Personalization Add or Remove "Add to Favorites" Context Menu in Windows 11


Quick_access_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the Add to Favorites context menu for your account or all users in Windows 11.

Starting with Windows 11 build 22593, Quick access in File Explorer (Win+E) is now called Home. The name Quick access has been repurposed for the pinned/frequent Folders section, and Pinned files is now called Favorites to align with Office and OneDrive. Recent and pinned files (Favorites) displayed in Home are now searchable using the search box in File Explorer even if they are not local files, so you can find Office files recently shared with you.

Home in the navigation pane is the default homepage of File Explorer (Win+E) that allows you to quickly access and view your pinned/frequent locations (Quick access), Favorites (pinned files), and Recent files from one location.

You can use the Add to Favorites context menu to pin files you want to File Explorer Home.



Contents

  • Option One: Add or Remove "Add to Favorites" Context Menu for Current User
  • Option Two: Add or Remove "Add to Favorites" Context Menu for All Users


EXAMPLE: "Add to Favorites" context menu

Add_to_Favorites.png


EXAMPLE: Favorites in File Explorer Home

Favorites_in_File_Explorer_Home.webp





Option One

Add or Remove "Add to Favorites" Context Menu for Current User


1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you want.


 2. Add "Add to Favorites" Context Menu for Current User

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Add-Add_to_Favorites_context_menu_for_current_user.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\*\shell\pintohomefile]
"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=-


 3. Remove "Add to Favorites" Context Menu for Current User

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Remove-Add_to_Favorites_context_menu_for_current_user.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\*\shell\pintohomefile]
"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=""

4 Save the REG file to your desktop.

5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.

7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.




Option Two

Add or Remove "Add to Favorites" Context Menu for All Users


You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option.


1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you want.


 2. Add "Add to Favorites" Context Menu for All Users

This is the default setting.


A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Add-Add_to_Favorites_context_menu_for_all_users.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\pintohomefile]
"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\*\shell\pintohomefile]
"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=-


 3. Remove "Add to Favorites" Context Menu for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.​

Remove-Remove-Add_to_Favorites_context_menu_for_all_users.reg​


(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\pintohomefile]
"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=""

4 Save the REG file to your desktop.

5 If you have Smart App Control turned on, you will need to unblock the downloaded REG file.

6 Double click/tap on the downloaded REG file to merge it.

7 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

Last edited:
Click to expand...
Hi,
Nice :cool:
 

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@Brink

EDIT: Never mind, it's all good! (y)
 
Last edited:

My Computers

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Thanks
 

My Computer

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Yes, excellent! Thanks Shawn.

Kind regards,

tecknot
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 build 26200.8457
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    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
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    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    1 TB SSD
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I think that there can be issues with registry edits that refer to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.
Brink said:
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Click to expand...

Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\pintohomefile]
"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\*\shell\pintohomefile]
"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=-

If ProgrammaticAccessOnly is set in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes, then because it takes precedence over any setting from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes, then deleting from HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT as the first section shows will delete from HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes, so the second section will have no effect. And in the unlikely situation that ProgrammaticAccessOnly is set in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes as well, then we'd have to rerun the reg script to remove it.

Also, if you set and unset ProgrammaticAccessOnly as a user, then the key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes will still exist, and writing to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT will write to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes.

I think that the best way to deal with this is to write explicitly to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes. In this tutorial there's an implicit assumption that references to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT always refer to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes. Mostly that will hold, but here we are giving instructions on how to make this change for the current user, which will break the assumption.

So, I've read many instructions that simply say write to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT , and I automatically think of writing to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes instead, but as soon as we start suggesting this to users who simply follow tutorials, we've added an extra complication. I think it's worth it, I think that there are some who won't.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 25H2 Pro Build 26200
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI PRO ADL-U Cubi 5 (MS-B0A8)
    CPU
    i3-1215U
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    8GB
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    Sony 43" 4k TV
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    250GB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen 3 SSD
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    External 65W
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    FireFox
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    MS
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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
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    Intel i3-9100
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    16GB DDR4
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    Dell S2721
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    Samsung 500GB nvMe
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    Dell small form factor
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    Cherry mechanical (Blue)
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Antivirus
    MS Defender
Skeptic Mike said:
I think that there can be issues with registry edits that refer to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.


Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\pintohomefile]
"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\*\shell\pintohomefile]
"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=-

If ProgrammaticAccessOnly is set in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes, then because it takes precedence over any setting from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes, then deleting from HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT as the first section shows will delete from HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes, so the second section will have no effect. And in the unlikely situation that ProgrammaticAccessOnly is set in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes as well, then we'd have to rerun the reg script to remove it.

Also, if you set and unset ProgrammaticAccessOnly as a user, then the key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes will still exist, and writing to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT will write to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes.

I think that the best way to deal with this is to write explicitly to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes. In this tutorial there's an implicit assumption that references to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT always refer to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes. Mostly that will hold, but here we are giving instructions on how to make this change for the current user, which will break the assumption.

So, I've read many instructions that simply say write to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT , and I automatically think of writing to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes instead, but as soon as we start suggesting this to users who simply follow tutorials, we've added an extra complication. I think it's worth it, I think that there are some who won't.
Click to expand...

Hello mate, :alien:

Usually writing to the HKCR or HKLM location will write to the other as well. HKCU is separate, and doesn't get written to by the other locations.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
Brink said:
Usually writing to the HKCR or HKLM location will write to the other as well. HKCU is separate, and doesn't get written to by the other locations.
Click to expand...
If you write a new key to HKCR, it is always written to HKLM.

If you write a value to an existing key in HKCR it is written to HKLM only if the key doesn't exist in HKCU, but if the key exists in HKCU, then that's where it's written.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 25H2 Pro Build 26200
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI PRO ADL-U Cubi 5 (MS-B0A8)
    CPU
    i3-1215U
    Memory
    8GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony 43" 4k TV
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    250GB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen 3 SSD
    PSU
    External 65W
    Case
    Mini PC
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    MS
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 3070 SFF
    CPU
    Intel i3-9100
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S2721
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 500GB nvMe
    Case
    Dell small form factor
    Keyboard
    Cherry mechanical (Blue)
    Mouse
    Microsoft
    Antivirus
    MS Defender
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