I made the Windows 11 right-click menu make sense with one free app

Windows 11 has a whole lot of issues. Yes, we all know. But I’m bored with complaining, and the reality is, I’m not switching to a different OS anytime quickly. So as a substitute of preventing it, I’ve determined to enhance it. And as we speak, it’s the right-click menu’s flip.

It’s straightforward sufficient to revert the Windows 11 context menu back to the classic Windows 10 version. But frankly, the Windows 10 right-click menu does not look good, and it does not have what I need both. So what if, as a substitute of rolling again, you would simply repair the Windows 11 context menu with out making it look outdated? That’s the place Nilesoft Shell is available in.

Meet Nilesoft Shell

My primary frustration with the Windows context menu wasn’t simply that it lacked what I wanted — it was that it included every little thing I didn’t. It’s filled with ineffective junk added by apps that assume their presence is necessary. Of course, I nonetheless use these apps and a few I respect, however I simply do not use them sufficient for them to deserve a spot on my right-click menu.

Another subject I had was that apps like WinRAR, bless its historical soul, nonetheless use old-style icons. Don’t get me mistaken, I like WinRAR, however it does make the Windows context menu look incoherent. All in all, the vanilla Windows 11 context menu is each ugly and inefficient, at the least to me. It doesn’t do what I need, and it doesn’t look the best way I need.

Nilesoft Shell fixes that. It’s a free, open-source context menu supervisor that offers you full management. You can add, take away, and modify entries; group them into submenus; or add solely new sections. It’s not restricted to shortcuts both — you’ll be able to insert customized instructions, scripts, or shell actions that combine instantly into Windows.

Installation is simple. Download the installer, run it, launch the app as Administrator, and hit Register. That’s all it takes to hook it up. Once it’s energetic, you can begin customizing instantly.

OS

Windows

Developer

Nilesoft

Price mannequin

Free (open-source)

Nilesoft Shell is a light-weight, extremely customizable Windows shell extension that allows you to take full management of your right-click context menu. Instead of being caught with cluttered or redundant choices, you’ll be able to utterly redesign the menu to suit the way you really use your PC.

I needn’t seek for Control Panel anymore

Even earlier than you dive into customization, Nilesoft Shell improves the default Windows context menu instantly. Try right-clicking the taskbar. Normally, you’d solely see Task Manager and Taskbar Settings. With Shell, you all of a sudden have a complete set of helpful instruments. The Go To menu allows you to soar straight to key system folders in a single click on. If you must attain AppData, it is now actually two clicks away. Same with the settings app — no must open the Start menu for it.

In the Window menu, you’ll be able to tile or stack all open home windows immediately. I examined it by maximizing every little thing on my desktop after which choosing Show side-by-side. It was quick and fairly environment friendly. I’ve hooked up the outcomes under, in case you’re curious.

There’s additionally the Terminal menu, which is a godsend in case you ever use the command line. Both Command Prompt and EnergyShell are one right-click away, and this menu additionally seems while you right-click a folder. Like the default Windows context menu, the Nilesoft Shell menu objects adapt relying on the place you right-click. You get totally different units of choices in case you right-click, say, a picture file. Regardless of the place you click on, all of the objects are sensible, minimal, and much more helpful than the inventory Windows 11 litter.

Nilesoft Shell makes use of a configuration file (shell.nss) the place you’ll be able to add, take away, and modify menu entries. Editing the config is easy. The file lives within the set up listing (often Program Files), or you’ll be able to entry it quicker by holding Shift, right-clicking the taskbar, opening the Shell submenu, and selecting config. Each rule is written in plain textual content, one per line. There’s no indentation or formatting to fret about. For instance, to take away “Edit with Photos,” you simply add this line:

take away(discover="Edit with Photos")

Save the file, reload File Explorer, and the change is dwell. I began by cleansing home. “Open in Visual Studio” (which I don’t even have put in), “Combine recordsdata in Acrobat,” and “Scan with Microsoft Defender” have been all first on the chopping block. I exploit the right-click menu most for resizing photos with Windows EnergyToys’ picture resizer and converting them with an open-source file converter. The picture right-click menu was the worst. I’m fairly positive I’ll by no means click on “Ask Copilot” or “Create with Designer.” Thankfully, they’re all gone now.

WinRAR’s menu entry nonetheless had its traditional coloured books icon, which I’ve at all times preferred however doesn’t match fashionable Windows aesthetics. So, I changed it with a clear glyph. Nilesoft Shell comes with its personal glyph library, so you’ll be able to simply exchange ugly outdated icons with modern symbols. The coloration code allows you to tweak accent hues to match your theme.

modify(discover="WinRAR" picture=picture.glyph("uE1A4", #22A7F2))

There’s much more you are able to do

Sky’s the restrict

I’ve barely scratched the floor. You can add nested menus, command-line scripts, app launchers, and automation actions. You could make context menus behave in a different way in File Explorer versus the desktop. You may even create dynamic objects that solely seem when sure situations are met. The flexibility right here borders on absurd, however in a great way. For one thing that replaces a bit of Windows so integral but so neglected, it’s remarkably light-weight and steady.

There’s one caveat: configuration is solely text-based. There’s no graphical UI, no drag-and-drop interface — you’re modifying code. That would possibly scare some folks off, however the tradeoff is value it. The textual content config retains it environment friendly, highly effective, and freed from bloat. And when you’ve acquired your menu the best way you need, you’ll not often want to the touch it once more. For me, it is value it simply because I needn’t use the terrible Windows Settings app — as a result of now I’ve a shortcut to Control Panel in my right-click menu.