Windows 11 introduces a revamped right-click context menu, offering an enhanced experience over its predecessor. However, some users may find it lacking in comparison to the classic menu. Well, if you’re missing the old right-click context menu, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll show you how to bring back that familiar classic context menu, offering you a sense of nostalgia and familiarity in the Windows 11 interface. So, if you’re ready to restore the old right-click context menu in Windows 11, let’s dive right in. Kindly see, Old Windows Folder: Deleting in Windows 11 and How to fix File Explorer thumbnails issue on Windows 11.
Here are other related guides Fix Windows Task Scheduler Error 0x1, Fix 0x800f0831 Error when installing Windows update, and Fix Error 1069: Windows could not start the Veeam backup service on local computer.
Steps to Enable the Classic Right-Click Context Menu on Windows 11
To bring back the classic context menu on Windows 11, follow these steps:
Open the Registry Editor by searching for “regedit” in the Start menu and select the app.
Navigate to the following path within the Registry Editor:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSIDRight-click the “CLSID” key, then hover over the “New” menu and select the “Key” option.
Name the newly created key as “{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}” and press Enter. Right-click the newly created key again, select the “New” menu, and then choose the “Key” option.
Name this new key as “InprocServer32” and press Enter. In the righthand pane, double-click the “InprocServer32” key you just created and set its value to blank, effectively enabling the classic context menu on Windows 11.
Click the “OK” button to confirm your changes and “Restart” your computer. This step is important for the changes to take effect.
Please see how to Disable and Enable USB Usage for Certain Users in Windows, Hosting Multiple Domains In Tomcat, see Latest Improvement to File Explorer on Windows 11, and How to locate directory file context and restore it with SELinux.
Reverting to the Modern Context Menu
If you wish to revert the changes and re-enable the modern context menu, follow the same instructions outlined above, but at step 4, right-click and delete the “{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}” key and its contents.
Command Prompt Method
While the steps outlined above are effective, there’s an even quicker way to make these changes by using Command Prompt. To enable the classic context menu using commands, follow these steps:
Type “command prompt” in the search box, select the Command Prompt app, and run it as an administrator.
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command to enable the right-click context menu and press Enter:
reg.exe add "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32" /f /ve
Close the command prompt and restart your computer.
To revert to the Windows 11 right-click context menu, enter the following command and press Enter.
reg.exe delete “HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}” /f
Close the terminal and restart your system.
FAQ on how Restore Old Right-click Context Menu in Windows 11
If you wish to revert to the modern context menu after enabling the classic one, you can follow the same instructions provided in the guide. However, during step 4, right-click on the {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} key and its contents, then select “Delete.” This action will remove the changes made to the Registry and restore the modern context menu on your Windows 11 system.
Yes, there is a quicker method to enable the classic right-click context menu on Windows 11 using Command Prompt. To do this, open Command Prompt as an administrator, and enter the provided commands in the guide. This method offers a more streamlined approach to making the necessary Registry changes. However, it’s important to exercise caution and ensure you follow the steps accurately to avoid any issues.
I hope you found this blog post helpful. Please let me know in the comment section if you have any questions.
