Windows Update Add Windows Update Context Menu in Windows 11


  • Staff
Windows_Update_banner.png

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

In Windows 11, you decide when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. When you update, you'll get the latest fixes and security improvements, helping your device run efficiently and stay protected. In most cases, restarting your device completes the update. Make sure your device is plugged in when you know updates will be installed.

References:

If you like, you can add a Windows Update context menu to make accessing the Windows Update pages in Settings fast and easy.


While you must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove this context menu, all users can use this context menu.


EXAMPLE: Windows Update context menu

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


Show_more_options.png
Windows_Update_context_menu.png



Here's How:

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

2 Add "Windows Update" to Desktop context menu

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

Add_Windows_Update_to_desktop_context_menu.reg


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

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate]
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-1401"
"MUIVerb"="Windows Update"
"Position"="Bottom"
"SubCommands"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\001flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Check for Updates"
"Icon"="imageres.dll,-1401"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\001flyout\command]
@="cmd /s /c USOClient StartInteractiveScan & start ms-settings:windowsupdate"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\002flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Windows Update"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\002flyout\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:windowsupdate"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\003flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Schedule the restart"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\003flyout\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:windowsupdate-restartoptions"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\004flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Update history"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\004flyout\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:windowsupdate-history"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\005flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Advanced options"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\005flyout\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:windowsupdate-options"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\006flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Optional updates"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\006flyout\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:windowsupdate-optionalupdates"


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\007flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Delivery Optimization"
"SubCommands"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\007flyout\shell\001flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Delivery Optimization"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\007flyout\shell\001flyout\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:delivery-optimization"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\007flyout\shell\002flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Advanced options"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\007flyout\shell\002flyout\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:delivery-optimization-advanced"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\007flyout\shell\003flyout]
"MUIVerb"="Activity monitor"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate\shell\007flyout\shell\003flyout\command]
@="explorer ms-settings:delivery-optimization-activity"

3 Remove "Windows Update" 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_Windows_Update_from_desktop_context_menu.reg


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

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\WindowsUpdate]

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

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

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

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


That's it,
Shawn Brink

 

Attachments

  • Windows_Update.png
    Windows_Update.png
    14.7 KB · Views: 84
  • Remove_Windows_Update_from_desktop_context_menu.reg
    516 bytes · Views: 224
  • Add_Windows_Update_to_desktop_context_menu.reg
    5.6 KB · Views: 80
Last edited:
Hey @Brink will this work if I disabled "show more options" per this tutorial?


Disregard. It Worked!

1660799669095.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3374
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-12700F
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI
    Memory
    G.SKILL Ripjaws S5 Series 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce RTX 3050 XC Black Gaming
    Sound Card
    RealTek HD 7.1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming 27" 2K HDR Gaming
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 990 Pro 1TB NVMe (Win 11)
    SK hynix P41 500GB NVMe (Win 10)
    SK hynix P41 2TB NVMe (x3)
    Crucial P3 Plus 4TB
    PSU
    Corsair RM850x Shift
    Case
    Antec Dark Phantom DP502 FLUX
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black + 7 Phantek T-30's
    Keyboard
    Logitech MK 320
    Mouse
    Razer Basilisk V3
    Internet Speed
    350Mbs
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Winows Security
    Other Info
    Windows 10 22H2 19045.4170
    On System One
  • Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3374
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-11700F
    Motherboard
    Asus TUF Gaming Z590 Plus WiFi
    Memory
    64 GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2060 KO Ultra Gaming
    Sound Card
    SoundBlaster X-Fi Titanium
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung F27T350
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Pro 1TB
    Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB
    Samsung 870 EVO 500GB SSD
    PSU
    Corsair HX750
    Case
    Cougar MX330-G Window
    Cooling
    Hyper 212 EVO
    Internet Speed
    350Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
Hi Brink,

Do you think that Windows 11 will "get back" the ability to pin "Settings functions" to Start, as it is in Windows 10?

Cheers
Steve
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro 23H2 Beta 22635.3350, Features 22688, Stack 1212.2309.20012
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus MiniPC PN51-E1
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700U
    Motherboard
    Asus PN51-E1 - Bios Version 0505
    Memory
    Crucial 64GB DDR4 SDRAM PC4-25600
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon Vega Graphics 1.80 GHz - Adrenalin Edition 23.9.2
    Sound Card
    AMD G27QC A out to Foss Audio Class D Amp
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gigabyte 27" 165 hertz
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 2TB PCIE NVME
    PSU
    65 Watt
    Case
    Asus Mini
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Logitech K810
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 2S
    Internet Speed
    Telstra Modem Wifi - NBN 50/18
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    This replaced my Linux Notebook. I've used Windows since V2, tried various Linux distros but Windows continues to win for me.
Hi Brink,

Do you think that Windows 11 will "get back" the ability to pin "Settings functions" to Start, as it is in Windows 10?

Cheers
Steve

Hello Steve, :-)

Not sure, but you can manually create shortcuts for some Settings below to pin instead for now.

 

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,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Spectre x360 2in1 14-eu0098nr (2024)
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 155H 4.8 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel Arc
    Sound Card
    Poly Studio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    14" 2.8K OLED multitouch
    Screen Resolution
    2880 x 1800
    Hard Drives
    2 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    Internet Speed
    Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
Hello Steve, :-)

Not sure, but you can manually create shortcuts for some Settings below to pin instead for now.

Thanks Brink,

I do hope that the "Pin" functionality is included in the near future.

Cheers
Steve
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro 23H2 Beta 22635.3350, Features 22688, Stack 1212.2309.20012
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus MiniPC PN51-E1
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700U
    Motherboard
    Asus PN51-E1 - Bios Version 0505
    Memory
    Crucial 64GB DDR4 SDRAM PC4-25600
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon Vega Graphics 1.80 GHz - Adrenalin Edition 23.9.2
    Sound Card
    AMD G27QC A out to Foss Audio Class D Amp
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gigabyte 27" 165 hertz
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 2TB PCIE NVME
    PSU
    65 Watt
    Case
    Asus Mini
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Logitech K810
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 2S
    Internet Speed
    Telstra Modem Wifi - NBN 50/18
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    This replaced my Linux Notebook. I've used Windows since V2, tried various Linux distros but Windows continues to win for me.

Latest Support Threads

Back
Top Bottom