Has right-clicking of taskbar icons and tasks been disabled in Windows 11?


C

classic35mm

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Windows 11 23H2 22631.3527
I just realized that right-clicking on taskbar icons/tasks no longer does anything; previously, it would bring up a context menu.

Has anyone else experienced this? I did install September's second Tuesday patch (KB5043076), but I'm not sure if this loss of taskbar context menus occurred after I installed the update. I'm currently running Windows 11 Enterprise, 23H2, build 22631.4169. (Note: I haven't yet installed October's second Tuesday patch (KB5044285), but I will soon.)

The only exceptions I have found to this new, unwanted loss of functionality are the system tray icons. The system tray icons still show a context menu when right-clicked. For example:
  • Right-clicking the microphone system tray icon tray_microphone.png gives this context menu: context_microphone.png
  • Right-clicking the wireless/networking system tray icon tray_networking.png gives this context menu: context_networkonly.png
  • Right-clicking the speaker system tray icon tray_speakeronly.png gives this context menu: context_speakeronly.png
  • Right-clicking the clock system tray icon tray_newclock.png gives this context menu: context_clock.png
 
Windows Build/Version
Enterprise, 23H2, build 22631.4169

Attachments

  • tray_speaker.png
    tray_speaker.png
    399 bytes · Views: 1
  • context_speaker.png
    context_speaker.png
    5.2 KB · Views: 1
  • tray_clock.png
    tray_clock.png
    1.2 KB · Views: 1

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These are the default settings in Windows 11
 

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    Updated Windows 10 to 11 25H2 26200.8875Intel Core i3 8100 @3.60 GHz8.GBIntel UHD 360 (HP)
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No issue on my Win10 and Win11 computers with the mouse functions. I use Wired/USB mice on Desktops and Bluetooth mice on most Notebooks [latest a Lenovo Ideapad I got Wed], USB Wireless on others.
 

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    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz12GB
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Berton said:
No issue on my Win10 and Win11 computers with the mouse functions. I use Wired/USB mice on Desktops and Bluetooth mice on most Notebooks [latest a Lenovo Ideapad I got Wed], USB Wireless on others.
Click to expand...

@Berton So you get context menus when you right-click tasks on the taskbar?
 

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Windows 11 23H2 22631.3527
OS
Windows 11 23H2 22631.3527
Computer type
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Manufacturer/Model
Lenovo ThinkStation P3
Spunk said:
These are the default settings in Windows 11
Click to expand...

@Spunk Do you know if it's possible to enable context menus in Windows 11 without resorting to thrid-party software such as WinaeroTweaker?
 

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Windows 11 23H2 22631.3527
OS
Windows 11 23H2 22631.3527
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Lenovo ThinkStation P3
Windows 11 21H1 and 22H2 right-clicking on the taskbar would show only taskbar properties. After complaints from many users they added Task Manager in 23H2. I am not sure if this is true for newer builds of 21H2 and 22H2. If you want the full taskbar menu of Windows 10 you can install Explorer Patcher or other suitable utility.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (5699), 25H2 (8875)Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz4GBMobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
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    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (5699), 25H2 (8875)
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    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
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    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, no SSE4.2, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.

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    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
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    WD Blue SA510 2.5 1000GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
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    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Home 25H2 26200.8875AMD Ryzen 3 5300G8gbRadeon Graphics 4.00GHZ
    OS
    Windows 11 Home 25H2 26200.8875
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion TP01-2xxx
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 3 5300G
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics 4.00GHZ
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic
    Keyboard
    HP
    Mouse
    wireless Microsoft
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    Avira

  • At a glance

    Updated Windows 10 to 11 25H2 26200.8875Intel Core i3 8100 @3.60 GHz8.GBIntel UHD 360 (HP)
    Operating System
    Updated Windows 10 to 11 25H2 26200.8875
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Core i3 8100 @3.60 GHz
    Motherboard
    HP 8653 (U3E1)
    Memory
    8.GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD 360 (HP)
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic
    Other Info
    #3 System: HP laptop Windows 25H2 11Pro 26200.8524
  • HP Omni laptop Windows 11 home
    11 25H2 26200.8737
    Intel Core 5 120U
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