This post shows students and new users steps to bring back or restore the classic context menus on Windows 11. As you now know, Windows 11 comes with a simplified context menu in File Explorer and other functions. You can access the full context menu, but you need to click the Show more options from the simplified menu.
If you want to restore the classic Windows 10 right-click context menu where all the commands are shown on one pane, then use the steps below to do that.
The steps below will have you edit Windows registry which can be very dangerous. If you’re not comfortable editing Windows registry, then I’d suggest not to continue with modifying your system registry.
The wrong changes in Windows registry can cause serious issues, including rendering your system inoperable.
The new Windows 11 comes with many new features and a new user desktop, including centered Start menu and taskbar, rounded corners windows, themes and colors that will make any computer look and feel modern.
If you’re exited about Windows 11, keep reading our posts on it.
To get started with restore the classic context menus in Windows 11, follow the steps below.
How to bring back the classic context menu in Windows 11
As mentioned above, Windows 11 comes with simplified context menus. If you want to restore or bring back the classic menus, then use the steps below.
First, open Windows Registry. You can do that by going to the Start menu and searching for Registry Editor.
In the Registry Editor window, navigate to this key folder below. You can also copy the key path and paste it into the navigation bar, then press Enter to take you right there.
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\
Right-click the blank area in the right windows and select New > Key, then paste {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} value as the key folder name on the right.
A new key folder will be created on the right. There, right-click the newly created key folder named {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} and select New > Key. Then name the new key InprocServer32 .
A new key sub-folder should also be created under the first key folder created above. There will automatically be a (Default) key value for the InprocServer32 . All you have to do is double-click the (Default) folder to open it. Then click OK to close without typing anything in the Value data field.
Close out of Registry Editor and the classic context menu should be restored as your can see below.
That’s it!
If you change your mind about bringing back the classic context menu, simply undo the steps above by deleting the keys you created. Then restart Windows.
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to bring back the classic context menu when using Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
