Table of Contents
This tip is about the how to Get the Old Context Menu back on Windows 11. So read this free guide, How to Get the Old Context Menu back on Windows 11 step by step. If you have query related to same article you may contact us.
How to Get the Old Context Menu back on Windows 11 – Guide
To be honest, I like the new Windows 11 context menu. It has a good mix of old and new user interface features, as well as a new “Copy as path” option. However, some people prefer the Windows 10 context menu in Windows 11 due to the numerous extra options it offers. So if you are one of the customers who wants to disable “Show more options” on your Windows 11 PC and restore the original full-size context menu, follow this article to do that in seconds. You can also find out how to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10.
In Windows 11, we provide two new techniques for recovering the old right-click menu. The first is the simplest and fastest technique, while the second is a manual method that requires more Windows knowledge. As a result, it takes longer. You can select any approach from the table below based on your skill level.
With Windows 11, Microsoft has added a new context menu that follows the updated Fluent design language. It comes in a minimalist design, has rounded corners, a transparent user interface and design elements that follow the mobile interface. What’s noteworthy is that Microsoft went ahead and removed some of the traditional options from the right-click menu. For example, if you right-click on a file or folder, you won’t see the option to adjust the advanced sharing option or the option to create a shortcut right away.
The problem gets worse when you want to use an action from a third-party application. For example, the new context menu does not show any action from applications like WinZip or 7-Zip. You need to click “Show more options” to see the old context menu and then perform any custom 7-Zip action, which requires a lot of clicks and defeats the purpose.
Not to mention that Microsoft also removed basic options like cut, copy, paste, etc., and moved them to the top of the context menu. So users now need to give a design tip (basically relearn) to understand what each button means and does. While most users will get used to the new context menu, I think older users will have difficulty performing actions with the new right-click menu.
So if you want to go back to the old and trusted Windows 10 context menu, follow our guide below.
Without getting your hands dirty, you can bring back the old Windows 11 context menu with a third-party application called Winaero Tweaker. The popular program has added a tweaking section for Windows 11 and, as always, it works perfectly. I have tested this software on Windows 11 stable (22000.194) and Dev builds and have not found any problem. So follow the steps below to get back to the old right click menu:
1. First, go ahead and download Winaero Tweaker (free). After that, extract the ZIP file and run the EXE file. Now install the program the same way you install other applications.
2. Then open the program and go to the “Windows 11” section in the left panel. Then go to “Classic Full Context Menus” in the Windows 11 section and activate the checkbox in the right pane.
3. After enabling the checkbox, you will see a “Restart Explorer” option at the bottom. Click on it.
4. Now go ahead and right-click on your desktop or any file and folder. You’ll find that the old Windows 10 context menu is back in Windows 11. That’s pretty easy, right?
5. Now, if you want to go back to the new Windows 11 right-click menu, click the “Reset this page to defaults” option at the top and restart Explorer. You will get rounded corner UI back and “Show more options” button.
If you want a simpler tool, a one-click solution to go back to the old context menu in Windows 11, go ahead and download this app called Windows 11 Classic Context Menu (Free). Remove the option “Show more options” button and restores the classic full-size Windows 10 context menu on Windows 11.
If you like to manually tweak things on your Windows computer, this method is for you. You can restore the old right-click menu in Windows 11 by adding some values to the Registry. Here it is how to do it.
1. Press the Windows 11 keyboard shortcut “Windows + R” to open a Run window. Here, type regedit and press Enter.
2. Then go ahead and paste the address below into Registry Editor. This will take you to the CLSID entry.
Computer HKEY_CURRENT_USER Software Classes CLSID
3. In the CLSID folder, right-click the empty space in the right pane and select New -> Key.
4. After that, copy the string below and rename the new key.
{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}
5. Then right-click the new entry in the left pane and choose New -> Key.
6. Rename it to InprocServer32 and press Enter.
7. Now, go to the “InprocServer32” folder and double click on “Default” in the right pane. After that, click “OK” without changing any value.
8. Now close Registry Editor and restart Windows Explorer in Task Manager. Or you can just reboot your PC. Finally, you’ll see that the old context menu is back in Windows 11. Enjoy!
9. If you want to restore the new Windows 11 context menu, delete the new registry key and restart your computer. That’s it.
So these are the two ways you can use to get the old context menu in Windows 11. For most users, Winaero Tweaker is an excellent and sufficient tool. However, experienced users can manually tweak the Registry and get the classic context menu in Windows 11. The best part is that you get the old right click menu on your desktop and also on files and folders. Anyway, this is all ours. If you want to unlock Windows 11 for a smooth and responsive experience, visit our link tutorial. And for custom widgets on Windows 11, this article will cover all your needs. Finally, if you have any questions, comment below and let us know.
Final note
I hope you like the guide How to Get the Old Context Menu back on Windows 11. In case if you have any query regards this article you may ask us. Also, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends.