Windows 11 has come out with new and exciting features, including a few changes to the user interface. However, not all the tweaks have simplified things. For instance, the platform has now ditched the old classic context menu. To access the File Explorer context menu, right-click and navigate to “Show more options.” While the feature isn’t bad, it means more work for some users.
If you love a neat and condensed context menu, this article can help. You’ll learn how to disable the Windows 11 “Show more options” feature in several ways. You’ll also see how to enable it again if you change your mind. Keep reading to find out more.
Disabling Show More Options in Windows 11 using the Registry
Fortunately, Windows 11 doesn’t allow you to disable the “Show more options” menu; the process is part of the new simplistic design. Regardless, you can switch to the old Windows 10 Explorer right-click options by changing the Registry. Here’s how to go about it:
- In the “Search” box at the bottom, type “reg” to open search results, then click on “Run as administrator.”
- Navigate to “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID.”
- Right-click on the “CLSID” folder, choose “New,” then select “Key.”
- In the “New Key #1″ folder you created, right-click it and rename it to”
{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}"and press “Enter.” - Right-click the newly named folder and choose “New -> Key” again.
- Change the name to”
InprocServer32“and press “Enter” to save it. - Open “File Explorer” and test out the right-click option. You should get the original Windows 10 file/folder options now.
The process above instantly removes the “Show more options” menu and replaces it with the original Windows 10 file options classic menu. You won’t have to reboot to get the changes, and they’ll reappear after restarting or booting up your system, unlike other registry edits that revert to the previous settings.
Disabling Show More Options in Windows 11 using the Command Prompt
Alternatively, you can use the Command Prompt to make registry changes. Here’s how to do it.
- Type “cmd” in the “Search bar” at the bottom to open search results, then choose “Run as administrator.”
- Type the following command and press “Enter” to execute it.
reg add HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32 /ve /d "" /f
- If desired, type the following command to revert the changes and press “Enter.”
reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}"
If the “Show more options” context menu doesn’t disappear immediately, consider restarting File Explorer by pressing “Ctrl + Shift + Esc.” Alternatively, you can reboot your computer entirely. Windows 11 File Explorer now displays the classic Windows 10 right-click menu for files and folders. Unlike other select registry edits that return to the original state, the registry change stays when restarting or booting.
While Windows 11 has many excellent features, getting used to some of them can be quite a hassle. Fortunately, you can always revert to the old context menu using the Registry.
Have you tried disabling the “Show more options” context menu in Windows 11? Please let us know in the comments section below.
