Personalization Add or Remove Settings context menu in Windows 11


Settings_banner.webp

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

Settings is a central hub for managing various aspects of your PC. It offers a simple interface to customize and control your Windows device, ensuring a more personalized and efficient experience.

You can add a Settings desktop context menu to make it easier and faster to directly open the Home, System, Bluetooth & devices, Network & internet, Personalization, Apps (Installed apps), Accounts, Time & language (Date & time), Gaming (Game Bar), Accessibility, Privacy & security, or Windows Update page in Settings.

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



EXAMPLE: Settings desktop context menu with underlined access keys

You will need to click/tap on Show more options first by default, then click/tap on Settings.


Show_more_options_context_menu.webp
Settings_context_menu.webp




Here's How:

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

2 Add "Settings" Desktop Context Menu

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

Add_Settings_to_desktop_context_menu.reg​


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

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings]
"Icon"="shell32.dll,-16826"
"MUIVerb"="&Settings"
"Position"="Bottom"
"SubCommands"=""


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\01menu]
"Icon"="shell32.dll,-51380"
"MUIVerb"="&Home"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\01menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:home"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\02menu]
"Icon"="shell32.dll,-35"
"MUIVerb"="&System"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\02menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:system"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\03menu]
"Icon"="BthpanContextHandler.dll,-200"
"MUIVerb"="&Bluetooth && devices"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\03menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:devices"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\04menu]
"Icon"="shell32.dll,-193"
"MUIVerb"="&Network && internet"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\04menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:network"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\05menu]
"Icon"="themecpl.dll,-1"
"MUIVerb"="&Personalization"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\05menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:personalization"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\06menu]
"Icon"="shell32.dll,-63010"
"MUIVerb"="&Apps"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\06menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:appsfeatures"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\07menu]
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-88"
"MUIVerb"="A&ccounts"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\07menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:accounts"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\08menu]
"Icon"="shell32.dll,-276"
"MUIVerb"="&Time && language"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\08menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:dateandtime"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\09menu]
"Icon"="DDORes.dll,-2207"
"MUIVerb"="&Gaming"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\09menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:gaming-gamebar"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\10menu]
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-86"
"MUIVerb"="Acc&essibility"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\10menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:easeofaccess"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\11menu]
"Icon"="%ProgramFiles%\\Windows Defender\\EppManifest.dll,-101"
"MUIVerb"="Pri&vacy && security"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\11menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:privacy"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\12menu]
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-1401"
"MUIVerb"="&Windows Update"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\shell\12menu\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:windowsupdate"

3 Remove "Settings" Desktop Context Menu

This is the default setting.


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

Remove_Settings_from_desktop_context_menu.reg​


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

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings]

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


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If you want only Settings instead of a cascading menu on desktop context menu.

I use that one

to add:
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Add "Settings" to Desktop Context Menu

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings]
@="@%SystemRoot%\\ImmersiveControlPanel\\systemsettings.exe,-650"
"Icon"="%systemroot%\\System32\\shell32.dll,-16826"
"Position"="Bottom"
"SettingsURI"="ms-settings:"
"SeparatorBefore"=""
"SeparatorAfter"=""

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

note:
If you don't want separators, erase that lines from the code:

"SeparatorBefore"=""
"SeparatorAfter"=""

to remove:
Code: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Remove "Settings" from Desktop Context Menu

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings]


SS_20251225_14162855.webp
 

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