Context menu (menu right button mice)- handy tool to speed up work in Windows. Today we will reveal a few simple secrets of working with the context menu and the system registry. Read how to customize this important element to suit your needs without extraneous applications, using only the built-in registry editor regedit.

Why is the context menu (right-click menu) convenient and why should it be cleared

I would like to immediately determine the terminology so that there will be no confusion in the future.

The Explorer context menu, or, as it is sometimes called, the action menu, is a set of commands that can be invoked by clicking right(contextual) mouse buttons on any file or folder. Depending on the object for which it is called, the menu will have a different look or "context".

Note. Of course, not only Windows Explorer has an action menu, but most installed applications because this is the most convenient way to access the most important commands.

Immediately after installation operating system, context menu has a standard and neat look, but as additional software is installed, new items are constantly added to it. In the end, there are so many of them that the use of this useful tool turns into flour. Therefore, it is critical to be able to maintain the content of the contextual windows menu for fast and comfortable work.

This can be done in two ways:

• In semi-automatic mode using third-party software.
• Manually, using the Windows Registry Editor.

Perhaps the first way can be a little easier, but the second way there is no need to use various questionable programs downloaded from the Internet, everything is done by standard means.

Moreover, the use of the registry will allow you to delve deeper into the internal processes of the system and learn a lot of new things, so we will tell you exactly about the second option of actions.

How to edit the Explorer context menu via the registry

Launch Registry Editor:

1. We enter the menu P usk.
2. Enter the command in the search bar regedit and press Enter.

Important! Any careless and thoughtless operations can have dangerous consequences, up to a complete failure. Windows boot... To insure yourself against mistakes, be sure to do backup registry before you start editing it!

Procedure for creating a backup registry file:

1. We go to the menu " File"In the open editor.
2. We select the item " Export».
3. In the window that opens, in the lower field “ Export range", Choose" Whole register».
4. We indicate the desired location and name of the new file and click " Save».

Note.In case of problems after manual editing, the registry can be restored before it original condition from the backup using the item " Import" on the menu " File»Editor regedit.

As you can see, the registry itself has an original tree structure. The tree itself is displayed on the left side of the editor, and on the right is a list of parameters in the selected branch. To work with the context menu, we are interested in a single section: “ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT».

As already mentioned, different sets of commands correspond to different objects (folders, files), so you will have to edit them separately in the registry. Our main goals: clearing the context menu of folders and common menu items for all file types.

Important! We will not change the standard system items of the context menu through the registry. Only items added by installed applications are editable.

Clearing the context menu of folders

All settings of the context menu of directories are stored in the branches:

... Directoty Shell.

... Directory Shellex ContextMenuHandlers.

... Folder Shell ex ContextMenuHandlers.

If you look closely, you can easily see familiar commands among the branches of these branches. So, the branch of the register " Directory Shell"Contains the items at the top of the menu, and" Directory Shellex ContextMenuHandlers"- bottom. " Folder ShellEx ContextMenuHandlers"Is basically the same as the previous branch, so remove the same items from both branches if necessary.

It remains only to remove unnecessary commands. The choice of what to remove and what to leave on the list is a personal matter for everyone. Moreover, depending on the list of installed applications, the content of the menu will differ significantly. Right-click on the unnecessary registry entry and select " Delete". Then repeat this operation for the rest of the selected items.

This is the neat appearance of the registry branches in question and the menu itself after the completion of the cleaning procedure.

Clearing the context menu of files

The procedure itself is no different from the one that was carried out in the previous section. Only the branches of the registry branch have changed " HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT", Storing the required parameters.

Now this:

... * shellexContextMenuHandlers.

They store common elements for all file types registered in the system.

Following the example of cleaning for folders, we delete all unnecessary branches in the registry and get a nice and convenient context menu.

Good day to all. Most recently, I had to reinstall the system on my computer. Let me remind you that I am using Windows 7 maximum. Everything went almost painlessly with the exception of one small nuance. This time I decided not to install any applications, but to leave it only for the system. I installed all the necessary programs on disk D. But since I constantly use text editor Notepad++, I would like the item to appear in the explorer context menu: Open with Notepad ++. The fact is that this item appears automatically if you install the editor on the "C" drive. But if you install it on another disk, then such a chip will no longer be and you will need to do it yourself and manually. If it is difficult for someone to master a lot of letters, then go directly to

Context menu Windows explorer, this is when you right-click anywhere, that's when this menu appears.

And then I set myself the goal of creating this point at all costs, because I was very used to it and could not imagine my future life without it. 🙂 Gut felt that this idea could somehow be implemented, but I did not know how to do it. As usual, the Runet could not help me. the solution was found somewhere far beyond the seas, oceans and in some kind of broken English. The author used too many words from some local slang that I barely understood what it was about. Therefore, I will tell you what I understood. 🙂

We will edit. This activity is more likely for experienced users. Although, if you do everything according to the instructions, a beginner will cope. First, we need to open this very registry. To do this, go to Start - Run, write the regedit command in the field and press Enter. You can also call a window to execute this command by pressing the Win + R keyboard shortcut. If you do not have the Run item in the start menu, then right-click on Start and select Properties. In the window that opens, in the Start Menu tab, click on the Configure button Find the Run item and put a tick on it and apply the saved parameters.

So, we have opened the registry editor. We need to follow this path:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / * / Shell

Right-click on the shell and select the item: "Create partition".

We give it a name, for example Notepad and in the right window, double-click on the string parameter and write the value: Open in Notepad ++. This is the label that will be displayed in the context menu. Then on the Notepad section, right-click and create a subsection with the name: "command". No quotes. And in the right window in the string parameter we write the path to the program and at the end add: ″% 1 ″ And to find out the path of the program, you need to select the application, press Shift and the right mouse button. The item will appear: "Copy as path". I got it like this:

"D: \ Programs \ Notepad ++ \ notepad ++. Exe" "% 1"

Everything is fine, an item appeared in the context menu that we needed, but it does not look very nice.

Therefore, we need to find out how to add it to the item we have created, so as not to get confused and everything is immediately visible and understandable. And there is a solution to this. First you need to find this icon. Its size should be small, 16x16 pixels. I got this icon from the Notepad ++ program itself. This is done with the help of the program. To add an icon, click on the Notepad section in the registry editor and create a string parameter in the right window using the right button. We call it Icon. And paste the copied icon path there. If everything is done correctly, it should look something like this:

As you already understood, in this way you can add almost any programs that you often use to the context menu. Of course, it is not entirely convenient to do this, but it is useful for practice. You will know the device of the computer and its file system... Unsubscribe about your experiments in the comments. Hope you succeed.

Right-click menus are called contextual menus because their content depends on context — in other words, which program you are in and which object you clicked on. File utilities, many free programs and other applications, to make it easier to use them, often add their commands and entire sections to context menus. This is done, in particular, by the archivers WinZip and WinRar, as well as mail clients Outlook Express and The bat! that add packing and sending commands to the context menus of files e-mail as attachments.

Unfortunately, the more such programs are installed, the longer the context menus, the more clutter they are, and the more difficult it is to find the required command. The situation is aggravated by the fact that many programs, especially free ones, are guilty of the fact that the context menu commands created by them remain even after the programs themselves are uninstalled.

However, some utilities provide convenient ways setting and deleting context menu commands. This is the best and the most reliable way putting things in order. But if there is no such function in the program (or if you managed to remove it), the composition of the menu can be changed using the Windows system registry.

However, before going into the registry (which is not always safe), let us consider several of the most common programs that provide not only the creation of context menu commands, but also the possibility of their safe removal.

WinZip archives

The popular archiving utility WinZip adds several commands (such as Add to Zip) to the context menus of files or selects them in the WinZip submenu. To configure these commands, run WinZip in "classic" mode (not in wizard mode) and select the Options> Configuration command. In 8.1 and later, go to the System tab under Explorer Enhancements. In order not to rummage too long in search of the team you want, in these versions, you can disable the Display context menu items in a submenu mode - and then the archiving commands will be placed in the main menu, as in previous versions WinZip.

To change individual commands, select or deselect the corresponding items in the Context menu command section. By turning off the Display icons on context menus mode, you can leave the commands on the menu, but remove the icons.

Finally, to completely exclude WinZip commands from the context menu, turn off Use shell extension (in versions 7 and 8) or Enable Explorer enhancements. However, keep in mind that if you do this, you will lose the ability to extract the contents from the archive by dragging it with the right mouse button, and you will not be able to replenish the archive by dragging and dropping files onto its icon.

Customizing context menu commands created by the popular WinZip archiver

Winamp music

The free Winamp media player adds three commands to the folder menu: Play in Winamp, Enqueue in Winamp, and Add to Winamp 's Bookmark list. To remove them, open Winamp and select Options> Preferences, or right-click in the program window or panel and select the same command from its own context menu. A picture of the hierarchical menu structure appears on the left side of the window. In the General Preferences section ( General Options) select the File types branch - more earlier versions it's called Setup - and turn off Show Winamp in folder context menus in Windows Explorer or, in earlier versions, Directory context menus and click Close ( Close).

Explorer context menus

In Windows 2000 and XP Pro, you can use the Group Policy tool ( Group policy). Suppose we want to remove the Manage command, which launches the Computer Management administration tool, from the My Computer context menu. To do this, select Start> Run, type gpedit.msc and press Enter. A window will open with a hierarchical tree of commands displayed in the left pane. Go to Local Computer Policy \ User Configuration \ Administrative Templates \ Windows Components \ Windows Explorer, double click on Hides the Manage item on the Windows Explorer context menu, select Enable (Enabled) and click the OK button.

This utility is also launched by Start> Programs> Administrative Tools> Computer Management and if you select Start> Run, type compmgmt.msc and click OK.

To remove the entire folder context menu in Windows 2000, navigate to the Windows Explorer icon in the left pane and double-click on Remove Windows Explorer's default context menu. In Windows XP, you need to select the item of the same name, activate the Enable mode and click on the OK button.The next time you right-click on the folder located on the desktop or on the icon in Explorer, nothing will happen - however, the context menus of other objects, tools such as toolbars will still work. To undo these changes, simply return to the dialog box described, select the Not configured mode and click OK.

In Windows 9x, to edit the context menu for a specific file type, open the My Computer window and select View> Folder Options. The Folder Options dialog box opens. If you go to the File Types tab, select the file type you want and click on the Edit button, another window will open - Edit File Type. This window has several useful functions, in particular, you can change its icon or description. But the main thing is that at the bottom of the window there are those of the context menu commands that can be changed, and a series of buttons for this: Remove, Set Default, as well as Edit and New.

As you can see, context menu commands can not only be deleted, but also created. True, for this it is necessary to be aware of certain agreements adopted when drawing up such commands. You can, of course, read smart books on this topic. However, for educational purposes, you can use free program with a set of ready-made contextual commands. It's called Send To Toys and is located at http://www.gabrieleponti.com/software. Many of them, such as passing the file name and path to the clipboard, are useful on their own - but even more so as a visual aid for composing your own context menu commands.

We are already familiar with the concept of a context menu. It's time to deepen our knowledge about it and consider the topic - How to remove or add commands to the Windows context menu.

Windows functionality allows the user to edit the context menu to their liking.

Editing the context menu (a set of "explorer" or "action" menu commands) is possible in one of two ways:

• Through program parameters;
• Through the Windows registry;
• With the help of additionally installed applications.

Let's see how this is done:

Installed programs often themselves have (by default) the function of integrating into a set of context menu (CM) commands. Then such a parameter is present in their settings on the main tabs, or maybe on such as "Integration", "Download" or "Add", etc. For example, for the WinRAR archiver, it is enough to uncheck the box in the settings:

It is clear that in this way you can both add (install) and remove (remove) a command (commands) from the list. They do the same with other applications.

We work with the registry

When working with Windows Registry you need to be very careful. To be in the registry, you need to set a search in the "Start" menu by typing "regedit", and run the found executable file "regedit.exe":

Making a copy

Before editing the Registry of any version of Windows (including Windows 7), do not forget to create a backup copy for safety reasons. To do this, in the editor, on the "File" tab, select the "Export" command. Select "Entire Register" at the bottom of the dialog that opens. Assigning a name and specifying the location - "Save":

If something irreparable happens (especially for an inexperienced person), you can return the registry to its previous state by using the "File" / "Restore" command, specifying the previously created backup file.

Clearing a directory set

The registry itself looks like a tree-like block diagram (on the left), each of the branches of which has its own parameters (on the right). The "shell", "Shellex ContextMenuHandlers" and "Folder \ shell" branches of the "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Directory" directory are responsible for the folder context menu. Having examined these branches in more detail, you can make sure that the "shell" folder contains the upper part of the context set, and the "Shellex ContextMenuHandlers" - the lower one. The folder "Folder \ shell" - repeats the previous one.

Deleting program elements from the set is produced in each of the branches. On the right mouse, the deletion element is selected, the "Delete" command is called:

Now for files

The same procedure is used here, but in different branches. Since the “* / shellexContextMenuHandlers” and “* / shell” branches in the “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT” registry key are responsible for the set of Context Menu commands for files:

The removal procedure is exactly the same. Do not forget to just delete the unnecessary in both branches.

We use third-party applications

Remove or add an item to the context menu of any Windows versions(including Windows 7) is much easier (and safer for a beginner) using additional utilities.

After installation and launch, in the program window (by the "Type" column) you can see all programs from the Windows context menu (type = Context Menu).

Unnecessary is removed by highlighting and pressing the red circle:

An interesting and useful utility with a self-explanatory name (available in a free version) Ccleaner. It has many useful properties. Website - http://ccleaner.org.ua/. In our case, it clears the registry of unused entries, paths to programs, shortcuts, etc.:

To clear the Context Menu, go to the "Service", in the "Startup" tabs, find the "Context Menu". A list of applications added to the set and their status (included: yes / no) will be displayed here:

To delete - being on the line, right mouse the "Delete" command is invoked. Since a second return (inclusion in the list) is possible only when reinstalling or reconfiguring the application, it is recommended to select the "Disable" option. - Then it will be possible to return it lego ("Enable").

Add with FileMenu Tools

It is very easy to add a new item to the context menu using the FileMenu Tools program.

It offers the user three tabs:

• Left - management of the proposed elements;
• Medium - to configure the "Send" function;
• Right - removes from the list the third party programs commands:

Add new item you need the "Add Command" command. To specify its parameters, the lower right part of the window is intended - "Properties". For example, to add the line "Open in Firefox" to the menu list (opening HTM and HTML files):

In the "Menu Text" you need to enter the name, and in the "Extensions" - the options for the extensions:

In the "Program Properties" the route to the executable file of the Firefox.exe application is written:

The added item is saved by clicking the green element at the top of the window (on the left):

This article helped you understand a variety of ways to edit the context menu. Now you know how to add and remove elements from it not only using Windows, but also using other programs.

Leave your comments.

Many Windows users are familiar with the command "Send" (Send To), which is present in the context menu of folders and files. This handy command lets you move a selected file or document (or a group of them) to frequently used locations with a mouse click, or perform a task. For example, using this command you can:

• copy the file to the specified folder on the hard disk of the computer (for example, to the Documents folder)
• copy files to other drives (for example, external hard drives or USB sticks)
• to run the desired program or shortcut
• send document by email
• quickly copy the file to the desktop

The SendTo folder contains shortcuts to the destinations that appear in the Send"... For each computer user, there is a SendTo folder, the contents of which can be customized.

Some specific items are immediately added by programs that are installed on the computer. For example, antiviruses add the item "Check for viruses"... The Mail.ru agent program, for example, adds the Send via Mail.ru agent ... item to the file context menu, which allows you to send any file to your contact's computer in the Mail.ru agent, etc.
Each user of the system can customize the menu "Send" for yourself. To do this, open the folder SendTo and copy the necessary objects (folder, program, shortcut). When new destinations are added to the SendTo folder, they appear in the menu "Send" which is invoked by right-clicking the file and choosing the command send.

Using the Submit command

In Windows Explorer or in a window "My computer"

1. Move the cursor to the desired object and press the right mouse button;
2. In the context menu, select the item "Send"

This will open a submenu of those destinations where we can send the selected file or folder.

Menu "Send" may contain the following destinations:

• drives (local or network);
• fax printers;
• printers;
• Windows programs;
• compressed zip folders;
• Desktop;
• recipients of mail;
• folder "My Documents".

The items for this menu are stored in a folder In Windows XP, the SendTo folder was located at C: \ Documents and Settings \ UserName \ SendTo... Beginning with Windows Vista(and for Windows 7), the path to this folder has changed:

C: \ Users \ UserName \ AppData \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Windows \ SendTo where UserName is your username.

Adding a Destination to the Send Menu

For Windows XP

The default Windows XP menu "Send" contains the following commands (destinations).

• Compressed ZIP folder
• Desktop (create shortcut)
• Destination
• My documents
• Disc 3.5 (A :)
• CD drive

To add a destination to the menu send, you need to add a shortcut to the SendTo folder. To do this, follow these steps.

Right click on the object you want to add to the menu "Send"(for example, Skype) and in the menu that appears, select Create shortcuts.

You will have a shortcut to this object

Drag this shortcut to a folder "SendTo"(by holding down the left mouse button)

This is the easiest way

Or-
On the menu File select team Create, and then - Label... Follow the instructions in the Create Shortcut Wizard.

A new shortcut is created in the folder "SendTo" and is added to the menu "Send"... For example, we added to the context menu "Send" Skype item

Note. Folder "SendTo" can also be opened as follows.

1. Click the button Start and select the item My computer.
2. Double-click the drive where Windows is installed (this is usually drive C if there is only one drive on your computer).
3. If after opening the disc, it does not show any items, select in the group System tasks link Display the contents of this device.
4. Double click the folder Documents and Settings.
5. Double-click the folder of the user for whom you want to change the Send menu (usually your folder).
6. Double click the folder SendTo.
7. This folder is hidden by default. If the folder is not displayed, select from the menu Service paragraph Folder properties and in the tab View check the box Show hidden files and folders.

Note. To add the destination to the SendTo folder of another computer user, you do not need to repeat these steps, since the created shortcut can be copied to his folder.

Removing a destination from the Send menu

To remove a destination from the menu "Send", follow these steps.

1. Click the button Start and select the command Execute.
2. In field Open enter the command sendto and click the button OK.
3. Right-click the shortcut you want to remove and select the command Delete... The shortcut is removed.

For Windows 7

By default, the menu Send To Windows 7 contains only five file upload destinations. However, this list can also be expanded.
Here's what we see if we just right-click on a file or folder:

But what we will see if we first press on the keyboard Shift and then holding Shift, right-click on the same file or folder:

If you want to change the list of destinations or add new items there, or if you want the destinations you want to be displayed without clicking Shift keys then do the following:

1. Open any folder.

2.In address bar enter: shell: sendto

3. Click Input(Enter).

Press Win + R, enter the command shell: SendTo and press Enter.

4. Just copy the shortcuts that you would like to see in the menu into the opened folder Send to- While holding down the Alt key, copy your program to the above folder and rename the shortcut.

Use the right-click menu. New -> Shortcut -> Specify program location -> Enter shortcut name

Everything! These destinations will be displayed even without pressing a key Shift.

For example, if you often have to transfer music to your PC from removable media, you can save yourself the tedious procedure of opening the desired folder where new songs will be added. To do this, just open the folder "SendTo" containing menu items "Send"(use the method above)

and the music folder where you add music (you need to open two "Explorer" windows, respectively). Now select the music folder and pressing and holding the keys, drag the "Music" folder (you may call it differently) into the folder "SendTo".

Now right click on any file or folder and look at the command bar "Send"- there will be a shortcut to the "Music" folder (you need to create a shortcut, since it makes no sense to create a duplicate of the same "Music" folder on the C drive - the functionality is the same, only the disk space will be wasted inefficiently).

By choosing the appropriate destination on the command bar "Send" we kind of send this object there. But it would be more accurate to say that this file moves as the command "Send" acts similarly to drag and drop and therefore uses the same pattern of actions, namely:

• If the directory specified for the Send command is is on another disk- selected object copied;
• If the directory specified for the Send command is located on the same disk- selected object moves

In any case, we can correct the action of this command.

Removing folders, programs and shortcuts

Removing folders, programs and shortcuts from a folder send is a trivial task: the desired object is selected and deleted with the key Delete or command Delete from the context menu. After deleting an unnecessary folder or program, the corresponding item in the menu disappears automatically. send.

So, we looked at how you can create a new item in the context menu. "Send"... This is done very simply: copy to a folder Send To the desired object (folder, program, shortcuts). Hopefully, if needed, this will not cause any difficulties. Good luck!