This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable context menus on the Start menu for all or specific users in Windows 11.
The Start menu is comprised of three sections: Pinned, All apps, and Recommended.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable Start Menu context menus.
This will not affect the context menu in the Recommended section of the Start menu.
Contents
- Option One: Enable or Disable Context Menus in the Start Menu for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: Enable or Disable Context Menus in the Start Menu for Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Three: Enable or Disable Context Menus in the Start Menu for All Users using REG file
EXAMPLE: Context menus in the Start Menu
Enable or Disable Context Menus in the Start Menu for All Users in Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Three to configure the same policy.
1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc).
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Disable context menus in the Start Menu policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.
5 Enable Context Menus in the Start Menu for All Users
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)
6 Disable Context Menus in the Start Menu for All Users
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)
7 Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
8 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
Enable or Disable Context Menus in the Start Menu for Specific Users in Local Group Policy Editor
The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option Three to configure the same policy.
1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2 Navigate to the policy location below in the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor. (see screenshot below)
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar
3 In the right pane of Start Menu and Taskbar in the Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Disable context menus in the Start Menu policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you want.
5. Enable Context Menus in the Start Menu
This is the default setting.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)
6. Disable Context Menus in the Start Menu
A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7. (see screenshot below)
7 Close the Local Group Policy Editor.
8 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
2 Enable Context Menus in the Start Menu for All Users
This is the default setting
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_context_menus_in_Start_Menu-for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableContextMenusInStart"=-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableContextMenusInStart"=-3 Disable Context Menus in the Start Menu for All Users
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_context_menus_in_Start_Menu-for_all_users.reg
(Contents of REG file for reference)
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableContextMenusInStart"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]
"DisableContextMenusInStart"=dword:000000014 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 Either restart the explorer process, sign out and sign in, or restart the computer to apply.
8 You can now delete the downloaded REG file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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