This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the "Edit in Notepad" context menu for your account or all users in Windows 11.
Notepad is a fast and simple text editor that can be used to view, edit, and search through plain text documents instantly.
Starting with Notepad version 11.2311.33.0, you can now easily access Notepad for file modifications directly from File Explorer. Just right-click on any file or multiple files in File Explorer to find the Edit in Notepad option in the context menu, a quick and streamlined way to open and edit files in Notepad.
If you don't want this new Edit in Notepad item in the context menu, it can be removed.
Contents
- Option One: Add or Remove "Edit in Notepad" Context Menu for Current User
- Option Two: Add or Remove "Edit in Notepad" Context Menu for All Users
EXAMPLE: "Edit in Notepad" context menu
1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.
2 Add "Edit in Notepad" 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_Edit_in_Notepad_context_menu_for_current_user.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked]
"{CA6CC9F1-867A-481E-951E-A28C5E4F01EA}"=-3 Remove "Edit in Notepad" 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_Edit_in_Notepad_context_menu_for_current_user.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked]
"{CA6CC9F1-867A-481E-951E-A28C5E4F01EA}"="Edit in Notepad"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 If changes are not applied immediately, then either restart explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
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 would like to do.
2. Add "Edit in Notepad" 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_Edit_in_Notepad_context_menu_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked]
"{CA6CC9F1-867A-481E-951E-A28C5E4F01EA}"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked]
"{CA6CC9F1-867A-481E-951E-A28C5E4F01EA}"=- 3. Remove "Edit in Notepad" Context Menu for All Users
This will override Option One.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Remove_Edit_in_Notepad_context_menu_for_all_users.reg
Download
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked]
"{CA6CC9F1-867A-481E-951E-A28C5E4F01EA}"="Edit in Notepad"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 If changes are not applied immediately, then either restart explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
9 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
Last edited:
