Enable/Disable Windows 11 Always Show More Options from Right Click Menu

User Case: Restore Old Context Menu on Windows 11

To address complaints about the lengthy right-click menu in Windows 10, Microsoft revamped the context menu in Windows 11, aiming for a cleaner and simpler look.

However, this fresh design hasn't been well-received by everyone. Many users find it inconvenient, especially those accustomed to the classic Windows 10 menu. If you're one of them and want to switch back to the full, old-style menu, keep reading for step-by-step instructions on how to restore the Windows 11 right-click menu.

Before making any changes, it's a good idea to back up your Windows 11 system. This backup ensures that you can easily revert in case anything goes wrong, protecting your data from potential loss. Click below to get your free backup plan!

Create A System Backup Image to Protect Your Data🔥

How to Enable/Disable Windows 11 Always Show More Options from Right Click Menu

If you're unhappy with the new right-click menu in Windows 11, don't worry—you can switch back to the classic version. In the following guide, we'll show you step-by-step how to restore the old context menu. Just follow along to bring back the familiar right-click menu from previous Windows versions.

Method 1. Change the File Explorer Options

If you want to disable Windows 11 always Show More Options from the right-click menu, then the first thing you should try is to change the File Explorer options.

💥Note: This method also restores other content to the old Windows 10 style at the same time.

1. Use Windows + E to open the File Explorer, click the ... icon in the upper right ribbon, and click Options in the expanded menu.
2. In the top ribbon of the Folder Options window, switch to the View tab.
3. In the Advanced settings list, find and check the Launch folder windows in a separate process option. Tap the OK button again to save the current changes.

💥Note: If the folder option changes do not take effect, restart your computer.

Method 2. Restore the Full Right-Click Menu through CMD

The Command Prompt (CMD) is a built-in tool in Windows 11 that allows you to run command line instructions. By using specific commands, you can modify settings to make the full right-click context menu appear by default in Windows 11. This method only works within CMD, not in Windows PowerShell, so be sure to use the correct tool. CMD provides a straightforward way to customize various aspects of your system, including the right-click menu. Follow the instructions carefully to make this change effective.

1. Use Windows + S to open the search bar, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.
2. Enter the following command in the command prompt character window and press Enter to execute the command to disable Show More Options in Windows 11.

• reg add HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32 /ve /d "" /f

💥Note: If you let Windows 11 show more options by default, please execute the following command in CMD: reg. exe delete "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}" /f.

Method 3. Modify the Registry Editor to Restore the Full Right-Click Menu

The Registry Editor is mainly used to review and change the settings of the system registry programs. If you want to let Windows 11 disable "Show More Options" by default, then modifying the Registry Editor is a very effective method. Here is how to disable Show More Options on Windows 11 via Registry:

💥Note: There is a risk of modifying the Registry Editor, so we recommend you make a system backup before you operate.

1. Use Windows + R to open the Run window, type regedit and press Enter.
2. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following path.

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID

3. Right-click on the CLSID and select New, then select Key and name this new key {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}.

4. Select the new key again and right-click it, select New -> Key in order, and command this new key as InprocServer32.
5. Double-click in the right panel to open the Default value, set the value data to blank, and tap the OK button.

💥Note: If you want to re-open the new style of Windows 11 right-click menu, please remove the key {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} in the Registry Editor.

Method 4. Use A Third-Party Application to Restore The Full Right-Click Menu

In addition to the three methods already discussed, you can opt for a third-party tool to restore the old right-click menu without the risk of editing the Registry Editor. While many apps can help with this, some aren't fully optimized for Windows 11 and may slow down your system. To avoid that, we recommend using WinAero Tweaker, a reliable third-party app. Follow these steps for a safe and easy solution.

1. You need to download and install WinAero Tweaker first and execute it.
2. Expand Windows 11 in the left panel, select the Classic Full Context Menus option, and check the Enable Classic Full Context menus checkbox in the right panel.

3. Next, you can simply click the Restart Explorer button at the bottom of the window.

Create A System Backup Image to Protect Your Data

If you're not a fan of the new right-click menu in Windows 11, the four methods mentioned above can help you revert to the classic Windows 10 context menu and fix the "Show More Options" issue. Keep in mind, that editing the Registry Editor can be risky, and mistakes could cause serious system crashes. To avoid data loss, it's highly recommended to back up your system using AOMEI Backupper Standard before making any changes.

AOMEI Backupper Standard is a free and reliable backup tool with several useful features.

🧱 It is highly compatible with multiple versions of Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP and so on.
🧱 Backup all contents of Windows 11 system partitions, including system files, boot-related partitions (EFI system partition and recovery partition, etc.), application and user profile files of the system disk, etc.
🧱 You can backup the Windows 11 system to any location, like backing up to external hard drives, network shared folders, NAS devices, SD cards, USB flash drives, etc.

If you are using AOMEI Backupper Standard for the first time, please go through the following to understand the detailed operation steps of system backup. Please download and install the software first.

1. Execute AOMEI Backupper Standard, select the Backup tab in the left panel, and select System Backup in the right panel.

2. In the System Backup window, change the storage path of the system backup, and then click the Start Backup button.

Tips📝: Before the backup starts, you can click on Options, Schedule Backup, and Backup Scheme in the lower left corner for additional settings.

🐢 Options: You can add comments to your Windows 11 backup tasks and enable free email notifications. After upgrading to the Pro version, you can also activate encrypted backups for added security.
🐢 Schedule Backup: Set up free scheduled backups on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. You can also configure Event triggers or USB plug-in automatic backups for Windows 11.
🐢 Backup Scheme: Choose between incremental or full backups for free. After upgrading to Pro, you'll unlock differential backups and automatic cleanup options to manage storage more efficiently.

How to Customize Windows 11 Old Right-Click Menu?

You can also adjust it yourself to restore the Windows 11 right-click menu to the old version. For example, you can add a few frequently used applications to save more time. Please note that you can only add applications to the context menu, not folders and files.

Next, we will show you the steps to customize the old Windows 11 context menu, using Notepad as an example.

1. Use Windows + R to open the Run window, type regedit and press Enter.
2. In the Registry Editor window, navigate to the following path.

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell

3. Right-click the shell, select New -> Key and name it Notepad.
4. Double-click in the right panel to open the Default value, modify the value data to &Notepad, and tap the OK button.
5. Select the newly created key again, right-click it, and select New -> Key in order, and name it Command.
6. Double-click to open the Default value in the right panel, modify the value data to Notepad.exe, and click the OK button.

💥Note: You can follow the above steps to add any application you want to the right-click menu, such as Abacus, Microsoft Word, etc. If you want to delete the applications added to the right-click menu in the old version of Windows 11, please delete the corresponding key in the shell folder.

FAQs About Windows 11 Always Show More Options Right Click

Technical Terms Explained

• Registry Editor: A Windows tool used to view and edit the system’s registry, a database that stores low-level settings and configurations.
• Shell Extensions: These are components that add functionality to the Windows shell, such as adding items to the right-click context menu.
• Context Menu: The menu that appears when you right-click on an item, providing quick access to various commands.

3 Tips for Customizing Your Windows 11 Right-Click Menu

1. Back-Up Your Registry: Before making any changes to the registry, always create a backup. This can save you from unexpected issues and allow you to revert to a previous state.

2. Use Trusted Third-Party Tools: If you prefer using software to modify your system, always download from reputable sources to avoid malware or system instability.

3. Test Changes Before Permanent Use: Always test any modifications by right-clicking on different file types or folders to ensure that the changes you made work as expected.

Summary

That's all about how to customize the right-click menu in Windows 11. If you are still not used to the new right-click menu of Windows 11, please use the above 4 methods to restore the full old version of the menu to fix the problem that the Windows 11 right-click menu always Shows More Options.

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