Have lost ability to right click on file to access dropdown menu options

I have suddenly lost the ability to right click on a desktop file icon to make display the dropdown menu options
Can someone please advize how I can restore this function? Thanks for your help

ver 21H2

Is it working in other folders?
Can you move icons around?

Thanks for your reply
I can move icons around
Thr R click will not work on all files tried

Welcome to the forum. Such a simple problem as this can be difficult to solve. The first 2 obvious things to try is to restart explorer and use another mouse. Boot into safe mode and see if it will work from there. If it does, this means that default settings and basic device drivers aren't causing the issue.

Ask yourself if this problem started after you made a change to your computer like installing a new program or app or adding some app that changes the GUI (explorerpatcher startisback, etc) even a new windows update. You can determine if third party software is causing the problem by performing a clean boot.

If none of that leads you to a solution, try the solutions in this article. It was written for Win10 but applies to 11 as well Mouse right click not working in Windows 10 [Fixed]

If you still have a problem,a repair install of windows would be my final suggestion. Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

Thanks for your help...I forgot to mention that Im using my laptops touchpad
I may have had a windows update yesterday. Will a system restore delete the update restoring my laptop to W11 before it was updated?

provlima said:

I forgot to mention that Im using my laptops touchpad

Click to expand...

That changes things dramatically. You did not put your system specs in your profile so I don't know what device we're dealing with, what version off windows (release or insider), or if you are running 11 on a compatible device. It is very important for me to know for me to advise correctly. These are general troubleshooting suggestions and it's up to you to use process of elimination to narrow the problem down to your hardware, its driver, incompatible software, or Windows itself.

1. If you haven't already, restart the laptop.

2. Verify that right click works correctly with a MOUSE. If a mouse works, the problem is not the operating system or applications, but specifically the touchpad and/or its driver. If a mouse doesn't work either, the problem is in Windows or software.

3. If troubleshooting points to drivers, go to device manager. Using a mouse, find your touchpad, right click and uninstall it. Restart and Windows will reinstall your touchpad with existing drivers. If it still doesn't work, right click touchpad in device manager and select update driver. If windows update cannot find a new driver, check your manufacturer's website for your device. Older devices may not have updated drivers.

4. If troubleshooting points to Windows or software, perform a clean boot to eliminate software conflicts. . Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts Tutorial
Clean boot can help you find the offending application if one exists. If the problem still exists with a mouse in clean boot, it points to the OS.

5. Check for OS corruption - from administrative command prompt type sfc /scannow

The update can be uninstalled by going to settings, windows update, update history. First, pause your updates or the offending update will reapply. Find the update in the list, right click, and uninstall it.

As a last resort you can do a system restore, but know that as soon as you do the update will soon reapply if you are connected to the internet. Personally, I have not had a lot of luck with system restore working correctly. Maybe it will for you.

If none of this helps, the only thing else I can suggest is a repair install. If that doesn't fix it, consider the problem could be in the touchpad itself.

Once you get everything working the best advise I can give you is to set up some sort of backup plan. There are many free softwares that can save your bacon in situations like this.

Thank you for your reply!
Thank you very much for your help
I went through all your recommendations with no success and came to the last resort of system restore.
I turned off my internet connectivity, but am somewhat confused by your caveat that "as soon as you do the update will soon reapply if you are connected to the internet. Does this mean the problem may return?

The restore point offered was 4/15. I had a w11 update on 4/14 so I assume that wasn't the cause. There were programs added. Any guesses as to what the problem might have been?
Again thank you very much for your kind help

First thing you need to verify is that your right click button / area of the touch pad is *actually working*.

Go to Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, and under Devices and Printers click on Mouse (If you have control panel set to show icons, just pick Mouse directly). Use the double-click speed section to double click using the right button / area on the folder icon - make sure that the folder opens and closes.

If it does, then the button / area is working. If not, then it's not working correctly.

provlima said:

Does this mean the problem may return?

Click to expand...

That statement applied only if the update is what caused the problem. That's why I gave all those other troubleshooting steps, to eliminate everything else first. Read this How to show or hide updates on Windows 11 - Pureinfotech

Thanks again for helping me solve the problem! There were no other new software installs since the restore date, so I guess I'll never know what caused that problem
Hopefully, your instructions in this thread will help others find a solution to the R click problem in the future

provlima said:

Any guesses as to what the problem might have been?

Click to expand...

Glad you got it fixed. No way of knowing for sure what caused it. With proper troubleshooting, most times it can be narrowed down. Like you, I am one who always wants to know "why" but with each new version of Windows I'm learning that to save my sanity I sometimes I don't ask that question anymore.
I hope you consider that advice I gave you about setting up some kind of backup plan. There's a category in this forum named 'Backup and restore' that offers good advice in that regard.

I do have a backup plan. Have been using Macrium for years, and luckily have never needed to use it to do a restore

Well, shoot. You could have used your backup and saved a lot of time. With Macrium, I'm back up and running in 15 minutes when I have a problem (usually self-induced)

Thanks that's good to know I always looked at it as a way to restore a bad HDD!