Windows – Remove Windows built-in items from right-click (context) menu

context menuwindowswindows 7

My question is similar to this one, except mine differs in one part:

The right click (context) menu is minimal and clean on a fresh installation of Windows

I have to disagree. There are at least 5 context-menu items in a "clean" install of Windows I never use:

enter image description here

It wouldn't be such a big deal if I didn't later want to add at least 6 more items to the menu (Vim, 7-zip, Tortoise HG/Git/SVN, etc.). Between the built-in items and my additions, there's almost two dozen items, and that's when it really starts to feel bloated.

Is there any way to remove the Windows built-in items from the right-click context menu?

Best Answer

When dealing with Windows contextual menus, it's only possible to manipulate shell extensions through the use of 3rd party software and/or registry hacks. However, these particular options are not extensions - they are hardcoded into the Windows operating system itself, so you will not be able to remove or hide them.

Related Solutions

Windows – How to remove items from the right click (context) menu in Windows

I've written a lengthy explanation of how to clean up a messy context menu, using either the registry editor:

If you want to clean things up the truly geeky way, you can open up regedit.exe through the start menu search or run box, and then browse down to one of the following keys…

Most of the menu items that used for all files and folders can be found by looking at one of these keys:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\ShellEx
Items that are specific to folders can usually be found in one of these keys instead:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

You can read more at: How to Clean Up Your Messy Windows Context Menu

Or use some freeware NirSoft tools like ShellMenuView or ShellExView.

alt text

Windows – Very slow context menu in Windows 8

I actually think it is tortoise git that's slowing it down. I noticed the slowdown immediately after installing it.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Windows – How to remove items from the right click (context) menu in Windows

Windows – Very slow context menu in Windows 8

Related Question