[Windows Tip] Remove Graphics Card Driver Options from Desktop Context Menu

UPDATE: Tutorial updated for newer Windows versions and graphics card shortcuts.

Whenever we install Windows in a computer system, we also need to install the required drivers for various hardware such as graphics (gfx) card, sound card, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, modem, printer, etc.

When we install display drivers for nVidia, AMD Radeon, Intel, MSI, ATI or any other graphics card, the driver software also adds an extra entry in Desktop context menu (right-click menu) to change or customize settings/properties of graphics card.

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For example, you might have seen NVIDIA Control Panel, AMD Radeon Settings, Graphics Properties, Graphics Options, Save Schemes, etc extra options in Desktop context menu. These extra shortcuts make the context menu bulky and cause the context menu to take a little bit extra time in loading.

More Info: [Windows Fix] When You Right-Click on Desktop, Context Menu Freezes or Takes Longer Time to Display

Following is an example of AMD Radeon graphics card driver entries in Desktop context menu:

nVidia_Intel_Desktop_Context_Menu_E.png

If you want to remove such kind of extra options from Desktop context menu to make the menu compact and clean, here is a registry trick to remove these extra entries from Desktop context menu in all Windows versions:

1. Type regedit in RUN or start menu search box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor. Now go to following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

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2. Under ContextMenuHandlers key, look for keys like ACE, igfxui, igfxcui, igfxDTCM, NvCplDesktopContext, etc as shown in following screenshot:

Remove_Graphics_Card_Driver_Options_Desktop_Context_Menu.png

Once you find the keys, delete them.

3. That’s it. It’ll immediately remove the entry and your desktop context menu will look nice and minimal and will not take any extra time in loading.

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 10, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

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  1. Its the actual thing I was searching for days and days. At last i got it here. Thanx thanx a lot for such simple yet most useful trick.

  2. 2 weeks of trying to sort this and done in2 minutes thanks to here.
    Thanks mate.

  3. Incredible… I’ve been dealing with this issue for years and it’s such a simple solution. Thank you so much.

  4. It worked like a charm. And other entries could be deleted in the same path, but under shell.

  5. Thank you for this! I didn’t realize this started happening after installing an AMD video card. Appreciate it!!

  6. If it weren’t for COVID I’d reach through this laptop that now WORKS!!!! and kiss you in thanks!

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