Microsoft's new customizable context menu lets you declutter Windows 11

Microsoft is finally addressing one of Windows' long-standing annoyances: the cluttered, chaotic right-click context menu that grows as you install more apps. In a Windows Insiders blog post, the company announced an updated context menu designed to be "faster, simpler, and more customizable." With this new feature, users can add frequently used commands, remove unwanted ones, and tweak the menu's layout to fit their workflow. This isn't Microsoft's first attempt — Windows 11 introduced a simplified menu with core commands, but power users still had to dig into the legacy menu for advanced options. The new customization layer aims to eliminate that extra step.

To try it now, Insiders must run the latest build (26340.9212) and install Vivetool, a free utility from GitHub. Using an admin command prompt, you'll type `vivetool /enable /id: 60813048` and reboot. Then, right-click in File Explorer and choose "Customize menu" to access the new Settings screen. From there, you can toggle key commands (Send to, Print, Copy as path, Rotate image), control which app extensions appear (Copilot, Clipchamp, Notepad, Paint, OneDrive, Photos), switch Cut/Copy/Paste inline vs. in a row, and move Properties to the bottom. A "Show legacy menu" option remains for old-school users. Microsoft plans a broader rollout by year's end.