Personalization Add or Remove Default Items on New Context Menu in Windows 11


New_banner.webp

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove default items on the New context menu for all users in Windows 11.

The New context menu allows users to quickly create a new item in the current location.

The default New context menu items include to create a new Folder, Shortcut, Bitmap image, Text Document, Compressed (zipped) Folder, and Library.

System folders and the root of the Windows drive will only have New > Folder available.

Libraries will only have New > Library available.


You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove items on the New context menu.



Contents

  • Option One: Add or Remove "Folder" on New context menu
  • Option Two: Add or Remove "Shortcut" on New context menu
  • Option Three: Add or Remove "Compressed (zipped) Folder" on New context menu
  • Option Four: Add or Remove "Library" on New context menu


EXAMPLE: New context menu

New_command_bar.png
New_Library.png
New_context_menu.png





Option One

Add or Remove "Folder" on New context menu


1 Click/tap on the Download button below you want to download the file below.

Add_new_folder_context_menu.reg​


(Contents of .reg file)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellNew]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellNew]
"Directory"=""
"IconPath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
  74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\
  00,68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,33,00,\
  00,00
"ItemName"="@shell32.dll,-30396"
"MenuText"="@shell32.dll,-30317"
"NonLFNFileSpec"="@shell32.dll,-30319"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellNew\Config]
"AllDrives"=""
"IsFolder"=""
"NoExtension"=""

OR​

Remove_new_folder_context_menu.reg​


(Contents of .reg file)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellNew]

2 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

3 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

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

5 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.




Option Two

Add or Remove "Shortcut" on New context menu


1 Click/tap on the Download button below you want to download the file below.

Add_new_shortcut_context_menu.reg​


(Contents of .reg file)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellNew]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellNew]
"Handler"="{ceefea1b-3e29-4ef1-b34c-fec79c4f70af}"
"IconPath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
  74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\
  00,68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,\
  31,00,36,00,37,00,36,00,39,00,00,00
"ItemName"="@shell32.dll,-30397"
"MenuText"="@shell32.dll,-30318"
"NullFile"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellNew\Config]
"DontRename"=""

OR​

Remove_new_shortcut_context_menu.reg​


(Contents of .reg file)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellNew]

2 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

3 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

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

5 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.




Option Three

Add or Remove "Compressed (zipped) Folder" on New context menu


1 Click/tap on the Download button below you want to download the file below.

Add_new_compressed_zipped_folder_context_menu.reg​


(Contents of .reg file)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder\ShellNew]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder\ShellNew]
"Data"=hex:50,4b,05,06,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"ItemName"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,\
  6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,\
  00,7a,00,69,00,70,00,66,00,6c,00,64,00,72,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,\
  2d,00,31,00,30,00,31,00,39,00,34,00,00,00

OR​

Remove_new_compressed_zipped_folder_context_menu.reg​


(Contents of .reg file)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder\ShellNew]

2 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

3 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

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

5 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.




Option Four

Add or Remove "Library" on New context menu


1 Click/tap on the Download button below you want to download the file below.

Add_new_library_context_menu.reg​


(Contents of .reg file)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.library-ms\ShellNew]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.library-ms\ShellNew]
"Handler"="{c7ca6167-2f46-4c4c-98b2-c92591368971}"
"IconPath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
  74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,69,\
  00,6d,00,61,00,67,00,65,00,72,00,65,00,73,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,\
  2d,00,31,00,30,00,30,00,31,00,00,00
"NullFile"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.library-ms\ShellNew\Config]
"IsFolder"=""
"IsOptIn"=""
"NoEmptyFile"=""

OR​

Remove_new_library_context_menu.reg​


(Contents of .reg file)
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.library-ms\ShellNew]

2 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

3 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

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

5 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

Last edited:
Click to expand...
Actually I'm slightly puzzled that it is dependent on that. Creating a new 'New' menu entry also requires a template document- which is copied to create the new file. (This actually lets you specify the default layout, font etc).

For example, I took what I did in Win 10 and used that in Win 11 to create a new docx option, as I don't have MS Office installed (Libre Office doesn't create thai although it can handle docx). I've also just recreated a rtf option. (And FWIW I do have a txt option).
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Proi7-8650U16GBIntel UHD 620
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Lenovo t480s
CPU
i7-8650U
Memory
16GB
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Intel UHD 620
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1920x1080
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C SN810 SDCPNRY-512G-1006
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Edge, Firefox
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dalchina said:
Actually I'm slightly puzzled that it is dependent on that. Creating a new 'New' menu entry also requires a template document- which is copied to create the new file. (This actually lets you specify the default layout, font etc).

For example, I took what I did in Win 10 and used that in Win 11 to create a new docx option, as I don't have MS Office installed (Libre Office doesn't create thai although it can handle docx). I've also just recreated a rtf option. (And FWIW I do have a txt option).
Click to expand...

Agreed. It is odd, but I've seen reports of people losing new "Text Document" after uninstalling Notepad even if the registry settings are still there.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GD...
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
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    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
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    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
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    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
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    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
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    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProSnapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    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
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    1 TB SSD
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    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
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    Chrome and Edge
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I've never understood why anyone would want to create a New Blank Text Document on the Desktop, then open it, then edit it, then save it, etc.
Why not just open an instance of Notepad!?!?!? 🤷‍♂️
Not to mention a New Empty Zip Folder or Blank Bitmap Image!!! Who does that!?!?!?
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro
    OS
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    Windows 11 Pro
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  • ASUS VivoBook 'Lite' ~ Windows 11 Home
Agree with the last two! And eliminating the Bitmap image seems hard in Win 11, although I did find a Youtube video that seemed to suggest a simple way.. not tried.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Proi7-8650U16GBIntel UHD 620
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Lenovo t480s
CPU
i7-8650U
Memory
16GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel UHD 620
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
C SN810 SDCPNRY-512G-1006
Browser
Edge, Firefox
Antivirus
Defender
Brink said:
Agreed. It is odd, but I've seen reports of people losing new "Text Document" after uninstalling Notepad even if the registry settings are still there.
Click to expand...
To which Notepad are you referring? If you uninstall new UWP Notepad then since it provides a New - Text Document entry, it should remove it. If you have provided a Windows 10 (or earlier) version by creating a ShellNew registry entry with the Windows 10 entries, and then uninstall legacy Notepad, that should also stop the New entry working. Those entries include references to the Notepad executable to provide required values for New to work properly, and they won't return anything if Notepad isn't there. If the name for the New file is blank, the the entry doesn't show. If you hard coded those it should work.
dalchina said:
eliminating the Bitmap image seems hard in Win 11,
Click to expand...
I gave a (vb)script for doing this in Removing 'Bitmap image' from 'New' context menu...

It isn't elegant, but it works. It's based on the empirical research in that thread. Note that it seems to do the same thing that I suggested above. I expect a neater version could be produced in PowerShell.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 25H2 Pro Build 26200i3-1215U8GB
    OS
    Windows 11 25H2 Pro Build 26200
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    MSI PRO ADL-U Cubi 5 (MS-B0A8)
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    i3-1215U
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    FireFox
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    Dell Optiplex 3070 SFF
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    Intel i3-9100
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Skeptic Mike said:
To which Notepad are you referring? If you uninstall new UWP Notepad then since it provides a New - Text Document entry, it should remove it. If you have provided a Windows 10 (or earlier) version by creating a ShellNew registry entry with the Windows 10 entries, and then uninstall legacy Notepad, that should also stop the New entry working. Those entries include references to the Notepad executable to provide required values for New to work properly, and they won't return anything if Notepad isn't there. If the name for the New file is blank, the the entry doesn't show. If you hard coded those it should work.
Click to expand...

It was the new Notepad app from the Microsoft Store from everywhere I've seen this mentioned.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro for WorkstationsIntel i7-8700K 5 GHz64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600...ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GD...
    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

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProSnapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    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
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