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 🙏
 

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    ...Where's my horse?
Thanks Shawn.
I am absolutely a fan of the old "Classic" option
So this is handy, thanks 🙏
:shawn:
 

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