Changing the menu with the right button in Windows. How to customize the right-click context menu. Practical advantages of use

The Explorer context menu is the menu that appears when you right-click (Right Mouse Button) on some object (file or folder) or simply on an empty space in a folder or Desktop. If your system is new, then the context menu will be relatively empty. Is it just something added from the video card drivers, for example like this:

but if the system has been installed for a long time, then there will be more such points. For example like this:

So how remove item from context menu.

In order to remove a program item from the context menu (CM for short), you can use both standard methods of the Operating System itself, and using the programs themselves or specially designed ones.

The easiest way to remove it is to look in the settings of the program (which you want to remove) for the desired item. Usually it is located somewhere in Integrations or Loading/adding. For example, in order to remove the famous WinRAR item from KM, you need to uncheck the Shell integrations:

It’s another matter when you haven’t found the necessary settings to delete or they don’t exist at all (this happens too). Then you can use in a standard way the systems itself, namely editing.
I warn you right away that before starting work it would be better to play it safe and make a backup copy of the registry.
So, let's launch the registry and go to the branch
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/*/shellexe/ContextMenuHandlers

If you haven't missed it, check out the thread.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers
and do the same.

On a note:
If you want to delete an item specifically from KM -> Create

If you want to remove from KM those items that appear when you RMB on folders, then you need to look at the branches:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

For the item "Open with..." the thread answers
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\OpenWithList

For KM Logical drives branches:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

You can also delete items using special programs. For example using ShellExView

Now a little about how create your own item in the context menu.
The fact is that adding such an item for folders or specific files, as well as in “empty” space using the registry will not work. You can only assign it to when it opens with RMB on the Desktop. Therefore, I recommend reading the article and taking advantage of what is described there.

Well, or use another utility - Ultimate Windows Context Menu Customizer() which has a bunch of features, but in English. And there we only need to select the item and delete it:

You can guess how to add your program to KM -> Create if you read the entire article carefully, namely about deleting one of this items. You just need to create a subsection on the contrary and write for the desired extension.

In general, the article turned out to be a little chaotic and more about removing it from the context menu, because... I think this is more relevant, and there is an article about adding. Therefore, if something is not clear, write in the comments. Let's figure it out.

Many people like the operating room Windows system, and many of us grew up with it. But some casual PC users - or those who have just recently switched to Windows - often get confused when looking for information about some of the simple things that control Microsoft's operating system. One of these elements graphic element called "Windows context menu" or "menu right button mice".

Today we will tell you not only about this integral element of interaction with Windows, but also about third party application, which allows you to add custom items to the context menu.

So what is the Windows context menu?

Speaking in simple words, is a pop-up menu that appears when you right-click in any navigation area of ​​the screen (hence the name "right-click menu"). The context menu can be accessed in folders, the taskbar, web browsers, and other areas GUI. The context menu is not exclusive to Windows, so you may have seen it on other operating systems, including Mac OS X or Linux.

Talking about appearance Windows context menu, it looks almost the same everywhere - only the elements inside it differ. For example, the screenshot below shows the context menu that opens when you right-click on the desktop to, say, customize the desktop background image in the Personalization window.

Typically, the context menu contains elements such as “View”, “Sort”, “Copy”, “Paste”, “Rename”, “Properties”, etc. Some of the menu items are context based. In other words, in one of the areas operating system The context menu may contain some items, and another - different ones. For example, the menu that pops up when you right-click on the taskbar will contain completely different items compared to the menu you see in the screenshot below.

Here's another simple example of the context menu that appears when you right-click on a folder:

Now that you know what the context menu is in Windows and how it works, let's look at a convenient and free application, with which you can easily customize the menu.

Portable application, which allows you to add custom items to the "right-click menu" in Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, was developed by Sergey Tkachenko (WinAero) - a renowned developer who is the author of many useful tools, including . The application is very convenient in the sense that the entire process of adding items to the context menu requires a few clicks from the user.

To get started, launch the application. The Context Menu Tuner interface consists of two different panels - the left one contains a list of supported commands, and the right one consists of Windows Explorer areas. To add a command, you need to select one of them in the left panel, and then, after selecting your preferred element in the right panel, you need to click on the “Add” button. As you might guess, the “Delete” button is responsible for deleting added commands.

Additional features of the application allow you to add separators before and after certain menu items. In addition, there are a couple of additional options.

Another interesting feature of the application is its ability to add custom commands for certain types files. Once you open the “Select File Type” window, which you can access by clicking on the “Add -> Add to Specified File Type” button in the main application window, you will see an impressive number of supported file extensions. The list is very long, so to quickly find a specific file type, use the search bar.

The screenshot below shows my context menu, which I modified using Context Menu Tuner:

That's all. Now you know what the Windows context menu is and a simple solution to edit it.

Have a great day!

The context menu (right-click menu) is a convenient tool for speeding up work in Windows. Today we will reveal a few simple secrets of working with the context menu and the system registry. Read how to customize this important element to suit your needs without third-party applications, using only the built-in registry editor regedit.

How convenient is the context menu (right-click menu) and why clear it

I would like to immediately define the terminology so that there is no confusion in the future.

The Explorer context menu, or action menu as it is sometimes called, is a set of clickable commands right(contextual) mouse buttons on any file or folder. Depending on the object it is called on, the menu will have different type or "context".

Note. Of course, not only Windows Explorer, and for the majority installed applications, because this is the most convenient way to access the most important commands.

Immediately after installing the operating system, the context menu has a standard and neat appearance, but as additional software is installed, new items are constantly added to it. Eventually, there are so many of them that using this useful tool becomes a chore. Therefore, it is critically important to be able to maintain the contents of the Windows context menu in order for fast and comfortable work.

This can be done in two ways:

• In semi-automatic mode, using third-party software.
• Manually, using the Windows Registry Editor.

Perhaps the first method may be a little easier, but with the second method there is no need to use various dubious programs downloaded from the Internet, everything is done using standard means.

Moreover, using the registry will allow you to delve deeper into the internal processes of the system and learn a lot of new things, so we will talk about the second option.

How to edit the Explorer context menu through the registry

Launch the registry editor:

1. Enter the menu Start.
2. Enter the command in the search bar regedit and press Enter.

Important! Any careless and thoughtless operations can have dangerous consequences, including complete failure Windows boot. To protect yourself from errors, be sure to make a backup copy of the registry before you start editing it!

Procedure for creation backup file registry:

1. Go to the menu " File" in an open editor.
2. Select the item “ Export».
3. In the window that opens, in the lower field " Export range", select " Entire registry».
4. Specify the desired location and name of the new file and click “ Save».

Note.If problems arise after manual editing, the registry can be restored to its original state from backup copy using the item " Import" on the menu " File» editor regedit.

As you can see, the registry itself has an original tree structure. The tree itself is displayed on the left side of the editor, and the list of parameters in the selected branch is displayed on the right. To work with the context menu, we are interested in only one section: “ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT».

As already mentioned, different objects(folders, files) correspond to different sets of commands, so you will have to edit them in the registry separately. Our main goals: clearing folder context menu And common menu items for all file types.

Important! Standard system points We will not change the context menu through the registry. Only items added by installed applications are edited.

Clearing the folder context menu

All directory context menu settings are stored in branches:

... Directoty Shell.

... Directory Shellex ContextMenuHandlers .

... Folder Shell ex ContextMenuHandlers .

If you look closely, you can easily see familiar commands among the branches of these branches. So, a branch of the registry " Directory Shell" contains the items at the top of the menu, and " Directory Shellex ContextMenuHandlers» – bottom. " Folder ShellEx ContextMenuHandlers", basically repeats the content of the previous thread, so remove the same items from both threads if necessary.

All that remains is to remove the unnecessary commands. The choice of what to remove and what to leave on the list is a personal matter for everyone. Moreover, depending on the list of installed applications, the contents of the menu will differ significantly. Right-click on the unwanted registry entry and select " Delete" Then repeat this operation for the remaining selected elements.

This is the neat appearance of the registry branches in question and the menu itself after the cleaning procedure is completed.

Clearing the file context menu

The procedure itself is no different from that carried out in the previous section. Only the branches of the registry branch " HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT", storing the necessary parameters.

Now this:

...*shellexContextMenuHandlers.

They store common elements for all file types registered in the system.

Following the example of cleaning for folders, we delete all unnecessary branches in the registry and get a beautiful and convenient context menu.

Absolutely all computer users encounter the concept of a context menu, regardless of the type of operating system used or its developer. This element is present in all known operating systems today. But let's take a look at what the Windows context menu is, what types there are, and how to use it. We take Windows as a basis only for the simple reason that most users in the post-Soviet space work with these operating systems. And first, a few words about the term itself.

What is a context menu in general terms?

Actually, the name of the menu itself comes from the English context. As for a simplified understanding, the context menu of Windows 10 or any other operating system can be interpreted as some additional element of the system’s graphical interface, which contains certain quick access commands to some basic or additional functions.

So to speak, in the context of selecting an object for which an additional menu is used, different commands will be available (this will be discussed separately).

Menu types

Actually, the operating system itself has several types of main and additional menus. For example, the main menu is accessible by clicking the Start button. Installed programs usually have their own element in the form of a top panel, which displays sections of basic operations, etc. Naturally, all such menus differ from each other both in appearance and purpose. But it is the context menu that is universal in its own way and, in a sense, even connects applications with the operating system without the use of additional tools. Forgot how to perform some action? It's OK! This menu will tell you what and how you can do, especially since many menus of this type can open additional lists.

Context menu items

As already mentioned, for different objects The menu content may vary quite a bit. It all depends on the type of object selected and the actions that are supposed to be performed. Everyone knows that in Explorer, through such a menu, when you select a file or folder, you can specify copying, moving, deleting, opening, and performing a lot of other operations, not counting the use of hot keys or their combinations.

On the “Desktop”, when you click on an empty area of ​​the screen, you can quickly call up screen settings or create shortcuts. But to carry out such actions, following the standard methodology, will take much more time. In general, it is believed that the context menu is a unique invention. Despite the fact that almost all the points contained in it are duplicated both by the operating system itself and by some installed programs, its use often reduces the time of access to certain actions and functions.

Differences between menus for different objects

Now let's look at the most main question, regarding how menus of this type differ when selecting a specific item. It goes without saying that it will not be possible to describe all types, so we will focus on the most basic ones.

We've sorted things out a bit with files and folders. It can be added that antiviruses, archivers and some other programs build their own commands into such menus, so in addition to a set of standard actions, you can also use them additional features.

If you are using the menu for a disk or partition, you can already access system tools here. Programs have their own elements of this type, but the context menu for almost all active applications, if the upper left corner of the program window on the header is used as the selected object, the items are the same: closing, moving, minimizing and maximizing the active window, resizing, etc. It is clear that the content of each context menu for applications depends on the specific use of the program. Thus, in web browsers, among the items there are commands related specifically to actions with tabs or settings.

When using the menu for panels, it becomes possible to customize them, go to additional options, adding or removing elements, etc. As already mentioned, it is simply physically impossible to describe the contents of all types of menus that open, so let’s move on.

How to open an additional menu: several basic methods

Now a few words about how to call or open the context menu. Everyone knows that in Windows, RMB is used for this (click on This action is set in the default settings, although some use button reassignment, after which this control is called with the left button. In general, the mouse context menu, depending on the type used manipulator, you can configure it as you like. For example, for the same gaming mice, which have a lot of additional buttons, accompanying software is usually installed, which allows you to control all their parameters and configure the buttons for a specific action, including calling additional ones. menu.

Few people know that in Windows you can use not only RMB. For example, for laptops it is very important to use the combination Shift + F10. The right button on the touchpad is also used for this. On some non-standard keyboards for stationary computer terminals you can find special key Menu, which is usually located to the right of the Win button.

How to add additional items to the menu?

Finally, let's see how to add additional items or commands. You can, of course, use Windows tools, but for this you will have to delve into the registry, and this is very inconvenient.

The easiest way is to use the small program Context Menu Tuner, the interface of which consists of only two panels with sets of commands and areas of Windows Explorer.

There are only two buttons for adding or removing elements, so there should be no difficulties in using them.

Practical advantages of use

As for the advantages, a lot has already been said about them. This concerns not only the fact that the correct call of some actions can simply be forgotten. The versatility of such menus lies precisely in speeding up access to some standard and non-standard functions or actions, which would take much longer to call in the usual way. And so - RMB and that's it necessary commands at hand!

Instead of a total

I would like to hope that after reading the above material, many have figured out what this element of the operating system is. As for its use, there should be no questions at all, since in some situations you simply cannot do without it. And practice shows that one hundred percent of one hundred users always use the context menu, regardless of the actions performed.

Secrets of Productive Computer Work

Context menu in Windows

The menu is the most important element of the graphical user interface, with which you can select the desired program option.

Types of menus on a computer:

by execution – text and graphic

by function - the main thing application menu, pop-up, context and system menus

What is a context menu and how to call it

A context menu is a separate type of menu on a computer; a list of available commands for working with this file.

Where is the context menu?

Its storage location is the Windows registry, which consists of two sections. One part of the programs is stored in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell section, the other in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers section.

How does the context menu open?

There are different ways to bring up the context menu

There is a special button at the bottom of the keyboard, between the "ALT" key and the "CTRL" key. It shows the additional functions and actions available in relation to of this file. It usually has a sign and a mouse pointer on it.

It is used if you need to highlight shortcuts to necessary files, as well as inside already running programs. When you click this button, the context menu is called up according to the current situation.

Right mouse button on keyboard can also be successfully replaced with this button.

This method is for those who prefer to use the keyboard, while you can open the context menu using the mouse.

Mouse over required file, select it by clicking the left button. Right-clicking the highlighted area will open a context menu. When you select multiple items, the context menu will display the actions available for the selected group of files.

How to open the context menu when working on a laptop or netbook? On these devices, the mouse function is transferred to the built-in touchpad. The context menu is called up by right-clicking on the highlighted area.

How to customize the right-click context menu

For the right mouse button, a simple program called Context Menu Tuner will help you configure the context menu. She will tell you how to configure the Windows 7 context menu.

Let's look at how to configure the right mouse button.

Download and run the program

The program interface consists of two different panels: the left one contains a list of commands supported by the program, the right one includes the OS explorer areas. Set the Russian language in the settings

Add a command. To do this, select it on the left side and “connect” it with the preferred element on the right. Click "Add".

Other commands are added in the same way.

To delete a command, select it and click "Delete"

The right-click context menu is now configured.