How to Add Apps to the context menu in Windows 11

How to Add Apps to the context menu in Windows 11

How to Add Apps to the context menu in Windows 11? Microsoft chose to shrink the usual context menu in Windows Explorer with the release of Windows 11. (reached by right-clicking a filename or folder). The goal was to display only the most frequently used potential applications for that specific file type, which sounds excellent in theory, but it is not always the greatest answer for power users.

With a few changes to the Windows Registry file, you may add any application to the Windows 11 context menu. We demonstrate how it works.

In a previous article, we detailed how to use the Windows 11 Registry file to revert the new shorter context menu back to the more familiar and lengthy Windows 10 version. Now, we’ll walk you through the steps required to add applications to the context menu that Microsoft chose not to include in their authorised list.

How to Add Apps to the context menu in Windows 11

We’ll assume you’ve previously adjusted Windows 11 using the longer version of the context menu for the purposes of this Registry file edit. If you haven’t, this tip will still work; however, any additional apps you add to the context menu will appear in the “Show more options” submenu of the default Windows 11 system.

Warning: Editing the Windows Registry file is a hazardous task. A corrupted Windows Registry file could leave your computer useless, necessitating a reinstallation of the Windows operating system as well as data loss. Before you begin, make a backup of the Windows Registry file and a suitable restoration point.

To make changes to the Windows 11 Registry File, we will use the Windows 11 search tool and input “Regedit.” Choose the Regedit programme from the results, and then browse to this key using the left-hand pane, as shown in Figure A.

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell

Add Apps Windows 11 Context Menu
Figure A

Notepad will be added to the context menu as an example. You can add any application you like, but if it isn’t in Windows 11’s System folder, you’ll need to enter the full path information as well as the application executable file name.

As illustrated in Figure B, right-click on the “shell” folder and select New | Key, then name it “Notepad.”

Add Apps Win 11 Context Menu
Figure B

Right-click the newly generated Notepad key and select New | Key again, this time naming the new key “command,” as seen in Figure C.

Add Apps Win 11 Context Menu
Figure C

Right-click the (Default) value in the new command key’s right-hand windowpane and select the Modify option. As illustrated in Figure D, type “notepad.exe” into the Value data box. To finish the process, click OK.

Add App Win 11 Menu
Figure D

Exit the Registry Editor once you’ve completed adding applications to the Windows 11 context menu. As illustrated in Figure E, when you enter the Windows 11 context menu, you will now notice additional programmes displayed.

Window 11 Menu
Figure E

To remove any apps that were added to the Windows 11 context menu in this manner, launch the Registry Editor, navigate to the same set of entries, and delete the keys associated with those apps.

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