Microsoft unveils customizable context menu for Windows 11

In a blog post for Windows Insiders, Microsoft announced an updated context menu that it says delivers a faster, simpler, and more customizable experience. "The new design reduces top-level clutter, keeps commonly used actions easy to access, and introduces a new Settings experience that gives you more control over what appears in the menu," the company said.

The context menu in Windows 11 File Explorer has long been a source of frustration, as installing more applications can crowd the menu and make it difficult to navigate. Microsoft previously attempted to address this with a modern, simpler menu in Windows 11, but users still had to switch to the older legacy menu to find additional commands. With the new customization option, Microsoft hopes users will no longer need to revert to the legacy menu.

To preview the new menu, users must be running the latest Windows 11 Insider build, specifically build 26340.9212. Since Insider builds can be unstable, it is recommended to test on a spare PC or virtual machine. Additionally, the feature is not yet officially rolled out for Insiders, so a workaround is required. According to a tip from the X account phantomofearth, users need to install a free utility called Vivetool, available on its GitHub page. After installing, users should open a command prompt as an administrator, navigate to the Vivetool folder, and run the command: vivetool /enable /id: 60813048.

After rebooting and opening File Explorer, right-clicking any item will show a new command labeled "Customize menu." Clicking it opens the Settings app where users can customize the menu. The settings screen displays several key Windows commands such as Send to, Print, Create shortcut, Copy as path, and Rotate image, each of which can be toggled on or off. Users can also decide whether to show certain app extensions including Copilot, Microsoft Clipchamp, Notepad, Paint, OneDrive, and Photos, or turn off this submenu entirely.

Further customization options include choosing whether to display Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Share, and Delete commands in a row or inline, moving cloud storage commands to their own section, including the option to show the legacy menu, and moving the Properties command to the bottom of the menu. The more applications installed, the more options there are to add or remove. Users who prefer a sparse menu can remove all or most items, while those who want a fuller menu can choose which commands to keep.

Microsoft has not given a specific date for the feature's general availability, stating that the schedule will depend partly on user feedback and company priorities. The company expressed hope that it will arrive by the end of the year. One writer noted that the customizable menu will address the inconvenience of constantly switching between the newer and legacy menus.