- Microsoft is engaged on streamlining Home windows 11's right-click menus
- That is only for the context-sensitive choices obtainable to apps, although
- Nevertheless, the hope is that it could be utilized extra broadly throughout Home windows 11 in File Explorer ultimately
There's a touch that Microsoft would possibly a minimum of be interested by addressing one of many greater complaints about Home windows 11's interface: the lengthy record of choices offered if you right-click a file.
As Home windows Newest studies, it is a change to the right-click menu that gives a bunch of context-sensitive choices, and it's coming for sure apps – plus there's an opportunity it may very well be utilized to File Explorer (universally throughout Home windows 11).
The idea was proven off in a WinUI Group name on YouTube (see the video beneath with the related part beginning on the 21-minute mark).
The work means builders of WinUI 3-based apps can leverage a 'Break up Context Menu' characteristic that does just about what it says on the tin, permitting them to separate sure choices right into a secondary menu.
This implies the first right-click menu for an app can have fewer choices and be extra streamlined, with a few of the different choices tucked into secondary fly-out menus off that main record.
An instance right-click on a picture file exhibits a context-sensitive choice to 'Open in Photographs' after which, off that, the power to make use of different apps (Paint, Snipping Device) is tucked away in a secondary menu – relatively than having these listed within the main menu, cluttering it up extra.
Moreover, a bunch of different choices are minimize from the top-level right-click menu, akin to the power to rotate the picture (left or proper), the selection to repeat, and OneDrive is proven as being stripped out of the context menu too.
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WinUI Group Name – Nov 5, 2025 – YouTube 
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Evaluation: get right-click proper – alright?
Earlier than you get too excited, that is only a change being labored on for builders of WinUI 3 apps for now (current within the Home windows App Software program Improvement Package or SDK). As Home windows Newest factors out, it's not clear if this idea can be utilized to the entire of Home windows 11 or stay restricted to these particular apps.
We are able to hope for the previous situation, definitely, as Home windows 11's right-click menu has turn out to be clunkier as time has progressed. The thought was for Home windows 11 to supply one thing extra streamlined than Home windows 10 on this division, and there are certainly fewer right-click choices within the newer OS – albeit as a result of some decisions are hidden behind a 'Present extra choices' button. Nevertheless, the right-click menu remains to be too busy for my liking, and extra pointless bloat has crept in just lately regarding Copilot, fast actions for AI, and the like (to not point out a number of decisions for editors, particularly with photographs).
Briefly, Microsoft may apply the idea outlined for apps right here extra extensively, addressing common complaints about Home windows 11's right-click menu being too cluttered. (And in addition moans about it being sluggish, which can be a long-held grievance).
Actually, although, what'd be good is for Microsoft to supply a Settings panel for the right-click menu in Home windows 11 the place you may drop sure choices for system-wide utilization (to do away with all mentions of OneDrive, say, or Copilot – although the prospect of banishing AI is probably one cause Microsoft wouldn't go this route).
It's a disgrace, as you should use Registry hacks, or third-party software program, to tinker with the right-click menu – however that may be finicky and dangerous, so why isn't this skill obtainable as a local piece of desktop customization in Home windows 11?
If Microsoft is fearful about much less techy varieties by accident breaking performance and turning off core interface components whereas not realizing what they're doing, it may at all times restrict customization choices considerably. Alternatively, consign these talents to PowerToys and a minimum of give us an official add-on resolution for modding the right-click menu.
Nonetheless, this work for WinUI 3 apps is a minimum of a touch that Microsoft is contemplating debloating a few of the clunkier facets of this context-sensitive performance, and maybe it should find yourself being utilized extra broadly throughout Home windows 11.
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