How to Add Program Shortcuts and Other Useful Shortcuts with Icons in Windows 7 Desktop Context Menu?

This is the 3rd tutorial in our current "Hacking Windows 7 Desktop context menu" series.

Today we'll learn how to add any desired program shortcut in Desktop context menu. Also we'll learn to add other useful shortcuts like "Change Wallpaper", "Screensaver", etc.

We have posted a few similar tutorials long time back:

Above tutorials do the same job but there is some difference between these old methods and the new one which we'll discuss today.

In old method, we can't define program icon and the option position in context menu but this new method will allow you to set an icon for the shortcut as well as define its position like on top or bottom.

So here we start the tutorial:

1. Type regedit in RUN or startmenu search box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell

3. Now we'll need to create a new key under "Shell" key. Right-click on "Shell" key and select "New -> Key". Give the new key any desired name e.g. "Registry Editor" (without quotes).

4. Now we'll need to create another new key. Right-click on the new key which we created in the last step e.g. Registry Editor and select "New -> Key". Give the new key name of command.

5. Now select "command" key and in right-side pane, you'll see "Default" String value. Double-click on it and set its value to the path of desired program's EXE file. For example, if you want to add "Registry Editor" shortcut, then set value of "Default" to regedit.exe

6. Now the new shortcut will start appearing in Desktop Context Menu.

7. Now some advanced options!

You can now define the shortcut icon and position.

To set an icon for the shortcut, select the key created in Step 3 and in right-side pane, create a new String value "Icon". Set its value to your desired icon or simply put the path of program's EXE file and it'll automatically show its default icon.

To set its position in the context menu, create a new String value "Position" and set its value to:

Top (To show it at top)
Bottom (To show it at bottom)

That's it. Now you'll see an icon near the program shortcut and its new position.

8. If you want a ready-made registry script to do the task automatically, then copy paste following code in Notepad and save the file with name "AskVG.REG" (including quotes).

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\regedit]
@="Registry Editor"
"Icon"="regedit.exe"
"Position"="Bottom"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\regedit\command]
@="regedit.exe"

Run the file and it'll add the program shortcut in Desktop context menu.

If you want to add other program shortcut, then simply change the BOLD part in the script.

NOTE: You can use this method to add any desired program shortcut or to add various useful shortcuts in Desktop context menu. You just need to simply change the Key name and the value of "command" key to the correct path.

You can get lots of useful shortcut commands from following topics:

Add Useful Shortcuts in Desktop Context Menu

Add Useful Shortcuts in Desktop Context Menu - II

Add AskVG.com Link in Desktop Context Menu

Complete list of AskVG articles

This article was posted in Windows 7.

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22 Comments

goldi

Excellent work vg. Now the icon also appears. This is really great.
Lubana

Hey VG
M Having Problems With This New Win 7 Evaluation Version
M Not Able To Pin New Items On The Taskbar Now.
And The Other Day I Unpinned The Windows Media Player And M Not Able To Pin It Back On The Taskbar.
Plaese Help Me
Thanks
VG

^^ It might be a bug in Windows 7. Do you get the option "Pin to Taskbar"?
Lubana

No VG Thats The Only Problem I Dont Get Any Option. Not Even In The Start Menu.....Its Really Irritating.
VG

^^ Use following registry code. It should work:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{90AA3A4E-1CBA-4233-B8BB-535773D48449}]
@="Taskband Pin"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{a2a9545d-a0c2-42b4-9708-a0b2badd77c8}]
@="Start Menu Pin"
Kaash

Can't we get the ICONS in Vista????
VG

^^ no.
Andrea Tavazzani

Great Job, added a blank icon to remove those supported, how about adding entries in a submenu?
Thanks. Ciao!
Lubana

Sorry VG But Please Tell Me How To Use That Registry Code.....
I Am Familiar With Registry Hacking But I Couldn't Get What You Are Trying To Say...
Lubana

Ok Ok I Think I Got It ...
I Need To Paste It In The Notepad And Save It As A .REG File And Then Run It
Right ?