In Windows, whenever we right-click on Desktop or Explorer, we get "New" menu which contains shortcuts for various known file types. We can easily create new files using this handy "New" menu.
Sometimes we may want to remove a few unwanted items from "New" menu or we may want to add a few necessary items to "New" menu which are not present. So in this tutorial, I'll tell you how can you add / remove items to / from "New" menu:
A. To Add an Item in "New" menu:
1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now expand "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" key.
2. Now look for the file type which you want to add in "New" menu, e.g. for adding MP3 file type look for .MP3 key.
3. Right-click on it and select "New -> Key" and give it name "ShellNew".
4. In right-side pane, right-click and select "New -> String Value". Give it name "NullFile" and press Enter.
5. Thats it. You'll immediately get the file type entry in "New" menu.
B. To Remove an Item from "New" menu:
1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now expand "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" key.
2. Now look for the file type which you want to remove from "New" menu, e.g. for removing MP3 file type look for .MP3 key.
3. Expand it and delete the "ShellNew" key.
4. That's it. The file type will be removed from "New" menu.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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Nikos
Great, thank you very much!!!
Subroto Ghosh
Hi
I had tried that for .bmp, but still it is not appearing in the new menu.
Kindly advise me.
Thank You
Subroto
VG
^^ Working here. Did you try the above mentioned steps for .BMP key?
Kai Sellgren
Does not work with .php files ? I managed to do it with .reg file, but .php is not working. Any ideas? Vista x64 Ultimate, I did reset.
VG
^^ Some file types doesnt support this feature. Thats why you are facing problem while adding php extension.
CytoxX
hmm i did wanna add php to this menu... there must be a way to make a file type 'known' to windows..? because .rar is not known by default but during the winrar installation it ads a 'new winrar zip/archive' to then new menu.. the same thing as when you make a search in files it only searches in known plain text files as txt, log, htm, html etc.. but not in php/java/pl/py/cfg that's pretty annoying.. and you don't know know any fix?
-CytoxX
John
Thanks. This helped me remove a file I no longer needed in my "New" menu. :D
anonymous
It's not because they aren't supported. Obviously, text files are supported. But I have found a machine where these steps do not restore text files to the context menu. There must be another key in the registry of importance here.
Murali
My problem is MS word file some how missing from the new menu. How to get it back it so that I can create/open new word files with this feature. New has all other office 2003 files like PPT, Access, Excel.
I am using Vista, Office 2003.
I have tried method explained above by using .doc. But I did not get it. Please help me resolving the problem. I have been seeking solution from many experts, but so far no body solve it. Pl help.
Matiaan
Hey thanks, now I just have New Folder and New Text Document.
For New Briefcase, I had to go to Briefcase, and for New Shortcut, I had to go to .lnk
@Murali: are you sure its not maybe .docx thats still there?