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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jskij
@ Murali - Matiaan is right - just follow the instructions, but do it under ".docx" and you the new "Microsoft Office Word" will appear in the new context menu.
BadLuckLuke
Is there any way I can RENAME the items under the new menu???
-eg instead of "New - document of Microsoft Word" to "Word document"
Joel
I tried this and it was very helpful for a non-tweaker like me, but it doesn't want to take a Windows 2007 (compatability mode) file in the new menu, just keeps putting in Access Database file.
Joel
I take that back - I failed to remove the access file, but I DID get the old word .doc in there by dropping down to a subfolder on the key menu
Pavel Badzhakov
Hi there!
The hints on "How to remove" are working well in 64bit win7, but
adding ".TXT" in the "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" is not working and not adding the "New Notepad File".
Please, give me some advice how to resolve it.
Thanks in advance!
Shobhit
thanks a lot for the tip on adding new items in "New" menu. Stumbled a lot all over the web, till I found this page. Thx ...
Scavar
I have the same issue as Pavel. I have no issue adding or removing anything from the "New" menu except for .TXT
I have no clue how .TXT even disappeared from the menu in the first place as I didn't delete it in any fashion. Notepad itself is working fine, but no matter what method I use to attempt readding it to the New menu, it doesn't return.
sfhbdfhb
Why some ext work with ShellNew and others don't.
HCR\.xyz
Default = xyzfile
HCR\.xyz\ShellNew
NullFile =
HCR\xyzfile
Default = XYZ Document
HCR\xyzfile\Shell\open\command
Default = SomeProg2OpenXYZ.exe "%1"
Lobojon
about the "add an item to the new menu"
Already there is ms word doc and text file. I want to add a rtf word pad shortcut in the new menu.
I have *.rtf files associated as open with word pad by default (not ms word).
Following your instructions.
in regedit window at the folder ".rtf", there is already an existing folder called ShellNew.
What should I do in this situation?
Thanks in advance.
Dante
Thank you for this,thanks indeed.
Before,whenever my mouse was over new,the window crashed,then proceeded to crash my desktop,then crash all open programs one by one.
now i removed all i had then re-added the ones i used,it no longer crashes,thanks :3