Personalization Add or Remove "Personalize" Desktop context menu in Windows 11


Personlize_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the "Personalize" desktop context menu for all users in Windows 11.

When you right click or press and hold on your desktop and click/tap on Personalize, it will open the Settings > Personalization settings page.

You must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove the Personalize desktop context menu.



Contents

  • Option One: Add "Personalize" to Desktop context menu
  • Option Two: Remove "Personalize" from Desktop context menu


EXAMPLE: "Personalize" desktop context menu

Personalize_context_menu-new.png
Personalize_context_menu-old.png





Option One

Add "Personalize" to Desktop context menu


This is the default setting.


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

Add_Personalize_to_desktop_context_menu.reg


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

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalize]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalize]
@=hex(2):40,00,25,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,72,00,6f,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,00,74,00,\
  68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,63,00,70,00,6c,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,\
  00,31,00,30,00,00,00
"HideInSafeMode"=""
"Icon"=hex(2):25,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,72,00,6f,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,00,74,00,\
  68,00,65,00,6d,00,65,00,63,00,70,00,6c,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,\
  00,31,00,00,00
"Position"="Bottom"
"SettingsURI"="ms-settings:personalization"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalize\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{556FF0D6-A1EE-49E5-9FA4-90AE116AD744}"

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

Remove "Personalize" from Desktop context menu


1 Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe).

2 Navigate to the registry key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalize

Personalize_context_menu-1.png

3 Perform the steps below to change the owner and enable inheritance of the "Personalize" key and its "command" subkey: (see screenshots below)
  1. Change the owner of the Personalize key to be Administrators.
  2. While changing the owner, check Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.
  3. While changing the owner, check Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object.
  4. Click/tap on OK and Yes.
Personalize_context_menu-2.png
Personalize_context_menu-3.png

4 Change the permissions of the Personalize key to "Allow" Administrators "Full Control". (see screenshot below)

Personalize_context_menu-4.png

5 You can now close Registry Editor if you like.

6 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.

Remove_Personalize_from_desktop_context_menu.reg


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

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalize]

7 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

This REG file will not be allowed to merge unless you did all of steps 3 and 4 first.


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


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 

Attachments

Last edited:
Thanks Shawn.
I am absolutely a fan of the old "Classic" option
So this is handy, thanks 🙏
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.4890
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4 x LG 23MP75 - 2 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    100/40Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
Thanks Shawn.
I am absolutely a fan of the old "Classic" option
So this is handy, thanks 🙏
:shawn:
 

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,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    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
    Windows Defender

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