How to Clean Up Windows 11’s Bloated Right-Click Menu
If you’ve been using Windows 11, you’ve probably noticed that the right-click menu (context menu) can get overwhelming very quickly. Every time you install a new application—whether it’s a file compressor, media player, or graphics driver—it seems to add its own shortcut to your right-click menu. Add Microsoft’s built-in shortcuts like Clipchamp, Paint, or Copilot, and you end up with a huge list of options you rarely use.
Fortunately, there’s a simple, free tool that can help you clean up this mess.
Meet Windows 11 Context Menu Manager
Windows 11 Context Menu Manager is a free, open-source tool hosted on GitHub that lets you disable unwanted context menu entries in Windows 11 File Explorer.
Key Highlights:
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Portable: No installation required. Just download, extract, and run.
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System Support: Works on both standard x86/x64 PCs and ARM-based Windows devices.
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Easy Toggles: Simply switch options on or off to clean up the menu in real time.
How to Use It to Tidy Up Your Menu
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Download the tool: Grab the zip file for your architecture (x64/x86 or ARM) from the GitHub repository.
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Extract the files: Unzip the folder using Windows' built-in extraction tool.
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Run as Administrator: Right-click the executable and select Run as administrator. Running as an admin ensures the tool can detect and toggle both user-level and system-wide menu entries.
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Toggle off what you don't need:
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You’ll see a list of apps that have added themselves to your right-click menu (e.g., Clipchamp, Paint, Notepad, "Ask Copilot", PowerToys, GPU control panels, OneDrive shortcuts, etc.).
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Flip the toggle switch to disable any item you don't use.
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Once disabled, these items will immediately disappear from your File Explorer context menu, giving you a much cleaner and more compact right-click experience.
What Are Its Limitations?
While Windows 11 Context Menu Manager does a great job at removing app-injected items and secondary shortcuts, it does have a few limitations:
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Built-in Deep Actions: It may not completely remove deeply integrated system features (like certain default AI actions or built-in file compression options).
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App Dependencies: It targets items that apps add to the menu rather than letting you fully rebuild the native Windows layout from scratch.
Even with these minor limits, it drastically cuts down on context menu clutter.
Microsoft Is Working on an Official Fix
The good news is that Microsoft knows the right-click menu needs attention. In a statement on Twitter, Microsoft employee Marcus Ash confirmed that the team is working on making context menus faster, simpler by default, and configurable so users can prioritize the items they use most.
Until an official customization feature lands natively in Windows 11, third-party open-source tools like Windows 11 Context Menu Manager are the best way to regain control over your desktop workflow.
I’ve also made a video on this topic — you can watch it below.
Check out my other posts, I post useful tutorials and tech tips, maybe you will find something useful 😉.