Restore Old Context Menu in Windows 11: Tried 4 Different Methods, None Work
Windows 11 has brought many changes and new features to the table, but not all of them are well-received. One such change is the new context menu design, which is a departure from the classic design that Windows users have been accustomed to.
Why the Need to Restore the Old Context Menu?
The new context menu in Windows 11 is simplified and optimized for touchscreens. However, it lacks some of the options and customization capabilities of the old context menu. For power users and those who prefer a more traditional desktop experience, the new context menu may feel limiting.
Methods Tried to Restore the Old Context Menu
In this article, we will explore four different methods that have been attempted to restore the old context menu in Windows 11. Unfortunately, none of these methods have been successful.
Method 1: Adding a Registry Key
The first method involves adding a registry key to revert to the old context menu. The steps are as follows:
- Press
Win + Rto open the Run dialog box. - Type
regeditand press Enter to open the Registry Editor. - Navigate to the following key:
HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32 - Right-click on the (Default) value and select Modify.
- Change the Value data to
C:\Windows\System32\shell32.dlland click OK.
Unfortunately, this method does not work in Windows 11. The old context menu does not appear even after restarting the computer.
Method 2: Using Winaero Tweaker
Winaero Tweaker is a popular tool for customizing Windows. It has an option to restore the old context menu. However, this option does not work in Windows 11.
Method 3: Using PowerShell
PowerShell can be used to modify the context menu, but it cannot restore the old context menu in Windows 11. The following command can be used to add an option to the context menu, but it does not revert to the classic design:
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Classes\Directory\Background\shell' -Name 'Open with Notepad' -Value 'notepad.exe "%1"' -PropertyType String -ForceMethod 4: Adding Manually by Typing
The last method involves manually typing the command to open the classic context menu in the Run dialog box. However, this command does not work in Windows 11:
shell:::{BB06C0E4-D293-4f75-8A90-CB05B64771E1}Restoring the old context menu in Windows 11 is currently not possible using the methods described in this article. It is possible that Microsoft will add this feature in a future update, but for now, users will have to adapt to the new design.