🧩 How to Remove Unwanted Items from the Windows 11 Right-Click Context Menu
Windows 11 introduced a redesigned right-click (context) menu with a sleek look and new features, such as “Ask Copilot,” “Edit with Clipchamp,” “Send to My Phone,” and other modern app integrations. While these are meant to improve productivity, many users find them cluttered or unnecessary.
Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide to help you safely remove or hide unwanted context menu entries using the Windows Registry.
⚙️ 1. Understanding How Context Menu Entries Work
Each context menu item in Windows is registered in the system through Shell Extensions. These are small modules (DLLs or COM objects) that integrate an application’s function into the File Explorer’s right-click menu.
Windows stores these in various Registry keys. You can disable specific entries by blocking their associated Class IDs (GUIDs) — unique identifiers for each menu item.
🪟 2. Remove Common Context Menu Items Using the Registry
You’ll use the Registry Editor (regedit) to block unwanted right-click menu entries.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open the Registry Editor
- Press Windows + R, type
regedit, and press Enter. - If prompted by UAC (User Account Control), click Yes.
- Press Windows + R, type
- Navigate to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked - If the “Blocked” key doesn’t exist:
- Right-click Shell Extensions → New → Key, and name it Blocked.
- Add the unwanted item’s GUID:
- Inside the “Blocked” key, right-click → New → String Value.
- Name the new value using the app’s GUID (Globally Unique Identifier).
Example GUIDs for Common Windows 11 Menu Items
| Context Menu Item | GUID | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Clipchamp (Edit with Clipchamp) | {8BCF599D-B158-450F-B4C2-430932F2AF2F} | Removes “Edit with Clipchamp” |
| Ask Copilot | {CB3B0003-8088-4EDE-8769-8B354AB2FF8C} | Removes “Ask Copilot” from the right-click menu |
| Send to My Phone | {2F788D0F-1317-441B-86D2-4725301BD49D} | Removes “Send to my phone” |
| Edit with Notepad | {CA6CC9F1-867A-481E-951E-A28C5E4F01EA} | Removes “Edit with Notepad” |
After adding the GUIDs:
- Close Registry Editor.
- Restart File Explorer (open Task Manager → right-click Windows Explorer → Restart).
Your right-click menu will now exclude these entries.
🔍 3. Finding GUIDs for Other Apps
If you want to remove entries for third-party or other Microsoft apps, you’ll need to find their GUIDs.
Method 1: Search the AppRepository Folder
- Open File Explorer and go to:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository\ - Look for
.xmlfiles with the app’s name (for example, Notepad, Paint, or OneDrive). - Open them in Notepad — GUIDs often appear within
<AppExtension>or<ExtensionCategory>tags.
Method 2: Use the Registry
Check these registry locations:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PackagedCom\ClassIndex\{GUID}HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PackagedCom\PackageHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Cached
Use Ctrl + F and search for the app name (e.g., “Paint” or “SnippingTool”) to locate related GUIDs.
🧱 4. Alternative: Third-Party Context Menu Editors
If you’re not comfortable editing the registry, several safe tools can manage or hide context menu items visually:
- ShellExView (NirSoft) – Lists all shell extensions and allows enabling/disabling specific ones.
🔗 https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html - Easy Context Menu (Sordum.org) – Offers checkboxes to toggle context menu items for Windows utilities.
🔗 https://www.sordum.org/7615/easy-context-menu-v1-6/ - CCleaner (Tools → Startup → Context Menu) – Includes a basic context menu manager.
These programs make it easier to toggle or disable items without manually adding registry keys.
🧩 5. Restoring Removed Items
If you want to restore a previously hidden menu item:
- Reopen
regedit. - Navigate back to the Blocked key.
- Delete the string value associated with that item’s GUID.
- Restart File Explorer — the entry will return immediately.
⚠️ 6. Important Safety Notes
- Always back up your registry before making any changes.
- In Registry Editor: File → Export → Save as
.regfile. - To restore: double-click the saved
.regfile.
- In Registry Editor: File → Export → Save as
- Editing the wrong keys can cause context menu or system instability.
- Test each change carefully, and restart Explorer after modifications.
💡 7. Additional Customization Tips
- To show the classic full right-click menu, press Shift + Right-click or run this command in PowerShell:
reg add "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32" /f /veThen restart Windows Explorer. This reverts to the Windows 10-style context menu. - You can also use “OpenWith” tweaks in
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlersto remove app-specific entries.
✅ Summary
| Task | Path / Tool | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Remove unwanted entries | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked | Hide modern context menu items |
| Find app GUIDs | C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\AppRepository\ or HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PackagedCom | Identify which GUID to block |
| Restore entries | Delete the GUID value from “Blocked” | Re-enable items |
| Classic menu | PowerShell command (see above) | Restore old right-click style |
| GUI-based alternative | ShellExView / Easy Context Menu | Manage entries visually |
By managing the Shell Extensions registry key, you gain full control over what appears in the Windows 11 right-click menu — keeping it clean, fast, and personalized for your workflow.
