How to hide menu items in the "modern" context menu


dbookbinder

Well-known member
Member
Local time
9:29 PM
Posts
100
OS
Windows 11 Pro, 23H2, Build 22631.4317
I've been annoyed by how slow the Win11 "modern" context menu is when Windows or third-party programs add items to it I seldom use and haven't been able to find a utility to hide them. It turns out to be fairly simple to do and I hope someone writes one or updates one of the several utilities that work with the "classic" menu. Meanwhile, here's how to do it manually:

1. Find the GUID of the context menu handler you want to remove. I do this by searching the registry for the menu item text and sifting through the Find results for a GUID that is associated with the menu handler. I use Registry Finder, which is much faster than regedit's search.

2 Go to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions

3. Create a new Key named Blocked

4. Under Blocked, create a string value that contains the GUID. The effect is immediate -- the menu item associated with that GUID won't show up anymore. Remove the string value to reverse the process. The Blocked key affects only the "modern" menu. The menu items still show up in the "classic" menu, which is where I want them.

Some GUIDs I've found:

Paint: {2430F218-B743-4FD6-97BF-5C76541B4AE9}

Terminal: {9F156763-7844-4DC4-B2B1-901F640F5155}

grepWin: {3C557AFF-6181-4BBC-937D-E2FE8844DD49}

Mp3Tag: {6351E20C-35FA-4BE3-98FB-4CABF1363E12}

PowerToys Image Resizer: {8F491918-259F-451A-950F-8C3EBF4864AF}
 
Windows Build/Version
23H2 Build 22631.5189

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro, 23H2, Build 22631.4317
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    i7-1355U
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel IRIS 1GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek (internal)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Stock and external 27" Acer monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    m.2 2TB (Windows), 2TB SATA SSD (Data)
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Stock
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Stock and external HP keyboard
    Mouse
    Trackpad and external Logitech wired mouse
    Internet Speed
    FIOS 1GB
    Browser
    Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    2TB Samsung 990 Pro, 2TB Samsung 870 EVO
  • Operating System
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 5770
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon 530
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    256GB Samsung SDD, 2TB Western Digital HDD
    Mouse
    Logitech wired
    Keyboard
    Arteck wireless
    Internet Speed
    FIOS 1GB
    Browser
    Chrome, Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
I use Glary Utilities to hide them. The free version will do the job, no need to spend money.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14500
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M G P WIFI
    Memory
    64GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4060
    Sound Card
    Chipset Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 45" Ultragear, Acer 24" 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440, 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 3D NAND NVMe M.2 SSD (O/S)
    Silicon Power 2TB US75 Nvme PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 SSD (backup)
    Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND (2nd backup)
    External off-line backup Drives: 2 NVMe 4TB drives in external enclosures
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 750W
    Case
    LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 E-ATX PC Case
    Cooling
    Lots of fans!
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Build 26100.3775
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 14400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel 700 Embedded GPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek Embedded
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" HP 1080p
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial P310 2TB 2280 PCIe Gen4 eD NAND PCIe SSD
    Samsung EVO 990 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD
    Samsung 2TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    Thermaltake Smart BM3 650W
    Case
    Okinos Micro ATX Case
    Cooling
    Fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G305
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FiOS 1GB
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malware Bytes & Windows Security
Are you sure Glary Utilities will hide the items in the initial "modern" menu?

I just installed it, and all I'm seeing are the items in the "classic" menu (after you click "Show more options.")
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro, 23H2, Build 22631.4317
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    i7-1355U
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel IRIS 1GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek (internal)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Stock and external 27" Acer monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    m.2 2TB (Windows), 2TB SATA SSD (Data)
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Stock
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Stock and external HP keyboard
    Mouse
    Trackpad and external Logitech wired mouse
    Internet Speed
    FIOS 1GB
    Browser
    Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    2TB Samsung 990 Pro, 2TB Samsung 870 EVO
  • Operating System
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 5770
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    AMD Radeon 530
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    256GB Samsung SDD, 2TB Western Digital HDD
    Mouse
    Logitech wired
    Keyboard
    Arteck wireless
    Internet Speed
    FIOS 1GB
    Browser
    Chrome, Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
Back
Top Bottom