On Home windows 11, you may customise the context menu so as to add customized shortcuts, and I’ll present you ways on this information. Though you may make a straightforward journey to the Begin menu to launch an software, search the net, and open a selected characteristic or setting, as our sister website Tom’s {Hardware} identified, it is also attainable to switch the right-click context menu via the Registry to entry some sources even quicker since this particular menu is all the time one right-click away.
Previously, I’ve created totally different guides so as to add particular entries (resembling to entry Home windows Replace, Command Immediate, and others) to the right-click context menu. Nonetheless, in these directions, I define the method of making shortcuts for just about something.
The one caveat is that these directions solely work with the traditional model of the context menu, not the trendy interface. Nonetheless, it is simply accessible utilizing the “Shift + Proper-click” shortcut.
On this how-to information, I’ll clarify the adjustments it’s a must to make to the Registry so as to add customized shortcuts to the system’s context menu on Home windows 11.
Find out how to create customized context menu shortcuts on Home windows 11
Utilizing the Registry, you may add customized shortcuts to just about something on Home windows 11. The directions under offers you some examples of learn how to add entries to launch apps and options (resembling fast entry to particular Settings pages) and open explicit web sites.
Warning: It is a pleasant reminder that enhancing the Registry is dangerous and might trigger irreversible harm to your set up when you do not do it accurately. It is beneficial that you just create a full backup of your PC earlier than continuing.
Launch apps shortcut
To create a context menu entry to begin an app, use these steps:
Open Begin.Seek for Registry and click on the highest outcome to open the app.Open the next path: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryBackgroundshellRight-click the Shell (folder) key, choose New, and click on on Key.
Verify a descriptive identify (for instance, phrase) and press Enter.Proper-click the “(Default)” String and select the Modify choice.Verify the identify as you need the shortcut to seem. For instance, “Open Microsoft Phrase. “
Click on the OK button.Proper-click the newly created key (from step 5), choose New, and click on on Key.
Click on the OK button.Proper-click the newly created key (from step 5), choose New, and click on on Key.Identify the important thing command and press Enter.Choose the newly created key (from step 10).Proper-click the “(Default)” String on the correct facet and select the Modify choice.Verify the trail to the applying launcher (often the “.exe” file).
Fast notice: On this case, I am utilizing the trail to the Microsoft Phrase app, which is positioned in “C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficerootOffice16WINWORD.EXE”Click on the OK button.
When you full the steps, you may “Shift + Proper-click” on the desktop or inside a folder on File Explorer to seek out the brand new shortcut.
You’ll be able to add entries to launch just about any app. For instance, you should utilize these paths for widespread functions:
Notepad: notepadMicrosoft Paint: paintCalculator: calcFile Explorer: explorerClock: clock
You will discover the paths of different Workplace apps in C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficerootOffice16.
Launch options shortcut
To create a context menu to launch a characteristic, use these steps:
Open Begin.Seek for Registry and click on the highest outcome to open the app.Open the next path: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryBackgroundshellRight-click the Shell (folder) key, choose New, and click on on Key.
Verify a descriptive identify (for instance, windowsupdate) and press Enter.Proper-click the “(Default)” String and select the Modify choice.Verify the identify as you need the shortcut to seem. For instance, “Examine for Updates.”
Click on the OK button.Proper-click the newly created key (from step 5), choose New, and click on on Key.
Identify the important thing command and press Enter.Choose the newly created key (from step 10).Proper-click the “(Default)” String on the correct facet and select the Modify choice.Verify the trail to launch the characteristic, for instance, explorer ms-settings:windowsupdate
Click on the OK button.
After you full the steps, the legacy context menu will present the brand new entry.
Some widespread locations within the Settings app that you could be contemplate including to the context menu embrace:
Show: ms-settings:easeofaccess-displayNetwork & web: ms-settings:network-statusVPN: ms-settings:network-vpnStart: ms-settings:personalization-startTaskbar: ms-settings:taskbarThemes: ms-settings:themesPower & sleep: ms-settings:powersleepStorage: ms-settings:storagesense
Launch web site shortcut
So as to add a shortcut to open a web site from the context menu, use these steps:
Open Begin.Seek for Registry and click on the highest outcome to open the app.Open the next path: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryBackgroundshellRight-click the Shell (folder) key, choose New, and click on on Key.
Verify a descriptive identify (for instance, web site) and press Enter.Proper-click the “(Default)” String and select the Modify choice.Verify the identify as you need the shortcut to seem. For instance, “Open Home windows Central web site.”
Click on the OK button.Proper-click the newly created key (from step 5), choose New, and click on on Key.Identify the important thing command and press Enter.Choose the newly created key (from step 10).Proper-click the “(Default)” String on the correct facet and select the Modify choice.Verify the trail to launch the characteristic, for instance, rundll32.exe url.dll,FileProtocolHandler “microsoft-edge:https://www.windowscentral.com”
Click on the OK button.
When you full the steps, you can see the choice to launch a selected web site once you use the “Shift + Proper-click” shortcut to open the traditional context on Home windows 11.
It is necessary to notice that I am selecting the “microsoft-edge” handler to open the net web page with Microsoft Edge.
If you wish to establish the entry with an icon, use these steps:
Open Begin.Seek for Registry and click on the highest outcome to open the app.Open the next path: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectoryBackgroundshellSelect the important thing that represents the context menu entry.Proper-click the key (folder) key, choose New, and click on on String Worth.
Verify icon because the identify for the String.Click on the OK button.Proper-click the “(Default)” String on the correct facet and select the Modify choice.Verify the trail of the icon.Fast notice: You need to use the trail to a “.ico” file or one of many legacy icons accessible via the “%SystemRootpercentSystem32shell32.dll” and utilizing the “%SystemRootpercentSystem32shell32.dll,ICON-NUMBER” path. Typically, the app executable consists of one or varied icons, and you should utilize the executable path so as to add an icon to the entry.
Click on the OK button.
After you full the steps, the desired icon will seem subsequent to the customized context menu entry.
Get icon index quantity
To get the icon quantity, you’ll have to use a third-party software, and this is how:
Open NirSoft web site.Click on the “Obtain IconsExtract” choice.
Save the app in your laptop.Choose the zip folder and click on the Extract all button from the command bar.Click on the Extract button.
Proper-click the iconsext.exe and select the Open choice.Click on the “Seek for icons” button.
Verify the variety of the icon (subsequent to the identify).Append the quantity to the trail within the “icon” String (above on step 9). For instance, “%SystemRootpercentSystem32shell32.dll,137”
When you full the steps, it is possible for you to to make use of the system icons so as to add icons to the customized shortcuts in your context menu.
It is necessary to notice that whereas testing this configuration, for some cause, the ID numbers for icons weren’t appropriate. For instance, if I used the ID “17,” the system would present the ID “16.” If I used the ID 21, then the system would use the ID “20.” So, you could have to mess around to land on the icon you need.
To show off the trendy context menu on Home windows 11, use these steps:
Open Begin.Seek for Registry and click on the highest outcome to open the app.Open the next path: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWARECLASSESCLSIDRight-click the CLSID key (folder) key, choose New, and click on on Key.
Verify the {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} identify for the important thing and press Enter.Proper-click the newly created key (folder), choose New, and click on on Key.
Verify the InprocServer32 for the important thing and press Enter.Proper-click the default String and select the Modify choice.Click on on the “Worth information” area and press the house and backspace keys.
Click on the OK button.
After you full the steps, you’ll have to restart the pc to have entry to the traditional menu and the brand new shortcuts with out additional steps.
Extra sources
For extra useful articles, protection, and solutions to widespread questions on Home windows 10 and Home windows 11, go to the next sources: