How to Add Custom Context Menu Options for Folders in Windows 11

• The article shows how to add, remove, and customize context menu options for folders in Windows 11 using the Registry Editor.
• The article explains what the Registry Editor is, how to back up and restore the registry, and how to create and modify keys and values under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell.

If you use Windows 11, you may have noticed that the right-click context menu for folders has some default options, such as Open, Cut, Copy, Delete, Rename, and Properties. But what if you want to add your own custom options to the context menu, such as opening a folder in a specific app, running a command, or launching a script? In this article, we will show you how to do that using the Windows Registry Editor.

What is the Windows Registry Editor?

The Windows Registry Editor is a tool that allows you to view and modify the registry, which is a database that stores settings and information for the Windows operating system, applications, and users. The registry contains keys and values that control various aspects of how Windows and other programs work. By editing the registry, you can customize and tweak Windows to suit your preferences and needs.

However, editing the registry is not without risks. If you make a mistake or delete something important, you may cause problems with your system or applications. Therefore, you should always back up the registry before making any changes, and only edit the registry if you know what you are doing or following reliable instructions.

How to Back Up the Registry

To back up the registry, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows+R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
3. In the Registry Editor, click File > Export.
4. Choose a location to save the backup file, and give it a name.
5. Under Export range, select All to back up the entire registry, or select Selected branch to back up only a specific key.
6. Click Save.

To restore the registry from a backup file, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows+R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
3. In the Registry Editor, click File > Import.
4. Locate and select the backup file you created earlier.
5. Click Open.

How to Add Custom Context Menu Options for Folders

To add custom context menu options for folders, you need to create new keys and values in the registry under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell. Each key under shell represents an option that appears in the context menu when you right-click a folder. Each key has a default value that specifies the name of the option, and a subkey named command that specifies the action to perform when you select the option.

For example, if you want to add an option to open a folder in Notepad++, you need to create a new key under shell with any name (such as Open with Notepad++), set its default value to Open with Notepad++, and create a subkey named command with its default value set to “C:\Program Files\Notepad++\notepad++.exe” “%1”, where %1 is a placeholder for the folder path.

Here are the steps to add custom context menu options for folders:

1. Press Windows+R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell.
4. Right-click on shell and select New > Key.
5. Give the new key any name you want (such as Open with Notepad++).
6. Double-click on the default value of the new key and type the name of the option you want to appear in the context menu (such as Open with Notepad++).
7. Right-click on the new key and select New > Key.
8. Name the subkey command.
9. Double-click on the default value of the command subkey and type the command or path of the program you want to run when you select the option (such as “C:\Program Files\Notepad++\notepad++.exe” “%1”).
10. Close the Registry Editor.

Now, when you right-click on any folder, you should see your custom option in the context menu.

How to Remove Custom Context Menu Options for Folders

To remove custom context menu options for folders, you need to delete the corresponding keys from the registry under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell. For example, if you want to remove the option to open a folder in Notepad++, you need to delete the key named Open with Notepad++ under shell.

Here are the steps to remove custom context menu options for folders:

1. Press Windows+R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell.
4. Right-click on the key you want to delete (such as Open with Notepad++) and select Delete.
5. Confirm the deletion by clicking Yes.
6. Close the Registry Editor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions and answers related to adding custom context menu options for folders in Windows 11.

Question: How can I add custom context menu options for files instead of folders?

Answer: To add custom context menu options for files, you need to create new keys and values in the registry under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell, where * represents any file type. The steps are similar to adding options for folders, except that you need to use * instead of Directory in the registry path.

Question: How can I add custom context menu options for specific file types instead of all files?

Answer: To add custom context menu options for specific file types, you need to create new keys and values in the registry under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\[File Type]\shell, where [File Type] represents the file extension or the ProgID of the file type. For example, if you want to add an option for text files, you need to use .txt or txtfile in the registry path.

Question: How can I add icons or keyboard shortcuts to my custom context menu options?

Answer: To add icons or keyboard shortcuts to your custom context menu options, you need to create additional values in the registry under the key that represents the option. For example, if you want to add an icon or a keyboard shortcut to the option to open a folder in Notepad++, you need to create new values under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Open with Notepad++.

To add an icon, create a new string value named Icon and set its value to the path of the icon file or the program that contains the icon. For example, if you want to use the Notepad++ icon, you can set the value to “C:\Program Files\Notepad++\notepad++.exe”,0, where 0 is the index of the icon in the program.

To add a keyboard shortcut, create a new string value named ExtendedSubCommandsKey and set its value to any name you want (such as Open with Notepad++ Shortcut). Then, create a new key under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell with the same name as the value (such as Open with Notepad++ Shortcut). Under this key, create a subkey named command with its default value set to the same command as your option (such as “C:\Program Files\Notepad++\notepad++.exe” “%1”). Then, create a new string value named Hotkey under this key and set its value to the keyboard shortcut you want to use (such as Ctrl+Shift+N). The keyboard shortcut must be in the format of [Modifier]+[Key], where [Modifier] is one or more of Ctrl, Alt, or Shift, and [Key] is any alphanumeric key.

Conclusion

In this article, we have shown you how to add custom context menu options for folders in Windows 11 using the Registry Editor. We have also explained how to back up and restore the registry, how to remove custom context menu options, and how to add icons and keyboard shortcuts to your options. We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.

Disclaimer

This article is intended for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for any damage or loss caused by following the instructions in this article. Editing the registry can be risky and may result in system instability or data loss. Always back up your registry before making any changes and proceed at your own risk.