How to Clean the Windows Context Menu via Registry
Open “Run.” In Windows, the Run command is used to directly open an application without the need to navigate through your Start menu or your program files., Run Regedit., Select “Computer.” At the very top of the registry entries is “Computer.”...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Open “Run.” In Windows
It is accessible through the Start menu.
A shorter way to call it is by pressing the Windows key + R on your keyboard. -
Step 2: the Run command is used to directly open an application without the need to navigate through your Start menu or your program files.
In the Run box, type “regedit” (without the quotation marks) to call the Registry Editor.
Take extra precaution when opening and modifying contents in the registry as it can damage your computer’s system.
If you’re unfamiliar with it, don’t proceed and seek proper expertise for guidance. ,, From the header menu, choose “File” then “Export.” The whole registry will be exported into a text file.
Navigate to the folder where you want to save your backup then type in the name of your registry file.
When you’re done, click on the “Save” button.
Your registry will be backed up in that file with a .reg extension.
If anything goes wrong with your modifications, you can always revert to this stable version. , Take note where you keep the registry file you’ve just exported in case you want to undo your changes later.
It is always advisable to backup your registry before doing anything to it. , Click through the registry until you find the following entries:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell , For each of the entries above, review the menu items under them.
Be careful on which entry you identify. , If you’d like to disable a particular menu item, click on it from the left panel then right-click on the right panel.
Create this new string value: “LegacyDisable”.
You can also opt to just delete the menu item from the registry, but leave this as the last option. , Repeat navigating to the other keys, identifying the menu items, and disabling the menu items as needed for all the menu items you’d like to remove from the context menu., Click through the registry until you find the following entries:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\ShellEx HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers , For each of the entries above, review the menu items under them.
Be careful on which entry you identify. , If you’d like to disable a particular menu item, click on it from the left panel, and then modify the (Default) value on the right panel by putting a few dashes.
Double-click the (Default) entry to bring out the actual contents.
Add a few dashes in front of the Value Data and click “OK.” This essentially disables the item without the need to delete it.
This is useful in case you want to bring it back later. , Repeat navigating to the other keys, identifying the menu items, and disabling the menu items for all the menu items you’d like to remove from the context menu. -
Step 3: Run Regedit.
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Step 4: Select “Computer.” At the very top of the registry entries is “Computer.” Click on it to select it.
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Step 5: Export registry.
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Step 6: Note the registry file.
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Step 7: Navigate to the keys.
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Step 8: Identify menu items.
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Step 9: Disable a menu item.
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Step 10: Continue through the rest of the menu items.
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Step 11: Navigate to the keys.
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Step 12: Identify menu items.
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Step 13: Disable menu item.
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Step 14: Continue through the rest of the menu items.
Detailed Guide
It is accessible through the Start menu.
A shorter way to call it is by pressing the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
In the Run box, type “regedit” (without the quotation marks) to call the Registry Editor.
Take extra precaution when opening and modifying contents in the registry as it can damage your computer’s system.
If you’re unfamiliar with it, don’t proceed and seek proper expertise for guidance. ,, From the header menu, choose “File” then “Export.” The whole registry will be exported into a text file.
Navigate to the folder where you want to save your backup then type in the name of your registry file.
When you’re done, click on the “Save” button.
Your registry will be backed up in that file with a .reg extension.
If anything goes wrong with your modifications, you can always revert to this stable version. , Take note where you keep the registry file you’ve just exported in case you want to undo your changes later.
It is always advisable to backup your registry before doing anything to it. , Click through the registry until you find the following entries:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell , For each of the entries above, review the menu items under them.
Be careful on which entry you identify. , If you’d like to disable a particular menu item, click on it from the left panel then right-click on the right panel.
Create this new string value: “LegacyDisable”.
You can also opt to just delete the menu item from the registry, but leave this as the last option. , Repeat navigating to the other keys, identifying the menu items, and disabling the menu items as needed for all the menu items you’d like to remove from the context menu., Click through the registry until you find the following entries:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\ShellEx HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers , For each of the entries above, review the menu items under them.
Be careful on which entry you identify. , If you’d like to disable a particular menu item, click on it from the left panel, and then modify the (Default) value on the right panel by putting a few dashes.
Double-click the (Default) entry to bring out the actual contents.
Add a few dashes in front of the Value Data and click “OK.” This essentially disables the item without the need to delete it.
This is useful in case you want to bring it back later. , Repeat navigating to the other keys, identifying the menu items, and disabling the menu items for all the menu items you’d like to remove from the context menu.
About the Author
Joyce Price
A passionate writer with expertise in practical skills topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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