Change the Windows 7 desktop context menu. What is a context menu

We are already familiar with the concept of a context menu. It's time to deepen our knowledge about it and consider the topic - How to remove or add commands to the Windows context menu.

Windows functionality allows the user to edit the context menu to suit their taste.

Editing the context menu (a set of “Explorer” or “action” menu commands) is possible in one of two ways:

• Through program parameters;
• Through the Windows registry;
• Using additionally installed applications.

Let's see how it's done:

Installed programs themselves often have (by default) the function of integration into a set of context menu (CM) commands. Then such a parameter is present in their settings on the main tabs, or maybe on such as “Integration”, “Download” or “Add”, etc. For example, for the VinRAR archiver it is enough to uncheck the box in the settings:

It is clear that in this way you can either add (install) or remove (remove) command(s) from the list. The same applies to other applications.

Working with the registry

When working with the Windows Registry, you need to be very careful. To get into the registry, you need to search in the Start menu by typing “regedit” and run the found executable file “regedit.exe”:

Making a copy

Before editing the Registry of any version of Windows (including Windows 7), do not forget to create a backup copy of it to be on the safe side. To do this, in the editor, on the “File” tab, select the “Export” command. Select “Entire registry” at the bottom of the dialog that opens. By assigning a name and specifying the location - “Save”:

If something irreparable happens (especially for an inexperienced person), you can return the registry to its previous state using the “File” / “Restore” command, specifying the previously created backup file.

Cleaning up the directory set

The registry itself looks like a tree-like block diagram (on the left), each of the branches of which has its own parameters (on the right). The “shell”, “Shellex ContextMenuHandlers” and “Folder\shell” branches of the “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ Directory” directory are responsible for the context menu of folders. Having examined these branches in more detail, you can make sure that the “shell” folder contains the upper part of the context set, and “Shellex ContextMenuHandlers” - the lower part. The folder “Folder\shell” repeats the previous one.

Removal of program elements from the set is carried out in each of the branches. Right-click to select the delete element and call the “Delete” command:

Now for the files

The same procedure is used here, but in different branches. Since the “*/shellexContextMenuHandlers” and “*/shell” branches in the “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT” registry section are responsible for the set of Context Menu commands for files:

The removal procedure is completely similar. Just don’t forget to delete unnecessary things in both branches.

We use third-party applications

It is much easier (and safer for a beginner) to remove or add an item to the context menu of any version of Windows (including Windows 7) using additional utilities.

After installation and launch, in the program window (in the “Type” column), you can see all programs from the Windows context menu (type = Context Menu).

Remove unnecessary items by selecting and clicking the red circle:

An interesting and useful utility with a self-explanatory name (available in a free version) Ccleaner. It has many beneficial properties. Website - http://ccleaner.org.ua/. In our case, it clears the registry of unused entries, paths to programs, shortcuts, etc.:

To clear the Context Menu, go to “Tools” and find “Context Menu” in the “Startup” tabs. A list of applications added to the set and their status will be displayed here (enabled: yes/no):

To delete - while on a line, use the right mouse to call up the “Delete” command. Since repeated return (inclusion in the list) is possible only when reinstalling or reconfiguring the application, it is recommended to select the “Disable” option. - Then it can be easily returned (“Enable”).

Add with FileMenu Tools

It's very easy to add a new item to the context menu using the FileMenu Tools program.

It offers the user three tabs:

• Left - management of suggested elements;
• Medium - to configure the “Send” function;
• Right - disables commands entered by third-party programs from the list:

You need to add a new element using the “Add Command” command. To specify its parameters, the lower right part of the window is used - “Properties”. For example, to add the line “Open in Firefox” to the menu list (opening HTM and HTML files):

You need to enter the name in “Menu Text”, and extension options in “Extensions”:

In “Program Properties” the route to the executable file of the Firefox.exe application is specified:

The added item is saved by clicking the green element at the top of the window (left):

This article helped you understand the various ways to edit the context menu. Now you know how to add and remove elements from it not only using Windows, but also using other programs.

Very often, after installing various programs, unnecessary items are added to the context menu. For example, after installing any player, a new item for the right mouse button will definitely appear. That is, when we right-click on any file to open it in the specified program, an option to run using this program will be displayed.

Here, for example, is my context menu:

It's not quite small anymore.

With time items in the context menu It becomes a lot, in short it becomes clogged with unnecessary rubbish. In this lesson we will look at how they can be removed using standard system tools. Although many programs have already been created for these purposes.

The system registry stores all data about the operation of Windows programs and components. In this regard, careless handling of the registry and the slightest change can greatly affect the operation of the system, so be careful when making changes to it.

How to remove unnecessary items from the context menu?

Go to Start and click the Run button.

In the window that opens, enter the command Regedit and click OK.

Open the following folders:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT * shellexe ContextMenuHandlers

Having reached this path, we need to do the following. Right-click on the folder menu item that we want to delete. Let's say I want to remove shortcuts from the context menu - Notepad notepad, 7-Zip archiver. In the list that opens, select Delete.

Then we confirm the deletion.

We restart the computer and look at the result - these items are no longer there. This is how to remove unnecessary items from the context menu.

Useful video:

STOP! Read similar articles - learn new things:

Comments:

How to remove "CUT"?

That's it, thanks)) I found a solution in CCleaner (my version is 5.06). If anyone needs it: in the program, open Tools/Startup/top "context menu" tab. You can remove unnecessary items from the list or temporarily disable them. It couldn’t be simpler!)))

In particular, Tru Image (from acronis) and Ultra ISO are in the menu, but they are not in this section of the registry. For example, like you have with Unlocker.

What if more programs are displayed in the menu, but there are none in ContextMenuHandlers? Where then to look for them?

Finally, thanks to your article, I saw where the items in the context menu are stored. Many thanks to the author for the training.

Thank you

Thank you! It worked for Win 8.1 too.

Huge gratitude! I have no words. Everything is clear and in accessible language.

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 - main application menu, pop-up, context and system menu

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 additional functions and actions available for a given file. It usually has a sign and a mouse pointer on it. This button brings up the context menu.

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.

Move the mouse over the desired file and select it by left-clicking. 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

Adding 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.

Many people love the Windows operating system, and many of us grew up using 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 such graphical element is called the "Windows context menu", or "right-click menu".

Today we'll tell you not only about this integral element of the Windows experience, but also about a third-party application that allows you to add custom elements to the context menu.

So what is the Windows context menu?

In simple terms, it 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 GUI areas. The context menu is not exclusive to Windows, so you may have seen it on other operating systems, including Mac OS X or Linux.

Speaking about the appearance of the 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 area of ​​the operating system the context menu may contain some items, and in 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 that makes it easy to customize the menu.

A portable application that allows you to add custom items to the "right-click menu" in Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, it was developed by Sergey Tkachenko (WinAero) - a well-known 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 app is its ability to add custom commands for specific file types. 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!

Every Windows OS user knows that, regardless of the program, with the right mouse button you can call up an additional, so-called context menu, which contains a set of special commands and links. Let's try to figure out why it is needed and how to work with it correctly.

What is the Windows context menu

Speaking about the context menu of “operating systems” of the Windows family, I would immediately like to note the fact that it is not some kind of exclusive development of Microsoft Corporation. Mac OS X or Linux also has such an element.

In general, if you understand what a context menu is, it can be characterized as an additional set of commands for quick access to some functions, say, without calling a specific application or control.

For example, everyone knows that the context menu always contains the “Open with...” command, after which a list of the most suitable applications for working with the file is displayed. You understand how much more convenient it is to open a file here than to call up the program, and then go to the “File” menu and use the “Open” line or the Ctrl + O key combination.

In addition, in addition to commands, there is also a set of special tools with which you can learn many things. But more on that later.

Type and organization of the context menu

Let's now look at how the Windows 7 context menu is organized. Probably everyone has noticed that the menu itself has special separators in the form of thin horizontal lines. The meaning of their use is to distinguish between similar actions or commands belonging to the same program.

Here it is worth paying attention to the fact that the context menu in a so-called “clean” system, immediately after installation, may be very different from what the user will see after installing additional programs and utilities. This is due to the fact that many installation packages integrate quick access commands to some of their main functions directly into this menu during the installation process.

Most of all, this applies to anti-virus software, media players, programs for working with disk images, archivers, etc. In principle, the user can add his own items to ensure ease of use.

Additional menu on the Desktop and in program windows

Surely, every user has noticed that the context menu in different programs or on the same desktop differs in the list of items and commands. It `s naturally. For example, if you call up the menu on the desktop, it becomes clear that the “Open” line used for folders and files is not needed there. It’s another matter when the mouse button is clicked on a shortcut or saved file located exactly on the desktop.

As is already clear, in different programs the context menu may also contain different items. In this case, everything depends on the specifics of the application. Compare at least the usual Explorer and the Word text editor. But for now we will talk about the “native” Windows OS commands.

Main context menu items

Drop-down menus are present almost everywhere, even in the main Start menu. In any of them you can see some points marked with arrows. This is done to show that the clause itself contains additional subclauses.

As usual, for files and folders, at the very top there is always an “Open” command, highlighted in bold. When you click on this line in relation to files, they will be opened in some program. You need to know that selection occurs only if the application itself sets the file association with this particular program. Otherwise, using this command will only result in the system prompting you to review and select the most suitable application. If several programs are associated with a file, you can use the line “Open with...”, which will contain a list of programs that work with the extension of the file you are looking for.

It goes without saying that the context menu of the same Explorer contains commands such as “Copy”, “Delete”, “Cut”, “Paste”, “Send”, “Rename”, “Create a shortcut”, etc. Even a child knows this. On the other hand, there is also a “Properties” line, the use of which provides the user with complete information about the object being used.

So, for example, when calling such a command by clicking on the computer icon on the desktop, you can get general information about the main parameters of the computer system and the installed operating system. For the desktop, the context menu mainly provides only the use of settings and options for synchronizing folders with shared attributes.

Some menus also provide tools for administering or inspecting selected items.

Using additional context menu commands

Now let's talk about some additional commands. If you give an example of an installed antivirus, you will notice that the context menu will always contain lines like “Scan” or “Scan with...”. Agree, it’s very convenient.

The same applies to archivers, because you can add a file (folder) to an archive or extract it from there with one click.

Many media players behave this way, integrating their own commands into the system's context menu. Most often, items for adding to a playlist or playing (video and audio) appear here for multimedia files, and for graphics this is the viewing command. In general, it all depends on which program integrates its own command lines into the menu, and what objects are associated with it.

Adding and removing commands in the system registry

So we got to the solution to the problem - how to add your own items to the context menu. There are several ways to do this. In this case, we can offer at least three options. Two of them relate to editing the system registry, and one concerns the use of specialized utilities.

You can use adding keys in the system registry, but if you don’t know which keys and their values ​​are responsible for a particular process, you can waste a lot of time, achieve nothing in the end, and bring the system to a state of complete inoperability.

Therefore, let's consider the simplest way to work with the registry. First, in the Run menu, use the regedit editor access command. Here you need to go to the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT section, find AllFilesystemObjects, then shellex and finally ContextMenuHandlers.

In the last section, select an additional menu by right-clicking and execute the command to create a new object and key “New” and “Key”, respectively. Now you need to enter a name for the newly created key, which will be displayed in the context menu, after which we select the “Change” command and in the overview indicate the location of the program or application that will be responsible for the new action. We confirm the choice and reboot the system.

Removing keys in this section will cause the corresponding command from the menu to disappear. But if you don’t know which key is responsible for what, it’s better not to change the standard configuration.

Using the Context Menu Tuner

However, as practice shows, no one really wants to rummage through the registry (you never know what can happen). Therefore, we can recommend special utilities for adding and removing items to the OS context menu.

One of the simplest, but very functional, is a utility called Context Menu Tuner. It will help you quickly change the menu beyond recognition. Everything is simple here. The main window includes two panels. On the left are commands, on the right are folders and basic parameters. As is already clear, there is nothing easier than selecting the desired command and using the button to add it, say, to the desktop menu. Removal is done in reverse.

It is worth noting some additional options. First, you can select a file extension, and only then associate the corresponding command and program with it.

Changing the context menu access button

In the standard version, the default context menu button is the right mouse button. It’s very easy to swap the buttons and call up the context menu with a left click. To do this, you need to go to the mouse settings in the Control Panel and make the necessary manipulations. That's all.