You can add any Ribbon command to the right click menu in Windows 10. It is not a complicated trick, but involves Registry editing. Using the instructions below, you will be able to add any Ribbon command to the context menu of File Explorer.
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It is a good idea to add some Ribbon commands to the context menu. Once you put your frequently used Ribbon commands to the context menu of File Explorer, you need not go through the various Ribbon tabs to find the command you need.
Add Ribbon Command to Right Click menu in Windows 10
In Windows 10, all of the Ribbon commands are stored in the Registry under one single key for Explorer called "CommandStore". To access the Command Store, open Registry Editor and go to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell
After expanding this key, you will see multiple subkeys which all correspond to the numerous Ribbon commands.
So, you need to do the following.
In Registry Editor, assuming you have navigated to the ...\CommandStore\shell registry key mentioned above, select the Registry subkey of any command that you want to add to the right-click menu.
For example, let's suppose I want to add the "Permanently delete" command to the right click menu. Therefore, I will have to select the Windows.PermanentDelete Registry subkey.
Right click this key and select Export. Give the file any name and save it. For example, "Delete permanently to context menu.reg".
Now you need to determine the Registry key in the HKCR branch for which file type's context menu you wish to add this command. You can add it only for a particular file type, or you can add it for all file types, or even all folders and all file system objects.
In case of our command "Delete Permanently", it makes sense to add this to the HKCR\*\shell key of the registry as it is applicable to all file types. We want to be able to quickly copy the path of any file type. Therefore, the command we exported needs to be added to HKCR\* key.
Note: You must change this as required. For example, if you want to add a Ribbon command you exported to only the context menu of folders, you would have to add it to the HKCR\Directory\shell subkey. If you wish to add a command such as "Manage Library" to the context menu, it makes sense to add it only for Libraries, therefore you will have to add it to the HKCR\LibraryFolder key and so on. You get the idea - you need to add it for the appropriate file type.
Now, locate the file you exported. Go to the location where you saved it in File Explorer and open it in Notepad by right clicking the .reg file and choosing Open with -> Notepad. The contents of the Ribbon command I exported look like this:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\Windows.PermanentDelete]
"CommandStateSync"=""
"ExplorerCommandHandler"="{E9571AB2-AD92-4ec6-8924-4E5AD33790F5}"
"Icon"="shell32.dll,-240"
You only need to replace the key path portion of text with HKCR\*\shell (or whatever HKCR subkey for the file type you want to merge it to).
So replace/change the following text:
From
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\Windows.PermanentDelete]
To
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Windows.PermanentDelete]
See the following screenshot:
The rest of the .reg file contents need to be unchanged. Simply save the changes to the .reg file, close Notepad and double click the .reg file to merge it along with the modified path back to the Registry.
That's it. After merging the command, try right clicking on the correct file type (any file type will do in case of *).
You will notice the command you just added.
You can save your time and add any Ribbon command to the context menu using Winaero's Context Menu Tuner. It has an easy-to-use interface and will allow you to add any command you want.
Tip: The Ribbon takes a huge amount of vertical space, so once you have added the command to the context menu, you can keep the Ribbon minimized or disable it entirely with our Ribbon Disabler.
The same can be done in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.
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I do find your registry tweaks interesting and informative Sergey, but in the example you’ve chosen isn’t using Shift+D much simpler?
I used the command just for example. You can add anything you want. Something like Advanced Security is a good choice.
Thanks, that is one to consider. I use the Quick Access Toolbar with all the main options pinned so rarely need the tabs, but I think it will be useful to add ‘copy path’ and ‘layout options’ to the context menu too so will use your guide to do that. Thanks again.
You are welcome.
Thank you very much Sergey. Very useful tip.
You are welcome.
Do you know if it’s possible to add and remove items from the ribbon?
it is not possible. the Ribbon is hardcoded in shell32.dll.
how can I save or export my setting ?
Soon ™. The export/import feature is coming.
thank you too much Sergey
Better
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Windows.PermanentDelete]
“CommandStateSync”=””
“ExplorerCommandHandler”=”{E9571AB2-AD92-4ec6-8924-4E5AD33790F5}”
“Icon”=”shell32.dll,-240”
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Windows.PermanentDelete]
“CommandStateSync”=””
“ExplorerCommandHandler”=”{E9571AB2-AD92-4ec6-8924-4E5AD33790F5}”
“Icon”=”shell32.dll,-240”
Boa tarde amigo,
Como seria o script para abrir esse comando no menu de contexto da área de trabalho: Windows.location.PowershellAsAdmin
Valeu!
Excellent work thank you too much Sergey.
I’d appreciate having the possibility to EDIT a userd defined item, which I have created before.
I think the tutorial is great. But I do have some different scenarios. I’m trying to move the “Text Document” “New” sub-menu to just right click>Text Document instead Right Click>New>Text Document.
Here’s the question been asked previously on the various platforms but it seems no can’t do that.
https://superuser.com/questions/1561275/right-click-main-context-menu-how-to-create-new-text-document-just-by-right-cli
And this is what exactly I want.
https://superuser.com/questions/1477912/im-dreaming-of-right-click-new-text-document-notepad
You can see this video on how I create New Folder. That heck was done by “Conext Menu enhancer”
https://youtu.be/3bsNBirrOeA
Thank you!
Hello, I have 2 questions the first relevant to the guide the second not entirely. Where is this feature found on Winaero Tweaker? , the second is an Italian translation of Winaero Tweaker?. Hi everyone.
Hello.
The feature is on the way to Winaero Tweaker.
I once started adding it, but didn’t finish yet.
There are no translations available for Winaero Tweaker. I am not happy with its translation engine.
It was fine for smaller tools. For a big app like Winaero Tweaker, it is not suitable.
Hello and thanks for the answer, I’m communicating with you with google translator which now works pretty well. I translate what is written on Winaero Tweaker and using it I understand better even the translation errors, unfortunately the text is not selectable and so I have to transcribe everything by hand. Anyway, still a thousand thanks for the work you do.
I use context Menu Tuner 3.0.0.2.
The parameter %1 stands for the present file or directory.
This seems to be valid only if file names are not longer than one word (f.e. “open.txt”). If the file name includes more than one word (f.e. “open file.txt”) I get an error.
What is the command line argument to open any file or directory with a certain program?
Hope, you can help me.
Thank you in advance.
Best regards, Ralf Putzar
Specify the argument with quotes, like app.exe “%1%”
Downloaded the Context Menu Tuner and tried it on my Windows 10 Home, it works but then my explorer starts to crash every time I right click on a file and the Context Menu Tuner won’t launch again, I had to use the Regedit and remove all the new entries.
This is a great guide. I used it to add “Windows.folderoptions” to the right click menu.
Unfortunately the command name is obscenely long when I right click: “Change folder and search options”.
I want to change the name to something simpler like “Folder Options”. Is there a subkey or alteration I can make to the key that will allow me to change the display name in the context menu itself?
Any way at all to change the context menu display name? Tried everything. Added MUIVerb and set it to a custom name… no go. Tried changing the (default) value… no go. Any way at all to do this?