The Windows 11 right-click menu is getting the cleanup people have wanted for years. Microsoft shipped a shorter, faster File Explorer menu in late October, and you can now decide which items show up. It is rolling out gradually, so you may need a small nudge to see it.
Here’s the short version of what you need to know:
- It arrived in the optional update KB5127936 (build 26200.9818 on 25H2, 26300.9818 on 26H2).
- Look for a “Customize menu” link at the bottom of the menu. If you see it, you already have it.
- Settings live under Personalization > Context menu.
- Shift + right-click still opens the old, full menu.
Skip the optional update and you should get it later. Windows Latest says it will come in the November 2026 update.
What actually changed in the right-click menu
Microsoft says the old menu got slow because every app that adds its own entry makes Windows do extra work each time you right-click. The Windows Insider blog describes the new version as opening “much more quickly” but gives no timing numbers.
In its hands-on test, Windows Latest saw the menu for an image drop from 20 items to 8. AI actions, “Send to My Phone,” and “Share with” no longer sit in the default view. App extensions now load only when you open their submenu.
Here is how the old and new menus compare:
| Item | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Default menu length | Long, with many app entries | Shorter; extras moved into a submenu |
| Third-party app entries | Load every time you right-click | Load only when you open the submenu |
| Not in the menu | Can be switched on | |
| Properties | Near the top | Can be moved to the bottom, like Windows 10 |
| Old full menu | Needed “Show more options” | Still there via Shift + right-click or a setting |
In everyday use, that means right-clicking a photo no longer buries Copy and Rename under a pile of share and AI shortcuts. The commands you use daily stay in reach, and the rest wait one click away.
The takeaway: fewer items on screen means less hunting, and less background work means a snappier menu.
How to customize the Windows 11 right-click menu
Right-click any file and click “Customize menu” at the bottom. Or open Settings > Personalization > Context menu directly. You get three groups of controls.
File actions let you toggle Send to, Print, Create shortcut, Copy as path, and Rotate image. App extensions show a toggle for each installed app that adds a menu entry. Turning one on moves it to the main menu.
A few extra switches are worth knowing about:
- Show app extensions submenu: when this is off, extra app entries are hidden completely.
- Arrange primary actions inline: shows Cut, Copy, and Paste as a list instead of an icon row.
- Move Properties to the bottom of the menu.
- Show more options: brings back the legacy menu by default.
If you rely on tools like 7-Zip that still use the old menu, turn on “Show more options” and you won’t have to hold Shift each time.
Don’t see “Customize menu”? How to get it
Start with the update. Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. If KB5127936 doesn’t appear, switch on “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” and check again. After a restart, run winver to confirm your build.
Microsoft pushes features out in waves, so the update alone may not show the new menu. Windows Latest suggests the community tool ViVeTool as a workaround:
- Download ViVeTool v0.3.4 from its official GitHub releases page and extract it to
C:\ViVeTool. - Open Terminal as administrator and run
cd C:\ViVeTool. - Run
vivetool /enable /id:60813048, then restart.
If nothing changes, Windows Latest says some builds also need IDs 49453572 and 61934903. To undo it, run the same command with /disable.
Heads-up: ViVeTool switches on features Microsoft hasn’t enabled for your PC yet. That’s unofficial, so waiting for the regular rollout is the safer choice on a work machine.
Known quirks to expect
This is a new feature, and it shows. Windows Latest spotted a Quick Share toggle labeled “Context menu,” which looks like a bug. “Ask Copilot” also sits above the app extensions submenu and has to be turned off by hand.
The list of app toggles also depends on what you have installed, so your screen may not match screenshots you see online.
The same update bundles other changes, such as a new adaptive hibernate behavior and the cloud rebuild option. If you’re still deciding whether to move up, our guide to getting Windows 11 26H2 covers the basics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the new Windows 11 right-click menu on by default?
Not yet for everyone. Microsoft is rolling it out in stages, so you may see it after installing KB5127936, or only when the November update arrives.
How do I get the old right-click menu back?
Hold Shift while you right-click, or turn on “Show more options” in Settings > Personalization > Context menu.
Does it work on Windows 10?
No. The update applies to Windows 11 25H2 and 26H2.
Will removing items from the menu uninstall anything?
No. Toggles only change what shows in the menu. Your apps stay installed and keep working.
If you spend your day in File Explorer, this one is worth the five minutes. Trim the menu to the handful of actions you really use, keep “Show more options” on only if an older app needs it, and leave ViVeTool alone unless you’re comfortable with unofficial tweaks. Everyone else can simply wait for November’s update.
Leave a Reply