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 has an action menu, but most installed applications, because this the most convenient way access to the most important commands.
Immediately after installing the operating system, 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 contextual Windows menu 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:
- Enter the menu Start.
- 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 mistakes, be sure to do backup copy registry before you start editing it!
Procedure for creation backup file registry:
- Go to the menu " File" in an open editor.
- Select the item “ Export».
- In the window that opens, in the lower field " Export range", select " Entire registry».
- 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 a backup using the “ 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. Click right click mouse over an unnecessary entry in the registry 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.
We are already familiar with the concept of a context menu. It's time to deepen our knowledge about it and consider the topic - How to remove or add commands to the Windows context menu.
Windows functionality allows the user to edit the context menu to suit their taste.
Editing the context menu (a set of “Explorer” or “action” menu commands) is possible in one of two ways:
- Through program parameters;
- Through the Windows registry;
- Using additionally installed applications.
Let's see how it's done:
Installed programs themselves often have (by default) the function of integration into a set of context menu (CM) commands. Then such a parameter is present in their settings on the main tabs, or maybe on such as “Integration”, “Download” or “Add”, etc. For example, for the VinRAR archiver it is enough to uncheck the box in the settings:
It is clear that in this way you can either add (install) or remove (remove) command(s) from the list. The same applies to other applications.
Working with the registry
When working with Windows Registry you need to be very careful. To get into the registry, you need to search in the Start menu by typing “regedit” and run the found executable file “regedit.exe”:
Making a copy
Before editing the Registry of any version of Windows (including Windows 7), do not forget to create a backup copy of it to be on the safe side. To do this, in the editor, on the “File” tab, select the “Export” command. Select “Entire registry” at the bottom of the dialog that opens. By assigning a name and specifying the location - “Save”:
If something irreparable happens (especially for an inexperienced person), you can return the registry to its previous state using the “File” / “Restore” command, specifying the previously created backup file.
Cleaning up the directory set
The registry itself looks like a tree-like block diagram (on the left), each of the branches of which has its own parameters (on the right). The “shell”, “Shellex ContextMenuHandlers” and “Folder\shell” branches of the “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ Directory” directory are responsible for the context menu of folders. Having examined the indicated branches in more detail, you can make sure that the “shell” folder contains top part context set, and "Shellex ContextMenuHandlers" - the bottom one. The folder “Folder\shell” repeats the previous one.
Removal program elements from the set is produced in each of the branches. Right-click to select the delete element and call the “Delete” command:
Now for the files
The same procedure is used here, but in different branches. Since the “*/shellexContextMenuHandlers” and “*/shell” branches in the “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT” registry section are responsible for the set of Context Menu commands for files:
The removal procedure is completely similar. Just don’t forget to delete unnecessary things in both branches.
We use third-party applications
Remove or add an item to any context menu Windows versions(including Windows 7) is much easier (and safer for a beginner) using additional utilities.
After installation and launch, in the program window (in the “Type” column), you can see all programs from the Windows context menu (type = Context Menu).
Remove unnecessary items by selecting and clicking the red circle:
Interesting and useful utility with a self-explanatory name (available in a free version) Ccleaner. It has many beneficial properties. Website - http://ccleaner.org.ua/. In our case, it clears the registry of unused entries, paths to programs, shortcuts, etc.:
To clear the Context Menu, go to “Tools” and find “Context Menu” in the “Startup” tabs. A list of applications added to the set and their status will be displayed here (enabled: yes/no):
To delete - while on a line, use the right mouse to call up the “Delete” command. Since repeated return (inclusion in the list) is possible only when reinstalling or reconfiguring the application, it is recommended to select the “Disable” option. - Then it can be easily returned (“Enable”).
Add with FileMenu Tools
It's very easy to add a new item to the context menu using the FileMenu Tools program.
It offers the user three tabs:
- Left - management of suggested elements;
- Medium - to configure the “Send” function;
- Right - disables added ones from the list third party programs commands:
You need to add a new element using the “Add Command” command. The lower one is used to indicate its parameters. right part windows - “Properties”. For example, to add the line “Open in Firefox” to the menu list (opening HTM and HTML files):
You need to enter the name in “Menu Text”, and extension options in “Extensions”:
In “Program Properties” the route to the executable file of the Firefox.exe application is specified:
The added item is saved by clicking the green element at the top of the window (left):
This article helped you understand the various ways to edit the context menu. Now you know how to add and remove elements from it not only using Windows, but also using other programs.
Leave your comments.
In this lesson we will take a closer look at the functions of a very useful key that is found on any keyboard. This key is called the "Context Menu key". It is located in the lower right part of the keyboard between the ALT and CTRL keys
When you press this key, a CONTEXT MENU CALLS UP, exactly the same as if you pressed the RIGHT mouse button.
The trick of this button is that the menu called up when you press will display functions (menu items) that can be applied in current program, V active window, on the desktop, etc. Those. This menu adapts to the process in which you are directly working, and this is very convenient.
Now let's take a closer look at the main options for displaying the context menu in different environments and the functions that can be performed using this menu.
1. Pressing the RIGHT mouse button or the “Context Menu” key on the Desktop Windows desktop
For Windows 7
When you press the RIGHT mouse button or the “Context Menu” key on the Windows 7 desktop, a menu that looks like this appears:
1. At the very top of the menu - setting parameters Your video card.
2.View- customize the display of icons on the desktop
3. Sorting- setting up sorting by displaying icons on the desktop
4. Update- updating the display of content on the Desktop.
5.Insert- if you copied something, you can paste it onto the Desktop.
6. Create. Here you can create on the Desktop: a folder, a shortcut, Text Document, archive, MS Office documents - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. (if installed)
7. Screen resolution. Here you can set the necessary screen settings: select a screen (there may be several of them), find out or set the screen resolution, determine the screen orientation, and also configure other parameters for working with the screen, for example, connecting a projector.
8. Gadgets- selection and installation Windows gadgets 7. Windows XP does not have this feature.
9. Personalization. Here you can configure appearance The worker began to change the background, screensaver, sounds, theme, window color, etc.
For Windows XP
In Windows XP, as many people certainly know, the context menu looks simpler, but performs almost the same functions.
When you press the RIGHT mouse button or the “Context Menu” key on the Windows XP desktop, the following menu appears:
1. Using the first menu item Arrange icons we can perform the following operations:
Screen resolution configured on the tab Options
2. Clicking the RIGHT mouse button or the “Context Menu” key on a file or folder in Explorer or any other file manager.
When you click the RIGHT mouse button or the “Context Menu” key on a file in Explorer or any other file manager, the menu is also adjusted to the file of a certain type. For example, I clicked by video file. The following menu opens:
In this case, the menu offers functions that correspond specifically to the video file: play, add to the list of the player that is selected by default for of this type file. And a number of standard functions: open with, add to archive (if the archiver is installed), send, cut, copy, delete, rename and file properties.
If you click with the RIGHT mouse button or on the “Context Menu” key on graphic file , then a menu will open that will correspond graphic type file:
Here you can immediately open, edit or print the selected file in your default image program. In my case, this is the ACDSee program.
You can immediately make the selected file background image for the Desktop, very convenient when you choose from a large list. And then they go again standard features for working with files.
There are no significant differences in Windows XP,
standard functions for working with a file are called by the command Change
I will dwell in more detail on the “Open with” and “Send” items.
Why is the “Open with” function useful?
Here you can select or assign any installed program, which understands the selected file format. In this case, I clicked on the video file and several programs can work with this format on my computer: Light Allow, WinAmp and of course Windows Media Player.
If not on the list the desired program, but you know for sure that it is installed, select the menu item "Select program". Windows will prompt you to select programs from a list of recommended or other programs.
In Windows XP, the appearance of this window is slightly different, but the meaning is the same:
If you want the selected file format to always be opened by the program you choose, then check the box “Use the selected program for all files of this type”.
If the desired program is not in the list of recommended programs or in others, but you know for sure that the program is installed, then press the button "Review…" and select it from the folder where the program is installed.
Why is the “Send” function useful?
Using this function, you can, so to speak, “without leaving the cash register”, you can send (transfer, transfer) the selected file via BlueTooth (bluetooth), Skype, mail, to the Desktop, to the archive, for burning to a CD/DVD disk, to a flash drive etc.
3. Press the RIGHT mouse button or the “Context Menu” key in any Internet browser.
And here, too, the menu adapts to different situations, depending on where you click on the web page. For example, if you click link, then the following menu will open:
Using this menu, you can open the contents of the link in a new tab or window, add the link to bookmarks, send the link, copy the link, if the link is a file, then you can save it using “Save Target As...”. If you have download programs installed, you can download the contents of the link using them.
If you click the RIGHT mouse button or the “Context Menu” key from the picture on the web page, then a menu with other functions will open:
Here you can copy the image to the clipboard and paste, for example, into Word document, you can save the image to your computer using “Save image as...”, send the image by mail, make the selected image the desktop background, find out information about the image (type, size, file name), etc.
Let me sum it up. In this lesson, we looked at the most popular options for using the context menu, which is called by clicking the RIGHT mouse button or pressing the “Context Menu” key on the keyboard.
Namely:
1. Click the RIGHT mouse button or the “Context Menu” key on the Windows Desktop
2. Clicking the RIGHT mouse button or the “Context Menu” key on a file or folder in Explorer or any other file manager.
3. Press the RIGHT mouse button or the “Context Menu” key in any Internet browser.
The essence of this lesson is to learn how to use the useful functions of the specific active environment of your computer. In any environment, by RIGHT-clicking or pressing the “Context Menu” key, you will get a list useful functions available in this moment time relative to the selected object.
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
Context menu Windows Explorer, this is when you right-click somewhere, that’s when 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 do not have a Run item in the start menu, then right-click on 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.
This article will focus on the Explorer context menu. And to be more precise, about how to add or remove various items and links in it. This menu appears every time we right-click on any element on the desktop, in windows, and even on empty space. On a recently installed operating system it will be relatively empty. Apart from video card drivers and standard partitions, you won’t see anything there.
With time, various programs and applications will populate this menu, and it may already look something like this:
Often in other applications everything looks about the same.
But if no settings were found, then you will have to take a little more steps. Indeed, in this case it is necessary to correct the registry using the registry editor. Therefore, just in case, we make a backup copy of the registry. After that, launch the registry editor and go to this path: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/*/shellexe/ContextMenuHandlers
Adding items to the context menu using the utility
Here, adding a new item simply by editing the registry will not work. Therefore, we will use special program Ultimate Windows Context Menu Customizer. Which allows you to configure the context menu quite flexibly. For example, we can select unnecessary sections in the menu and delete them.
If anyone has any difficulties, write in the comments to the article and I will be happy to help you.
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