Customize Windows 11 Right-Click Menu: A Practical Guide

Cover image alt: Laptop and mouse on a wooden desk, ready to customize the Windows 11 right-click menu

If you live in File Explorer all day, the context menu is one of the most-used surfaces in Windows. Microsoft has now shipped a way to customize the Windows 11 right-click menu from Settings, with no registry edits or third-party tools. Here is what changed, how to use it, and what to watch for.

What Microsoft shipped

According to Microsoft's release notes for the October preview update KB5127936, Windows 11 gets an "updated context menu that is faster, simpler, and more customizable." The same changes reached everyone on versions 25H2 and 26H2 with the November 10, 2026 security update, KB5132061, as reported by Windows Latest.

From Microsoft's notes, you can:

• Turn built-in commands such as Send to and Create shortcut on or off
• Add commands such as Print
• Show app extensions in the main menu, in a submenu, or hide the submenu
• Show Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete and Share as labels instead of an icon row
• Move Properties to the bottom

Microsoft labels this a gradual rollout, so availability varies by device.

How to customize Windows 11 right-click menu entries

1. Update. Settings, Windows Update, Check for updates, then restart.
2. Open the page. Right-click on the desktop or a file and choose Customize menu at the bottom. Or go to Settings, Personalization, Context menu (the path Windows Latest reports).
3. Disable what you do not use. Toggle off commands one at a time and right-click again to test.
4. Handle app extensions. Every app you install can add entries. Move them into a submenu to keep the main menu short.
5. Choose the layout. Labels instead of icons, and Properties at the bottom if you prefer.

Microsoft's notes add a handy fallback: hold Shift and right-click on the desktop to see more options.

Why developers and power users might care

You do not need the Registry Editor to hide an entry any more. If you manage several machines, the usual caution applies: a setting that changes the shell should be tested before you rely on it, and gradual rollout means two PCs on the same build may behave differently for a while.

Two details worth knowing, both from Microsoft's notes:

• The update also adds Cloud rebuild, a recovery option that reinstalls Windows from an image and drivers downloaded via Windows Update. It warns about data loss, so keep backups current.
• Memory integrity (HVCI) may be enabled on eligible PCs during updates, "while respecting existing user or IT administrator choices." TechRadar reports that some gamers see lower frame rates on older hardware; that is a reported effect, not something Microsoft quantifies in the notes.

My take

I have not got the Customize menu on my own laptop yet — the rollout is gradual, so I am still waiting for it to show up. When it does, the first thing I will do is tuck away the app extensions I never use; over time my right-click menu has collected entries from tools I open once in a while, and they slow down the commands I use every day. Doing it from Settings instead of registry edits is the part I am looking forward to most.

If the option does not appear

Gradual rollout is the most likely reason, but work through the basics first:

• Confirm you are on Windows 11 version 25H2 or 26H2. Windows Latest reports that 24H2 Home and Pro no longer receive new updates.
• Open Settings, Windows Update and make sure updates are not paused.
• Restart after the update finishes. An installed update that is waiting for a restart will not show new features.
• Check again after a few days. Microsoft's notes say features reach devices over time rather than all at once.

Windows Latest also reports that some users saw installation errors (0x80070306, 0x800f0993 and 0x800f0989) with KB5132061 and that Microsoft was investigating at the time of writing. If an install fails, retry through Windows Update before reaching for offline installers, which Windows Latest notes are much larger downloads.

Bonus: stop Search showing web results

How-To Geek describes two newer toggles: Settings, Privacy & security, Search, then expand Show suggested search results and switch off Web Searches and/or Microsoft Store. They are also rolling out gradually, and they do not stop Search from finding local apps, files or settings.

Settings > Privacy & security > Search > Show suggested search results
  - Web Searches   (on/off)
  - Microsoft Store (on/off)

Checklist

• Update and restart
• Right-click and look for Customize menu
• Disable unused commands, group app extensions
• Re-check in a few days if it has not appeared

Your turn

Which right-click entry would you remove first, and do you rely on any custom shell tools that this makes unnecessary?

Sources

Microsoft Support, October 28, 2026 — KB5127936 Preview

Microsoft Support, November 10, 2026 — KB5132061

Windows Latest, Windows 11 KB5132061 is out with new features

TechRadar, Here's everything you need to know about Windows 11's November update

How-To Geek, Windows 11 Search works better when you disable these two settings