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In Windows 11, right-clicking a file in File Explorer brings up a context different menu than in previous versions.

The new version is really great for people who want to pin everything to their Quick Access menu:

enter image description here

But if you want to do anything more useful than that, you'll need to click the bottom option to "Show More Options," which then brings up the "classic" context menu?

Is there any way to disable this so I can just get the normal context menu on the first click? I've followed the instructions here, but neither worked.

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6 Answers 6

Reset to default
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Run this command in a command prompt to switch to the Windows 10 context menu:

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

After running the command, restart Windows Explorer (explorer.exe), which can be done through Task Manager.

To revert to the Windows 11 context menu, use this command instead:

reg delete HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} /f
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    Note: the change will not take effect until the explorer.exe process is restarted. Commented Jul 3, 2024 at 1:49
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Explorer Patcher currently includes the options to use either Windows 11 context menus, Windows 10 (immersive) context menus or pre-Windows 10 (classic) context menus.

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4

The new context menu appears to be controlled by the following Registry Key:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InProcServer32

which on my machine is set to C:\Windows\System32\Windows.UI.FileExplorer.dll.

Note, I was unable to modify the above key, presumably due to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE portion of it. However, I was able to override it by using the HKEY_CURRENT_USER instead. I just tested this on Windows 11 version 22000.493 and it worked:

  1. Open Registry Editor: regedit
  2. Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\
  3. Create new key {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}
  4. Create new subkey InProcServer32
  5. Edit the (Default) String value by changing it from "Empty" to a blank string.
  6. Restart Explorer (via Task Manager->Processes, right click on Explorer->Restart), or just restart the machine.
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  • I found this method at gadgetstouse.com/blog/2021/07/16/… . Having tested it myself, I can confirm that it still works on Windows 11 22H2 with the latest updates. Commented Oct 30, 2023 at 15:35
  • Win11 23H2 HKEY_CURRENT_USER method did not work. Same pinned icons, no Startup Menu. ClassicShell (freeware app), on the other hand, installed without issues and worked. Commented Aug 22, 2024 at 11:35
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You need to use this registry file/code and restart your PC

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00



[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FeatureManagement\Overrides\4\586118283]

"EnabledState"=dword:00000001

"EnabledStateOptions"=dword:00000001

"Variant"=dword:00000000

"VariantPayload"=dword:00000000

"VariantPayloadKind"=dword:00000000

Note: Before doing this you should backup the key you are modifying by either saving it as a reg file (Not recommended) or By creating a system restore point(Recommended)

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    Update (July 17): It is no longer working after updating to Windows 11 Insider preview 22000.71 update. Microsoft seems to have blocked the ways to get the old context menu. gadgetstouse.com/blog/2021/07/16/… Commented Sep 27, 2021 at 6:05
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  1. Open the File Explorer. You can do it through the Start menu or by pressing Win + E.

  2. Here, click on the three-dot menu at the top.

  3. Select Options from the menu.

  4. Once the dialog box appears, switch to the View tab.

  5. Then, scroll down and enable Launch folder windows in a separate process under Advanced Settings.

  6. Click on Apply and then OK.

  7. Restart the computer even though it is not mandatory.

  8. Right-click anywhere. You’ll see the old Windows 10-style context menu.

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  • How is launching windows in a separate process related to the right-click menu? Commented Oct 30, 2023 at 14:42
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This method may still work (although unknown for how long):

  • Run regedit
  • Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
  • Create a new item of type DWORD (32-bit) named SeparateProcess (if it doesn't already exist)
  • Set its value to 1
  • Restart the computer.
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