Good day to all. Just recently I had to reinstall the system on my computer. Let me remind you that I use Windows 7 Ultimate. Everything went almost painlessly with the exception of one small nuance. This time I decided not to install any applications, but to leave it only for the system. All necessary programs installed on drive D. But the way I constantly use text editor Notepad++, I would like the item to appear in the Explorer context menu: Open with Notepad++. The fact is that this item appears automatically if you install the editor on the “C” drive. But if you install it on another disk, then such a feature will no longer exist and you will need to do it yourself and manually. If someone finds it difficult to master many letters, then go straight to

The Windows Explorer context menu is when you right-click somewhere, and then this menu appears.

And then I set out to create this point at any cost, because I was very used to it and could no longer imagine my future life without it. 🙂 I felt in my gut that this idea could somehow be realized, but I didn’t know how to do it. As usual, Runet couldn’t help me. the solution was found somewhere far beyond the seas and oceans and in some broken English. The author used too many words from some local slang that I barely understood what he was talking about. Therefore, I will tell you what I understood. 🙂

We will edit. This activity is more for experienced users. Although, if you do everything according to the instructions, even a beginner can handle it. First, we need to open this very registry. To do this, go to Start - Run, write the command regedit in the field and press Enter. You can also call up a window to execute this command using the keyboard shortcut Win + R. If you don't have a Run option in your start menu, right-click Start and select Properties. In the window that opens, in the Start Menu tab, click on the Settings button Find the Run item and put a checkmark on it and apply the saved settings.

So, we opened the Registry Editor. We need to follow this path:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/*/Shell

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/*/Shell

Right-click on the shell and select “Create partition”.

Give it a name, for example Notepad, and in the right window double-click on the string parameter and write the value: Open in Notepad++. This is the inscription that will be displayed in the context menu. Then right-click on the Notepad section and create a subsection with the name: “command”. Without quotes. And in the right window, in the string parameter, enter the path to the program and at the end add: ″%1″ And to find out the path of the program, you need to select the application, press Shift and the right mouse button. The item “Copy as path” will appear. I got it like this:

"D:\Programs\Notepad++\notepad++.exe" "%1"

"D:\Programs\Notepad++\notepad++.exe" "%1"

Everything is fine, the item we needed appeared in the context menu, but it doesn’t look very nice.

Therefore, we need to find out a way to add to the item we created, so as not to get confused and everything is immediately visible and understandable. And there is a solution to this. First you need to find this icon. Its size should be small, 16x16 pixels. I got this icon from the Notepad++ program itself. This is done using the program. To add an icon, click in the registry editor on the Notepad section and in the right window, using the right button, create a string parameter. Let's call it Icon. And paste the copied path of the icon there. If you did everything correctly it should look something like this:

As you already understand, this way you can add almost any program that you often use to the context menu. It’s not entirely convenient to do this, of course, but it’s useful for practice. You will know the computer structure and its file system. Write about your experiments in the comments. I hope everything works out for you.

In this article I would like to consider the question how to add a new item to the contextual Windows menu ? Think this opportunity It will help make working on the computer a little easier, because launching a frequently used program or system tool through the context menu will be much faster than scouring the entire computer for it. I will demonstrate adding a new item context menu using the Windows control panel as an example.

For those who don't know, Context menu- is a graphic element windows interface, which is a list of commands called by the user to select the required action on the selected object. Context menu commands relate to the object on which the menu was called. This article discusses the issue of adding an item to the context menu called up on the desktop. The method described in the article is suitable for all versions of Windows.

Adding a menu item occurs by making changes to windows registry. To open the registry, call up the “Run” dialog box by pressing the +r key combination, where we enter the regedit command and click OK.

Let's move along the path HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell. Where we right-click on the section shell and press the item create -> section.

We create new section with the name of the context menu item you want to add. In my case it's control Panel.

Then right-click on the created section and create a new section again.

We call it small English letters " command".

Go to the command section and open the parameter " Default". Where in the field meaning enter the path to the program or application that we want to add to the context menu.

In my case, the path to the control panel file is in system folder system32.

Add an item to the Windows 10 Explorer context menu for convenient and quick launch of frequently used programs. Quick start required applications no shortcuts. Let's look at 2 options: context menu, let's create cascading popup.

Incorrect operation of the registry will lead to system crash. You do all actions at your own peril and risk. You can use the video instructions by clicking.

Let's add items to the Windows 10 Explorer context menu.

Let's launch the registry editor. Press “start”, line “search”, enter .

We launched the editor, now we follow the path:

Now we create a name to be reflected in our menu. In my situation, the Smite toy:

  • Right-click on the shell line.
  • Create.
  • Chapter.

I made the name of the toy "smith".

We make a command to launch the toy:

  • Press RMB on the section you have made, in the presented case, “swipe”.
  • Create.
  • Chapter.

We set the command to the created key. Create a section, write the name " command".

Now we copy the path of the toy. In my case "E:\smite\smite.exe".

  • Selected the executable (.exe) file of the game, program.
  • Press Shift + Right click on smite.exe, " will appear Copy as path". Only when you press a combination of buttons will this line appear.

Set the copied path to the registry. We highlight our team on the left" command"click the mouse. On the right side of the field, click quickly 2 times to open the window:

  • 1. Select a section
  • 2. Open the “parameters” window
  • 3. Place the mouse slider in the value line
  • 4. Press "RMB" to insert

It should look something like this. The "value" column should contain the executable path to the program.

  • 1. Select the created section from the left in the column.
  • 2. Click on the empty field to the right Create.
  • 3.String parameter.
  • 4. Set a name icon, denote the path to the location of the toy.

It should work. Icon, name.

Creating a cascading menu with items.

I really like this method. You can easily sort everything useful for using on your computer. Create sections “game”, “programs”, “graphics”, place 3-9 applications each. Having dealt with simple method, how to add an item to the context menu, It will be easier for you to understand the essence of the pop-up cascade. A complex procedure that requires attention. We will now work with two registry sections.

Creating a cascading menu. Go to the registry: “start”, enter the word “regedit” in the “search”. We follow the path:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell

  • Click "RMB" on the folder shell.
  • Create a section.
  • Come up with a name. I wrote menu 101.

In “menu 101” we make string parameters with the names of the four keys:

  • MUIVerb(name for reflection).
  • SubCommands(reflection of names).
  • Icon(reflection of the picture).
  • Position(position: above, below).

I want to explain what is in the key SubCommands it is necessary to separate the toys " ; " (smite;Tomb Raider).

A visual representation of the specified values:

  1. Asked icon. (assigned the path to one of the games, exe file, will automatically set the icon).
  2. Position in the context display, I didn’t set it, you can write " Top"-above, " Bottom"-from below.
  3. SubCommands names of names that we wrote with " ; " (smite;Tomb Raider). The picture shows the icons in front of the names of the toys. We will ask them further. You should get something like this, only without the game icons.
  4. Display name, which was written in the value MUIVerb.

In the picture you won't have half of it. Just an explanatory example of what parameter will be displayed. There are a number of other steps that need to be completed.

Four files were created. Now we register the functionality of the shortcuts. Up to this point it will only be reflected Game with picture. For reflection, as shown in point three (picture above). Let's go to the next registry section along the path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\Shell

  • Right click on shell folder, create the sections that were specified in SubCommands(smite;Tomb Raider). There should be two folders with names on the left side of the column.

We created our two folders. After these two sections are created, windows will be displayed in a cascade, but will not function.

Set the default value with the names of the games to be displayed in the pop-up window:

  • 1. Select the section with the toy on the left.
  • 2. Click twice on the line.
  • 3. In the window that opens, write the name of the game that belongs to the folder on the left. (In the folder smite, value smite. Tomb Raider, value Tomb Raider).

We create icons opposite the game names. Create in smite, Tomb Raider String parameters With name icon, in the specified way to the exe file. Let me remind you to copy the path. Press Shift + right click on smite.exe, " will appear Copy as path". . Create a string parameter, indicate the path to the game. Don't forget to write the name icon.

Now we set the command to run so that they function and start. Create a section in each folder (smite, Tomb Raider) with the name command.

  1. We highlight command.
  2. Click 2 times.
  3. We indicate the path of our toy.

.

The context menu (right-click menu) is a convenient tool for speeding up work in Windows. Today we will reveal a few simple secrets of working with the context menu and system registry. Read how to customize this important element to suit your needs without third-party applications, using only the built-in registry editor regedit.

How convenient is the context menu (right-click menu) and why clear it

I would like to immediately define the terminology so that there is no confusion in the future.

The Explorer context menu, or action menu as it is sometimes called, is a set of commands that can be accessed by clicking right(contextual) mouse buttons on any file or folder. Depending on the object on which it is called, the menu will have a different appearance or "context".

Note. Of course, not only Windows Explorer, and for the majority installed applications, because this the most convenient way access to the most important commands.

Immediately after installation operating system, the context menu has a standard and neat appearance, but as additional software is installed, new items are constantly added to it. Eventually, there are so many of them that using this useful tool becomes a chore. Therefore, it is critically important to be able to maintain the contents of the Windows context menu in order for fast and comfortable work.

This can be done in two ways:

  • In semi-automatic mode, using third-party software.
  • Manually, using the Windows Registry Editor.

Perhaps the first method may be a little easier, but with the second method there is no need to use various dubious programs downloaded from the Internet, everything is done using standard means.

Moreover, using the registry will allow you to delve deeper into the internal processes of the system and learn a lot of new things, so we will talk about the second option.

How to edit the Explorer context menu through the registry

Launch the registry editor:

  1. Enter the menu Start.
  2. Enter the command in the search bar regedit and press Enter.

Important! Any careless and thoughtless operations can have dangerous consequences, including complete failure Windows boot. To protect yourself from errors, be sure to make a backup copy of the registry before you start editing it!

Procedure for creation backup file registry:

  1. Go to the menu " File" in an open editor.
  2. Select the item “ Export».
  3. In the window that opens, in the lower field " Export range", select " Entire registry».
  4. Specify the desired location and name of the new file and click “ Save».

Note.If problems arise after manual editing, the registry can be restored to its original state from backup copy using the item " Import" on the menu " File» editor regedit.

As you can see, the registry itself has an original tree structure. The tree itself is displayed on the left side of the editor, and the list of parameters in the selected branch is displayed on the right. To work with the context menu, we are interested in only one section: “ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT».

As already mentioned, different sets of commands correspond to different objects (folders, files), so you will have to edit them in the registry separately. Our main goals: clearing folder context menu And common menu items for all file types.

Important! We will not change the standard system context menu items through the registry. Only items added by installed applications are edited.

Clearing the folder context menu

All directory context menu settings are stored in branches:

... Directoty Shell.

... Directory Shellex ContextMenuHandlers .

... Folder Shell ex ContextMenuHandlers .

If you look closely, you can easily see familiar commands among the branches of these branches. So, a branch of the registry " Directory Shell" contains the items at the top of the menu, and " Directory Shellex ContextMenuHandlers» – bottom. " Folder ShellEx ContextMenuHandlers", basically repeats the content of the previous thread, so remove the same items from both threads if necessary.

All that remains is to remove the unnecessary commands. The choice of what to remove and what to leave on the list is a personal matter for everyone. Moreover, depending on the list of installed applications, the contents of the menu will differ significantly. Right-click on the unwanted registry entry and select " Delete" Then repeat this operation for the remaining selected elements.

This is the neat appearance of the registry branches in question and the menu itself after the cleaning procedure is completed.

Clearing the file context menu

The procedure itself is no different from that carried out in the previous section. Only the branches of the registry branch " HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT", storing the necessary parameters.

Now this:

...*shellexContextMenuHandlers.

They store common elements for all file types registered in the system.

Following the example of cleaning for folders, we delete all unnecessary branches in the registry and get a beautiful and convenient context menu.

Good day, dear friends, readers and other individuals. Today, as you understand from the title, we will talk about the menu right mouse button, that is, the context menu, or more precisely, let’s clean it, edit and add to it.

The fact is that over time the existence of your computer and, more precisely, as you install and remove various kinds of programs, the already mentioned menu turns into a uniform mess.

This happens especially often when you don’t follow all the checkboxes when installing software (although you are not always even given these checkboxes to choose from) and are generally irresponsible about your own system (and this happens, yes).

Anyway, let's get to the point.

Introductory. How it happens

Well, I think it’s probably not necessary to show the bare minimum of what the context menu can turn into. Or show it? It usually looks something like this:

Nice, right? This is exactly what we will be struggling with, because most likely you do not use half of what is shown in the screenshot above and do not plan to use it, but finding the desired item in the right-click menu becomes difficult and time-consuming.

Download the Easy Context Menu program

None other than the Easy Context Menu program will help us edit this whole mess, as, in fact, I hope you understood from the subtitle (and the title of this) article. The program is completely free, supports Russian language, etc.

Then the only thing left to do is to edit all the horror that you have in this very right-click menu. The program allows you to remove or add elements, so you can either clean it up or make it even more cluttered.

How to use the program and enable Russian language

Having launched the program, we will see its main window, which looks something like this:

If the Russian language has not decided to appear on its own, then simply open " Options -> Languages ​​-> Russian" and the program will happily work in Russian.

The program management itself is extremely simple. Do you see the mouse icons from left to right? These are what we need:

They are responsible for (again, from left to right):

  • Applying changes if you edited anything by checking the boxes below;
  • Cancel changes if you have edited anything by checking the boxes below;
  • Editor of the list of available commands for the right-click menu;
  • Cleaning the context menu;
  • Information about the program.

In this article, we are interested in the cleaning item. You can figure out the rest yourself, since there’s nothing complicated about it.

Clearing the right-click menu

Actually, we click on the mouse with a whisk, after which we get a very clear table with your current context menu list, as well as names, registry sections (yes, you can do this not with a program, but through the registry), and the place where this right-click menu item is other information comes out.

Actually, here you can deactivate or activate the necessary items, delete them completely, go to the desired registry section, and so on. Simply put, by managing the checkboxes here, you can remove everything that you don’t use, and in the main program window just add the ones you need (which you may have long dreamed of or, on the contrary, actually didn’t even suspect).

As a result, you can get this (or even much smaller) nice context menu:

Which is already much less than it was in the terrible screenshot above, although it is not yet ideal, because the points that are personally needed by the author of the article are left here.

Well, how and what to add (and there is clearly something to add, fortunately there are plenty of interesting points), I think you’ll figure it out, fortunately this is done from the main window of the program and is no more difficult than deleting something - just check the boxes and apply the changes.

Afterword

That's how things are. Now you can always keep your right-click menu (context menu) under control with the help of such a simple and wonderful program.

As always, if you have any questions, thoughts, additions, etc., then welcome to comment on this article.

Thank you for being with us.