Microsoft overhauls Windows 11 right-click menu with faster, customizable design

The revamped menu, which appears when users right-click files and folders in File Explorer, reduces the number of default options and adds new settings that let users tailor the menu to their preferences. Users can also choose a Windows 10-style layout that integrates the top horizontal panel into the vertical list, or remove any entry they do not want, including items added by third-party apps.

According to Windows Central, which tested the new menu, it not only has fewer items but also loads faster, likely because of the reduced clutter.

Microsoft said the redesign is "designed to feel faster, cleaner, and easier to tailor to the way you work." The change addresses a long-standing complaint from Windows 11 users that right-clicking often caused a noticeable delay before the menu appeared.

The feature is still in testing, so the final version may differ. It could arrive in the full release of Windows 11 later this year, though Microsoft has not confirmed a timeline.

Reaction among users has been mixed. One Reddit user wrote, "They had 5 years to do that. Better late than never I guess." Another said, "Too little too late, I will refuse to ever go back to MS," adding that "They've lost me and everyone who listens to me for IT advice."

Some users linked the performance improvements to memory constraints. One Reddit comment noted, "Probably has a lot more to do with having to figure out how to get Windows 11 working on 8GB of memory since they can't control the price of memory." Another replied, "This is exactly why this is happening. All the 'fixes' started after they announced 8GB Surfaces."

While some remain skeptical, the changes are broadly welcomed as a step in the right direction for Windows 11.