced a context menu in File Explorer that, much to the chagrin of users, displays the “Edit in Notepad” option for a wide array of file types, including images and videos. This feature is intended to be exclusive to plain text files, configuration files, and scripts. Fortunately, users can remove this option by making adjustments in the Windows Registry.
The core of the issue lies in the fact that the context menu does not require the “Edit in Notepad” option at all. A simple double-click on a text file will open it in Notepad by default, and the existing “Open with” option allows users to select their preferred editing application. This situation highlights a broader concern regarding the Windows 11 File Explorer context menu, which has become inundated with options, adding to the frustrations experienced by users since the operating system’s launch.
In contrast, Windows 10’s context menu provided a comprehensive array of choices, from “Open with” and “Send to” to third-party options like “Extract with WinRAR” and “Scan with Microsoft Defender.” While some users found the Windows 10 menu satisfactory, it was clear that an aesthetic update was warranted.
Upon the release of Windows 11 in October 2021, Microsoft revamped the context menu, presenting a modern and compact design that featured a streamlined selection of icons for actions such as Cut, Copy, and Paste. However, the change was met with resistance, as users were required to click “Show more options” to access the familiar legacy context menu they had grown accustomed to in Windows 10. Over time, Microsoft refined the context menu further, improving the layout and organization of popular actions, yet the fundamental complaint regarding the need for additional clicks to reach the legacy menu remained unresolved.
Recognizing the demand for more contextual options, Microsoft introduced Shell Extensions, which display actions tailored to the type of file being right-clicked. For instance, right-clicking an image now presents options such as “Ask Copilot,” “Edit in Notepad,” “Edit with Paint,” and “Edit with Clipchamp.” However, the inclusion of “Edit in Notepad” when right-clicking an image is perplexing.
Why does the “Edit in Notepad” option show up when right-clicking any file?
Once a relatively untouched application, Notepad has undergone significant updates in the past two years, introducing features like dark mode, tabs, text formatting, autosave, and session restore. However, these enhancements have come at the cost of Notepad appearing in the context menu for all file types, including executable system files and images. Consequently, right-clicking any file in File Explorer reveals “Edit in Notepad” alongside other relevant Shell Extensions.
When users select the “Edit in Notepad” option, the text editor opens and displays the raw binary data of the image file, interpreted as text. This anomaly stems from a change in how Notepad registers itself within Windows 11. Instead of identifying as a handler for specific file types like .txt or .log, Notepad now recognizes itself as a general-purpose text editor, leading Windows to expose it for any file that may contain text, regardless of its actual content.
Fortunately, the solution to this issue is straightforward: removing the “Edit in Notepad” option altogether. Users can simply utilize the “Open with” feature to access Notepad for supported file types without any inconvenience.
How to remove Edit in Notepad from the File Explorer Context menu
Edit in Notepad option can be removed from the context menu using the registry editor.
- Type regedit in Windows Search and open the Registry Editor as Administrator.
- In the Registry Editor, expand the HKEYCURRENTUSER, scroll down to Software, and expand it to Microsoft.
- Scroll down to Windows, expand it, and find CurrentVersion, then click Shell Extensions. Your path will look like this:
HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionShell Extensions.
- Right-click on the Shell Extensions key, select New, and click Key. Type Blocked and press Enter. This creates a subkey called Blocked.
- Right-click Blocked, select New, and click String Value.
- Copy this value {CA6CC9F1-867A-481E-951E-A28C5E4F01EA} and paste it in place of the New Value.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC.
Upon right-clicking any file, the “Edit in Notepad” option will no longer be present.
This raises the question of whether other Shell Extensions can also be removed. Indeed, the same method can be applied to eliminate options such as Ask Copilot, Edit with Clipchamp, and Edit with Paint. Simply add the GUID of each extension under the following path:
HKEYCURRENTUSERSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionShell ExtensionsBlocked.
- Add {CB3B0003-8088-4EDE-8769-8B354AB2FF8C} to remove Ask Copilot.
- Add {8BCF599D-B158-450F-B4C2-430932F2AF2F} to remove Edit with ClipChamp. If this doesn’t work, try {8AB635F8-9A67-4698-AB99-784AD929F3B4}.
- Add {2430F218-B743-4FD6-97BF-5C76541B4AE9} to remove Edit with Paint.
While the likelihood of reverting back to the previous state is low, the adjustments not only streamline the context menu but also enhance its speed. Despite the unwarranted additions, the context menu has become both functional and aesthetically pleasing—a rarity in the realm of Windows.
However, it is disheartening that the “Edit in Notepad” bug has persisted for months without resolution from Microsoft. Nevertheless, there is hope on the horizon, as the company is reportedly working on improvements for the context menu, starting with WinUI apps. Users remain optimistic that the File Explorer will receive similar enhancements, potentially addressing the lingering “Edit in Notepad” issue in the process.
