How to remove unnecessary elements from the context menu. How to customize the context menu for productivity in Windows. Explorer context menus
To those who use operating system Windows is not so long ago, the idea of removing items from the Explorer context menu is unlikely to be particularly interesting. But if you have been working with Windows for quite a long time without reinstalling and install it on your computer from time to time various programs, then it is likely that your context menu has grown to serious proportions and looks something like this:
To make the context menu more convenient, you can clear it of unnecessary and unused items. Eat special programs for editing the context menu, such as FileMenu Tools or ShellExView. However, in this article we will learn how to remove items from the context menu using standard means Windows OS.
Removing items from the context menu
The easiest way to remove items from the context menu is to look in the program settings and uncheck the corresponding items.
However, this is not always possible, since some programs do not provide a function for disabling items in the Explorer context menu. In this case, you can use the registry editor and remove items from the context menu, so to speak, manually.
I would like to warn you that before carrying out any manipulations with the system Windows registry, it is highly advisable to first save a backup copy of the registry in a safe place. This is quite easy to do. In the registry window you need to open the menu File and select item Export.
To restore the registry using a backup copy, you only need to double-click on the previously saved file and agree to add information to the registry.
So, we launch the System Registry Editor using the command regedit in the window Execute(Win+R). Then you need to go to the registry branch: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers. Here you will see most of the context menu items.
To remove an unnecessary element from the context menu, you need to click on it right click mouse and select the item Delete.
If some context menu element could not be found in the above registry section, then it is located here - HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\Shellex\ContextMenuHandlers.
In order to remove items from the context menu that appear when you right-click on a folder, go to the section HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Shellex\ContextMenuHandlers, as well as in the section HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers.
If you need to remove any item from the context menu To open with, then you need to look here: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\OoenWithList.
By the way, if when you try to make changes to system registry the message “Editing the registry is prohibited by the system administrator” appears, advice from . It describes in detail how to remove the ban on access to registry editing tools.
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Over time, contextual Windows menu is growing. The longer you use your computer and the more programs you install, the longer it becomes. Clean it and put it away unnecessary fields possible using CCleaner programs or editing the registry.
First way. Go to the Piriform website in the downloads section and download the free CCleaner version. There is only one difference from the paid version - there is no technical support.
Install the program and run it. If you wish, you can change the interface language to Russian.
Go to the “Service” section and select “Startup” in the menu that appears. There are several tabs here, we are interested in the “Context Menu”. Go to this tab, you will see a list of programs that have added their commands to the context menu, and their status: enabled or not. Those commands that you do not use can be deleted. To do this, right-click on the application field and select the “Delete” option. Return remote command This is possible only after reinstalling the application or reconfiguring it.
However, you can clear the menu without programs - by making changes to the registry manually. To do this, open the registry editor (Windows/system32/regedit.exe or through a search in Start).
Find the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers branch. It shows the commands that appear in the context menu of files of any type. Remove values that you think are unnecessary.
File-Based Commands specific type, can be found in the folders of the root branch HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. Select a file extension that you see frequently and remove unused commands.
If you've ever right-clicked on something and wondered where that junk came from, you're not alone.
By Windows default includes many options in this context menu, and the list grows as you install new applications. Sometimes it feels like every app is fighting for a piece of your context menu, even though most of us don't even use half the commands.
Today we'll show you how you can remove items by editing your registry, as well as an easier cleaning method using a couple of free third party applications. We'll also show you how to add multiple useful commands. Without special effort you can “clog” the context menu only with useful commands - optimized and effective.
Editing the context menu registry
If you want to clear the context menu in a brute force way, you can do it from the Registry Editor without the need for a third party software. We'll move on to lighter tools later, but we think this introduction will help you understand how other tools work with the registry.
Standard warning: Registry Editor is a powerful tool and if used incorrectly, it can make your system unstable or even inoperable.
Open the registry editor by pressing the combination Win keys+ R and typing regedit. Press Enter to open Registry Editor and then give permission to make changes to your computer.
Unfortunately, the items populating your context menu are in different places registry You can find most context menu items used for files and folders in one of the following registry keys:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\ShellEx
You'll find context menu items specific to folders in one of these sections:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
You'll need to handle context menu items found in these locations a little differently, so keep reading and we'll explain how to do it. On this moment It may be convenient to find each of these places in the registry and adding to favorites list, to make it easier to find later.
Remove Shell Elements
Let's look at one point as an example. I'm using VLC video player. When I installed it, VLC added a context menu item called "Add to VLC playlist" I never use it and most likely won't use it.
Here's how we get rid of this menu item. In Registry Editor, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\AddtoPlaylistVLC
I noticed the AddtoPlaylistVLC key while browsing the shell, looking for items to remove. Elements under a regular shell key are usually very easy to locate and understand the meaning.
We have several options on how to deal with this. We could simply remove this AddToPlaylistVLC completely, and this will remove the item from the context menu. However, if you don't back up your registry or export the key first, you won't have an easy time getting it back if you change your mind.
Second option - disable the key rather than deleting it. To do this, simply right-click AddToPlaylistVLC or whatever key you are working with and select Create → String parameter. Name the new string value LegacyDisable.
Once you create LegacyDisable, the changes will take place immediately. Right-click a file or folder in File Explorer and you'll see that the "Add to VLC Playlist" item has disappeared from the context menu.
There is also a third option. If you occasionally use a menu item but don't want it to clutter up the regular context menu, you can hide it in an expanded context menu that you'll only see when you hold Shift while right-clicking a file or folder.
To do this, right-click AddToPlaylistVLC or whatever key you are working with and select Create → String value. Name it Extended.
Now it will only appear if you right-click on the folder while holding Shift.
Remove Shellex items
You may have noticed that some of the common registry keys we listed at the top of this section are named "shellex" (shell extension) instead of "shell". You'll have to handle these types of keys a little differently.
As an example, we'll go to one of those keys we talked about:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
Shellex elements are a little more difficult to decipher, but you can identify the element by the key name on the left. Here we will work with Yandex.Disk.3 inside ContextMenuHandlers.
When Yandex.Disk is installed, it will add the “Copy link to Yandex.Disk” command to the context menu. Since I'm more of a drag and drop guy, I've never used this command and I'm going to get rid of it.
You won't be able to use the LegacyDisable and Extended tricks mentioned above here. But, you can delete the entire DropboxExt key to remove it from the context menu (and be sure to return the key if you do this), but there is an easy way to disable it. Simply select the key on the left and then double-click on the value (Default) to open the properties window.
In the properties window, in the “Value” field, change the existing value by placing several dashes in front of it, without removing the existing characters. Then, if you change your mind, you can simply go back and remove the dash. When everything is ready, click OK.
The change will be immediate: try right-clicking something in Explorer and see that the command disappears.
Unfortunately, when it comes to shellex keys, there is no way to hide them in the extended context menu the way we did with shell items. They can either be deleted or disabled.
Explore other locations by file type
If you want to remove context menu items that you only see when you right-click on certain file types, you can get rid of them too. These elements are stored in elswhere. To find them, you need to first look for the file extension key in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT section.
For example, you want to remove the menu item to open Excel document(XLSX) in Excel when you right-click it. Why would you do this? This is just an example. Other applications can also add different types commands you don't need.
You can start by watching next key registry for XLSX extension:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xlsx
Data Column Meaning for the key (Default) lets you know that the actual file type is Excel.Sheet.12.
Now you can go to this extension:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Excel.Sheet.12\shell
Now that you've found the correct shell key, you can use the same methods we described in the previous section about "shell" elements to remove, disable, or hide an item in the extended context menu. Remember string values LegacyDisable And Extended? Yes, these techniques work here too.
Managing the context menu using NirSoft Utilities
Now that you know how to do something difficult, let's take a look at the easy way. Instead of editing the registry, you can download two tools from NirSoft to clean up the context menu.
Why two tools? Because one of them handles ordinary elements shell, and one handles shellex elements. They are much easier to use than editing the registry, but a behind-the-scenes understanding of how these tools handle the registry will give you the ability to make sense of all the items these tools display.
Start by downloading both tools. The first tool is ShellMenuView, which handles regular shell items. The second tool is ShellExView, which handles shellex elements. Scroll down to the bottom of both of these pages to find the download links. The tools work with almost any version of Windows, from 98 all the way up to 10.
In the ShellMenuView window, simply look through the list until you find the item you want to disable. You can only disable items using these tools, not remove them or hide them in the advanced context menu. And by the way, these tools disable items by creating a LegacyDisable inside the corresponding key - just like we did when editing the registry manually.
When you find the item you want, click the Disable button on the toolbar (red light).
Another benefit of using these tools is that you can select multiple items and then disable them all at once. In our example, we disabled the "Add to VLC Playlist" item only when right-clicking on a folder (the same example we used in the registry key earlier), but we could easily select all the "Add to VLC Playlist" items and then click Disable to remove this command from the context menu of all supported file types.
When you are done removing shell elements, next step will launch the ShellExView tool and remove shellex elements. This works exactly the same as the first tool. Simply select one or more items and then click the Disable button to remove items from the context menu.
As a result, you will be surprised at how much more pleasant it is to use a clean context menu that contains only the commands you need. So, what are you waiting for? It's time to start making those context menus more useful!
Small and free program FileMenu Tools will allow you to easily and simply edit the context menu of files to suit your needs. It will not only allow you to remove unnecessary items in it, but will also offer to embed several of your own, which are very useful.
FileMenu Tools - optimizing the context menu
Personally, I don't like it when new computer program after its installation, it independently integrates its item into context menu of files and folders. Of course, many people ask permission for this action (usually at the end of the installation process), but there are also clever ones who do not care about our permissions.
If you, like me, are already having trouble with the context menu, then the FileMenu Tools program will help you clean it of unnecessary items and optimize it.
Installation and interface language of FileMenu Tools
I will not describe the process of installing the program, because it is simple and straightforward. If suddenly its interface turns out to be in a language you don’t understand, here link to official page language packs for FileMenu Tools. Select the package you need, download it and unzip it, and then “throw” (copy) the result into the folder with installed program. All you have to do is specify your language in the settings and that’s it...
At the very end of the program installation, you can edit the context menu check the box and it will start immediately...
Adding items to the file and folder menu
So we are considering free version FileMenu Tools, so we won’t consider how to add your own commands to the file and folder menu...
On the right side of the main window of the pop-up menu editor (in the first tab “FileMenu Tools Commands”) you will find big list its additional useful commands, which are recommended to be selectively added...
Here at your service different kinds copying files and moving them, creating duplicates, batch and full (without the possibility of recovery in the future) advanced removal by filters...
…(including locked files and bypassing the basket).
Eat handy tool search and replace text...
...and advanced file renaming is also available.
Quite recently I described to you a separate program to copy path and file name- so, FileMenu Tools can also build such an item into the context menu.
I also wrote a long time ago about cutting and gluing any files into pieces - our today’s heroine of the review can do this too...
There are many additional useful items for the context menu - everyone will find what they need. Uncheck the unnecessary items and click on the active checkmark in the green circle to the left on the program toolbar...
With this action we will apply the changes. Congratulations, now you have new ones useful points in the files and folders menu...
How to remove unnecessary items from the context menu
In the right section of the main window of the FileMenu Tools program there are two more useful tabs - they will help us remove unnecessary menu items of files and folders...
Click on the small plus signs and in the lists that open, uncheck the unnecessary menu items. Do we remember that we need to apply the changes?
I almost forgot - using the left section of the main program window, you can add and remove separators between menu items and sort them...
As you use your computer, your context menu becomes clogged with various items added by your installed programs. To make matters worse, there are time delays in the appearance of the context menu, slowing you down and making you wait every time you right-click on a file or folder.
What happens when you right-click a file? Are there significant delays in the appearance of the context menu? Then I’ll tell you how to get rid of this, or at least reduce the delay. To do this, we will need to remove some context menu items to speed up the process. Even if it pops up quickly, you can remove some context elements just to tidy up the menu. Let's look at how you can customize the context menu
Editing with CCleaner
One of the fastest, most simple ways context menu settings is popular application CCleaner. The context menu editing feature was added to CCleaner relatively recently, so you must have latest version applications to take advantage of this feature.
IN running program, click on the icon Service in the sidebar, select , and go to the tab Context menu at the top of the list. You will see a list of context menu items; you can easily disable and customize the context menu to your liking
To disable an entry in the context menu, select it and click the button Switch off. The change takes effect immediately; no restart is required. The button should not be used Delete- If you disable an entry in the context menu, you can easily re-enable it later. But if you have already uninstalled it but want to see it in the context menu again you will have to reinstall the associated applications.
On the left picture below is my menu before settings, on the right after. The speed of appearance has increased significantly, which is an integral part of comfortable work.
Configuration using ShellExView
CCleaner is easy to use, but you may have noticed that it does not show all context menu options, and therefore not all of them can be disabled. But fortunately there is another tool, ShellExView. After downloading and launching ShellExView, it automatically scans the system.
To view only those entries that belong to the context menu, select the menu item Settings, select Filter by extension type, and select Context menu.
The list includes both third-party context menu items and built-in ones that come with Windows. Third party items context menu are highlighted pink. You can also disable some of the built-in context menu items if you wish.
To disable an entry, select it in the context menu and click on the red button in the upper left corner. When you click the button, a dialog box will appear confirming how to disable the selected element; click OK. If you want to turn it back on later, you guessed it, click on green button(although in my opinion this is not a button, but a light bulb))))
You will have to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. It's not as convenient as CCleaner, but you can manage all the context menu items.
It is also possible to remove context menu entries by editing the registry directly, but I would not recommend this. Even for experienced users, this process is much more tedious and time-consuming (context menu items are stored in five different places in the registry). When editing the registry, it is not possible to easily disable entries in the context menu, you can only delete them - so you will have to create backups each key before deleting it if you want to restore it later. If there are programs, why complicate your life. But unless of course you are young System Administrator, or want to prank a friend and are thirsty for knowledge, then read here to set up the context menu using the registry.
