How to Add / Remove Entries in Context Menus in Windows

In this tutorial, I'll tell you how to add your own customized entries in context menus and how to remove unwanted entries from context menu:

A. Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\* (for adding an option in All files context menu)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory (for adding an option in folders context menu only)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive (for adding an option in Drives context menu only)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown (for adding an option in unknown files context menu)

B. Now under the above mentioned keys, u'll find "Shell" and "Shellex" keys. Both keys contain various entries, which are displayed when you right-click on a file, folder or drive. We'll use "Shell" key in this tutorial:

1. Right-click on the "Shell" key and select "New -> Key".
2. Give it any name. suppose we gave it name "vishal".
3. Now in right-side pane, double-click on "Default" String value and set its value to the Label which you want to display in context menu. Like if you want to add "Winamp" in context menu, then you can give it name "Open with Winamp" or similar.
4. Now create another key under this newly created key "vishal" with the name "command" and in right-side pane set value of "Default" to the path of application. For ex, for winamp you can set its value "%programfiles%\Winamp\winamp.exe".

Thats it. Now u'll get in the context menu.

A few Important points:

1. If you add just the path in "Command", then it'll open the application but if you append "%1" (without quotes) in the path, then it'll open the selected file with the application. So in case of setting the value to "%programfiles%\Winamp\winamp.exe", set it "%programfiles%\Winamp\winamp.exe %1" and now it'll open the file in winamp.

2. Step 3 can be omitted and u can assign the application name directly to the new key. i.e., either set "Default" String value to the name of application or directly set the key name to application name. e.g. instead of setting the key name to "vishal", you can directly set its name to "Winamp", in this case leave the "Default" as it is.

3. With the help of this tut, u can add application shortcuts in any filetype context menu. e.g., if u like to play with "*.txt" file context menu, then goto:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfile

so you can follow this tut for any filetype.

C. Same methods applies for removing entries from context menu. Just goto "Shell" or "Shellex\ContextMenuHandlers" and delete the unwanted key under these keys.

This article was posted in Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.

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33 Comments

VG

^^ Look for this entry in following location of registry:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
Abhishek

Is it possible to create a software restriction policy that makes any particular extensioned file inaccessible at any path
Abhishek

THis Guy is really having a great Knowledge of the system mechanism and OS.
jammarlibre

These prayers help me to keep God in my life, especially with the many distractions I encounter.
Hiren

Thanks, i have solved some problems reading your tips. thanks a lot. keep helping us.
Kishan Bagaria

I have made a cool registry entry which makes a "Open with Resource Hacker" command in every context menu of EXE, DLL, OCX, CPL, SCR dile extensions.

Step-1 :: Copy the Resource Hacker Folder to "C:\Program Files\" and rename it to "Resource Hacker" (Without Quotes).

Step-2 :: Download the RAR file from "http://www.mediafire.com/?gnzrxjtlnid"

Step-3 :: Extract the RAR file and you will get two files "Open With Resource Hacker Command" & "Remove Open With Resource Hacker Command".

Step-4 :: Open the file "Open With Resource Hacker Command" to make the command. Open the file "Remove Open With Resource Hacker Command" to remove the command.

Step-5 :: That's it . Now you will get a "Open With Resource Hacker" command.
VG

^^ Hi Kishan and welcome to this site. Your tip is very nice and we have created a separate topic for it. Congratulations.

http://www.askvg.com/add-open-with-resource-hacker-option-in-exe-dll-cpl-ocx-and-scr-files-context-menu/
Kishan Bagaria

Dear Vishal,

Thanks very much for creating a separate topic for my tip.

Yours Sincerely,

Kishan Bagaria
VG

^^ It deserved.
Jeff

Vishal, I followed your instructions on how to Add/Remove Entries in Context Menu. When I right-click on a file and then click on the item I added to the menu a box pops up saying, "Access is Denied." This happens no matter what file I try to open. Any suggestions why?