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Customization

Restore the Classic Right-Click Menu on Windows 11

The shortened context menu hides what you use every day. One registry key brings back the full list, and one command removes it again.

by@guidox updated:10/31/26 time:10 min level:Beginner tested on:Windows 11 24H2 works on:Windows 11
TL;DR

Add the **CLSID key** for the classic menu under **HKCU\oftware\lasses\LSID** and restart Explorer. Deleting the same key restores the Windows 11 menu.

Before you start

Requirements

  • Windows 11
  • Admin rights not required
  • Two minutes
Step by step

Instructions

01

Create the key in your own hive

The setting lives under the current user, so no elevation and no risk to other accounts. Create the CLSID key with an empty default value and a name you can find again.

HKCU\oftware\lasses\LSID\86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32
02

Leave the default value empty

The InprocServer32 entry must exist with an empty value. A string in it points Explorer at a DLL that does not exist and the menu stops opening.

Default = (empty string)
⚠ warningAn empty value and a missing value are not the same thing here. Set it, then clear the text.
03

Restart Explorer

Closing and starting explorer.exe applies the change without a reboot. The taskbar disappears for a moment, which is expected.

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe & start explorer.exe
04

Confirm both menus

Right-click a file and check that the full list appears directly. **Show more options** still works as a fallback and opens the same list.

tipSome apps add entries only to the new menu. Those entries disappear when you switch, which is the trade.
05

Keep the undo command

Save the one-line removal in your notes. After a feature update the key may need to be recreated, and the removal takes the same time.

reg delete "HKCU\oftware\lasses\LSID\86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}" /f
06

Check after a feature update

Windows updates occasionally reset the key. If the menu returns to the short version, recreate the key and restart Explorer again.

Troubleshooting

Common issues

The menu does not change

The key sits under the wrong hive, or Explorer was not restarted. Check HKCU and restart the shell.

Right-click stops working entirely

The InprocServer32 value contains text. Clear it and restart Explorer.

Some entries are missing

Modern app entries only register in the new menu. That is a limitation of the classic layout.

It reverts after every update

A policy or a tweaking tool resets the key. Import a .reg file with the key after each feature update.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Is this safe?

Yes. It only registers an empty shell handler for the current user and is reversible in one command.

Will it break with the next Windows version?

It has survived several updates. If it stops working, delete the key and the default menu returns.

How to undo this

Delete the CLSID key under **HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID** and restart Explorer. The Windows 11 menu returns immediately.

Changelog · 1 entry
  1. 2026-10-31
    First version
Interactive version: checklist, feedback, related guides →

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