Personalization Add Personalize (classic) context menu in Windows 11


Personlization_banner.png

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

The old classic Personalization settings from the Control Panel included theme settings, desktop background, color and appearance, sounds, screen saver settings, desktop icon settings, and mouse pointers.

These Personalization settings have moved to the Settings app with a new UI in Windows 11.

If you prefer to still use the classic Personalization settings from the Control Panel, you can add Personalize (classic) to the desktop context menu to make it easy to use.


While you must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove the "Personalize (classic)" context menu, all users will be able to use the context menu.


EXAMPLE: "Personalize (classic)" context menu and items

It is required to click/tap on Show more options first by default, then click/tap on Personalize (classic).


Show_more_options.png
Personlize_classic_context_menu.png

Theme_Settings.png
Desktop_Background.png

Color_and_Appearance.png
Sounds.png

Screen_Saver_Settings.png
Desktop_Icon_Settings.png
Mouse_Pointers.png




Here's How:

1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.

2 Add "Personalize (classic)" to Desktop context menu

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

Add_Personalize-classic_to_desktop_context_menu.reg​


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

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization]
"Icon"="themecpl.dll"
"MUIVerb"="Personalize (classic)"
"Position"="Bottom"
"Extended"=-
"SubCommands"=""


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\001flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Theme Settings"
"ControlPanelName"="Microsoft.Personalization"
"Icon"="themecpl.dll"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\001flyout\command]
@="explorer shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921}"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\002flyout]
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-110"
"MUIVerb"="Desktop Background"
"CommandFlags"=dword:00000020

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\002flyout\command]
@="explorer shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921} -Microsoft.Personalization\\pageWallpaper"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\003flyout]
"Icon"="themecpl.dll"
"MUIVerb"="Color and Appearance"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\003flyout\command]
@="explorer shell:::{ED834ED6-4B5A-4bfe-8F11-A626DCB6A921} -Microsoft.Personalization\\pageColorization"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\004flyout]
"Icon"="SndVol.exe,-101"
"MUIVerb"="Sounds"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\004flyout\command]
@="rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL mmsys.cpl,,2"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\005flyout]
"Icon"="PhotoScreensaver.scr"
"MUIVerb"="Screen Saver Settings"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\005flyout\command]
@="rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,1"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\006flyout]
"Icon"="desk.cpl"
"MUIVerb"="Desktop Icon Settings"
"CommandFlags"=dword:00000020

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\006flyout\command]
@="rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,0"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\007flyout]
"Icon"="main.cpl"
"MUIVerb"="Mouse Pointers"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization\shell\007flyout\command]
@="rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL main.cpl,,1"

3 Remove "Personalize (classic)" from 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_Personalize-classic_from_desktop_context_menu.reg​


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

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization]

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


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

Last edited:
Click to expand...
@Brink
16 seems to be the maximum number of flyout's you can create. Do you know of a way to increase that?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
Edwin said:
@Brink
16 seems to be the maximum number of flyout's you can create. Do you know of a way to increase that?
Click to expand...

Hey mate, :alien:

I haven't found a way so far other than making it multi-expandable.

I ran into the same issue when trying to create a classic Control Panel context menu.
 

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,
    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
  • 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
Can we edit this to spell "Personalise" properly without this blowing up?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Enterprise 25H2 26200 7462
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Intel XEON E5-2699 v3
    Motherboard
    ASUS X99-A
    Memory
    64GB Teamgroup UD4-3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ACER X34 Predator
    Screen Resolution
    3440 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    Crucial CT1000P 3P SSD8 1TB
    Crucial CT1000 BX500 SSD 1TB
    PSU
    GameMax Pro
    Case
    Fractal Design
    Cooling
    Corsair H110iGT + 6 140mm Fans
    Keyboard
    Corsair K4
    Mouse
    G-Skill G502
    Internet Speed
    300MBs
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    OEM
    Other Info
    ASUS RT-AC87U Router
  • Operating System
    25H2 26200.5074
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS X555LA
    Memory
    8GB
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    OEM
Rollback_Jockey said:
Can we edit this to spell "Personalise" properly without this blowing up?
Click to expand...

Oh yes. You can just change the MUIVerb value in the section and line below to "Personalise" instead of "Personalize (classic)".

Code: 
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalization]
"Icon"="themecpl.dll"
"MUIVerb"="Personalize (classic)"
"Position"="Bottom"
"Extended"=-
"SubCommands"=""
 

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,
    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
  • 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
heres the fluent icon if you want it for the context entry.
personalization.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
Brink said:
I haven't found a way so far other than making it multi-expandable.
Click to expand...
Tried that but it still only lets me have 16 entries..., or, am I doing something wrong?

10743.webp
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook

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,
    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
  • 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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