The last fourth dimension I right-clicked on a file, I was annoyed by the fact that information technology took a total two seconds to load the context menu. Why? Well because I had installed so many dissimilar applications on my reckoner that a couple of them added themselves to my right-click context bill of fare automatically!

Some programs enquire you if you want the choice added to your context card while others do not. At present granted, I probably said yes a couple of times, thinking how useful it would be to have that in my right-click menu, only there are still many I never utilize!

If yous're looking for a way to remove applications from right click menu for files, folders and the desktop, y'all can do it yourself with a little bit of registry hacking. If yous don't desire to bother with the registry, check out my previous post on freeware utilities to edit the correct-click context menu.

Kickoff, take a look at my ridiculously long right click menu:

right click menu

At present that is just way too long! In that location'south Dreamweaver, Notepad, anti-virus, Pinky basket, PKZIP, SmartFTP, and PowerISO! Whew! So how tin can we customize the bill of fare to something more manageable?

Beginning, brand sure to support your registry in case something gets messed upwardly. Now open the registry editor by going to Start, so Run and so typing in REGEDIT.

Edit Right Click Menu for Files

In that location is a correct-click menu for files and another for folders. To get to the ane for files, head over to this registry central:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\

You should now come across a listing like this:

customize right click menu

All the folders listed under ContextMenuHandlers are applications that show upward when you right click on a file in Windows. You lot can either delete the folder to remove the pick or just disable the folder, which is better in case you lot want to bring it back later on.

Y'all can disable an application past clicking on the folder in the left pane and so correct-clicking on the fundamental value in the right pane and choosing "Alter".

modify key

All you need to do is add a minus sign without the parentheses (–) in front end of the key value similar shown beneath:

edit registry

Click OK, then the refresh push button at the top and so try right-clicking on the file! The program should at present be gone from the context carte du jour. If the minus sign selection is not working, you can simply delete the unabridged key for that particular program by right-clicking and choosing Delete.

delete right click

You may detect that at that place are actress items in your right-click context bill of fare that are non showing up under this central. That's because not all of the carte items are stored in 1 location. You may likewise find other menu items for programs stored at these locations:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers

registry locations

Edit Right Click Bill of fare for Folders

You lot can also follow the same steps as shown above for folders; it'south just a different registry path. In order to edit the menu options for right clicking on folders, go here:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\vanquish

You'll accept to scroll quite a bit, but once y'all become there, information technology should look something like this:

edit right click menu

Again, you lot can either delete the folders under ContextMenuHandlers or you can simply disable them past editing the key and putting a – in front of the value. Simple as that and works similar a amuse!

Edit Right Click Menu for Desktop

Yes, the desktop in Windows has a unlike location in the registry for its context carte. Luckily, information technology'due south got the same construction every bit we have shown above, and then you won't have whatsoever trouble figuring out how to remove items.

Near programs never add anything to the desktop right-click menu, and then it won't be often that you'll use this registry hack. The location for the desktop menu items is here:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

desktop right click

If you have always wanted to get rid of that annoying Gadgets menu option from the desktop context menu, now you tin!

Y'all can too add whatever application to the desktop right-click menu pretty easily. Just right-click on the shell key and choose New – Key. Name the fundamental whatever you desire as that will appear in the context carte du jour. In my example, I created a key called Pigment.

Now right-click on the new key and again cull New – Fundamental. This fourth dimension name the central command. Now double-click on the Default value in the right-pane and paste in the path to your programme. Hither is what my registry entries wait like:

add item context menu

You can immediately get to the desktop, correct-click and yous should see a new selection for your program!

right click add menu

So those are the 3 different context menus in Windows and how you can edit them using the registry. If y'all have any questions or bug, post a annotate. Savour!