This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the "Extract" context menu item for CAB files for all users in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
A cabinet is a single file, usually with a .cab extension, that stores compressed files in a file library. The cabinet format is an efficient way to package multiple files because compression is performed across file boundaries, which significantly improves the compression ratio.
When you right click on a CAB file, it does not have an Extract option available in the context menu by default. You have to manually extract all files from a CAB file by default.
If wanted, you can add Extract to the context menu when you right click on a CAB file that will either open or not open the extracted folder afterwards.
You can add a plain Extract context menu item that will create a new folder with the CAB file name at the current location of the CAB file, extract (copy) all files in the CAB file into the folder, and not open the extracted folder.
You could instead add an Extract context menu item that will create a new folder with the CAB file name at the current location of the CAB file, extract (copy) all files in the CAB file into the folder, and open the extracted folder.
You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove the Extract context menu for CAB files.
EXAMPLE: Extract context menu for CAB files
Here's How:
1 Do step 2 (add extract), step 3 (add extract and open), or step 4 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
2 Add "Extract" Context Menu for CAB files
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Add_Extract_to_context_menu_of_CAB_files.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CABFolder\Shell\Extract\Command]
@="cmd /c for %%I in (\"%1\") do (mkdir \"%%~dpnI\" & expand \"%1\" -F:* \"%%~dpnI\")"3 Add "Extract" and Open Context Menu for CAB files
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Add_Extract_and_open_to_context_menu_of_CAB_files.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CABFolder\Shell\Extract\Command]
@="cmd /c for %%I in (\"%1\") do (mkdir \"%%~dpnI\" 2>nul & expand \"%1\" -F:* \"%%~dpnI\" & explorer \"%%~dpnI\")"4 Remove "Extract" Context Menu for CAB files
This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.
Remove_Extract_from_context_menu_of_CAB_files.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CABFolder\Shell\Extract]5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.
6 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.
7 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
8 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
