Customize Windows 11 Right-Click Menu: 5 Easy Steps

Laptop and mouse on a wooden desk, ready to customize the Windows 11 right-click menu

Customize Windows 11 Right-Click Menu: 5 Easy Steps

If your right-click menu has grown into a long list of options you never use, you now have a built-in fix. Windows 11 now lets you remove clutter and keep only the commands you actually reach for. This guide shows how to customize Windows 11 right-click menu entries using the option in Microsoft's latest monthly update. It rolls out gradually, so here is how to check whether you have it and how to set it up.

What changed in the right-click menu

Microsoft's release notes for the October preview update (KB5127936) describe an "updated context menu that is faster, simpler, and more customizable." The November 10, 2026 security update (KB5132061) carries these changes to everyone on Windows 11 versions 25H2 and 26H2, according to Windows Latest. Microsoft Support's own page for that update is here.

The key points, per Microsoft's notes:

  • The menu opens more quickly.
  • You can switch built-in commands such as Send to and Create shortcut on or off.
  • You can add commands such as Print.
  • You choose whether app extensions (the extra items apps add, like "Edit in Notepad") appear in the main menu, in a submenu, or not at all.
  • You can show Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete and Share as words in the menu instead of a row of small icons.
  • You can move Properties to the bottom.

One caution: Microsoft says these features arrive on a gradual rollout, so they reach PCs over time. If you do not see the option yet, you are not doing anything wrong.

How to customize Windows 11 right-click menu options

Five quick steps, in order. Start with the update.

Step 1: Install the latest update

Open Settings, choose Windows Update, and select Check for updates. Install anything pending and restart if asked. The November update shows up as "2026-11 Security Update (KB5132061)" on Windows Latest's test PC. Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro editions are no longer receiving new updates, according to Windows Latest, so make sure you are on 25H2 or 26H2.

Step 2: Find the "Customize menu" option

Right-click on your desktop or on a file in File Explorer. If the feature has reached your PC, you will see "Customize menu" at the bottom. Select it and Windows opens the settings page for the context menu. You can also go there directly: Settings, then Personalization, then Context menu (the path Windows Latest reports).

If you do not see it, check for updates again in a few days. Microsoft's notes also say that holding Shift while you right-click on the desktop shows more options.

Step 3: Switch off what you never use

This is where the customize Windows 11 right-click menu feature pays off. Go through the list and turn off commands you rarely use. Good candidates for many people are Send to, Create shortcut or Copy as path, but that depends on your habits. Leave on anything you would miss. You can always return and switch it back.

Step 4: Tame app extensions

Over time, every app you install can add its own entry to the right-click menu. In the same settings page you can choose where app extensions appear: in the main menu, in a submenu, or hidden. Moving them into a submenu keeps the main menu short while keeping the items one click away. This is often the biggest decluttering win.

Step 5: Pick your layout

If you prefer words over icons, choose to show Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete and Share directly in the menu. If you rely on Properties, move it to the bottom so it is always in the same place. Make one change at a time and right-click again to see the result.

My take

I have not got the Customize menu on my own laptop yet — the rollout is gradual, so I am still waiting for it to show up. When it does, the first thing I will do is tuck away the app extensions I never use; over time my right-click menu has collected entries from tools I open once in a while, and they slow down the commands I use every day. Doing it from Settings instead of registry edits is the part I am looking forward to most.

Bonus: a cleaner Windows search

A related how-to from How-To Geek covers two newer toggles that make Windows Search focus on your own PC. Right-click the Start button, open Settings, then Privacy & security, then Search, and expand "Show suggested search results." You will see separate toggles for Web Searches and Microsoft Store. The author notes they are also rolling out gradually, and that turning them off does not stop Search from finding your apps, files and settings.

A safety note on the new recovery tool

The same Microsoft release notes describe a new recovery option called Cloud rebuild, which reinstalls Windows from files downloaded through Windows Update. It is not part of right-click tidying, but it is worth knowing about. Microsoft's notes warn that the process includes a data loss warning and offers to remove files, so back up important files before you ever use it.

Quick checklist

  • Update Windows and restart.
  • Right-click and look for "Customize menu."
  • Turn off commands you do not use.
  • Move app extensions into a submenu.
  • Re-check after a week if the option has not appeared yet.

Conclusion

Learning to customize Windows 11 right-click menu options takes only a few minutes. A right-click menu is something you open dozens of times a day, so a few minutes of tidying can make everyday work feel smoother. If the option has not reached your PC yet, it should arrive with Microsoft's gradual rollout. If you recently moved to a new machine, our guide to moving files to a new PC covers the other half of a fresh setup.

Your turn: Which right-click option do you use the most, and which one would you remove first?

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