How to Show More Options by Default in Windows 11 – A Step-by-Step Guide

By / October 29, 2025

If you recently upgraded to Windows 11, you might have noticed something missing in the right-click context menu. That familiar “Show more options” button sits at the bottom, hiding the classic right-click menu you’ve been used to for years. And let’s be honest… clicking an extra option every time? Kind of annoying.

So, how do you show more options by default in Windows 11 and bring back the classic context menu permanently?

Good news — it’s completely possible, and this guide will walk you through everything step-by-step. Even if you’re not a tech expert, don’t worry — we’ll keep things simple and beginner-friendly.

✅ What You Will Learn in This Guide

  • Why Windows 11 hides advanced right-click items

  • How to enable the classic context menu permanently

  • How to restore default settings anytime

  • Different methods (Registry Editor & Command Prompt)

  • Extra tips to customize your Windows 11 menu

⭐ Why Did Windows 11 Change the Right-Click Menu?

Microsoft redesigned the menu to make it:

  • Cleaner and smaller

  • Better suited for touch screens

  • Optimized for modern apps

Instead of cluttered commands, new Windows only shows the essentials… and hides the rest behind “Show more options.”

But if you use apps like WinRAR, Git, or Notepad++, those commands are now hidden — which slows you down.

That’s exactly why users want the old menu back!

🧰 Before You Begin: A Quick Safety Note

We will modify system settings using safe Windows tools.

✅ Completely reversible
✅ No third-party apps required
✅ Works on all Windows 11 editions

Still, it’s always smart to back up your system or create a restore point — just in case.

✅ Method 1: Enable “Show More Options” by Default Using Command Prompt (Fastest)

This is the quickest and easiest way.

🔧 Steps:

  1. Press Windows Key + S

  2. Type Command Prompt

  3. Click Run as administrator

  4. Copy and paste this command:

reg add "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32" /f /ve

  1. Restart File Explorer or reboot your PC:

taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F
start explorer.exe

✅ Done! Now when you right-click, the full context menu appears instantly — no extra clicks required.

✅ Method 2: Use Windows Registry (For Power Users)

This method gives more control if you want to revert changes later.

🔧 Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Press Windows Key + R

  2. Type: regedit

  3. Go to this location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID

  1. Right-click CLSID → New → Key

  2. Rename the new key to:

{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}

  1. Inside the new key, right-click → New → Key

  2. Name it:

InprocServer32

  1. Double-click (Default) and leave Value Data blank

Restart your computer.

🎉 Result: Classic right-click menu restored!

🔄 Want to Undo This Change Later?

Maybe Microsoft improves the new menu… or you want to try something different.

Here’s how to revert:

▶️ Remove the modified registry entries:

  1. Open Registry Editor

  2. Navigate back to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID

  1. Right-click the folder:

{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}

  1. Select Delete

  2. Restart your PC

🙌 You are now back to the original Windows 11 context menu.

🎯 Bonus: How to Restart File Explorer (Without Restarting PC)

If changes don’t apply immediately:

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Task Manager

  2. Find Windows Explorer

  3. Right-click → Restart

This refreshes the interface instantly.

📌 Additional Ways to Improve the Windows 11 Context Menu

Want to personalize even more? Try these:

Customization Option What It Does Difficulty
3rd Party Tools (e.g. Winaero Tweaker) Adds more classic UI options Easy
Remove unwanted options Clean up clutter Medium
Add new quick-action commands Faster workflow Medium–Hard

Tip: Avoid installing too many custom tools — they can slow down right-click performance.

🧠 Why You Should Restore More Options (User Benefits)

  • Faster file operations

  • Better access to app shortcuts (WinRAR, Photoshop, Git)

  • Familiar Windows 10 workflow

  • Improved productivity for power users

If you spend a lot of time working with files, this simple tweak can save hours over time.

✅ Conclusion

Bringing back the “Show more options” context menu by default in Windows 11 is one of the best tweaks for productivity and convenience. And as you’ve seen, it’s super easy to do — just a couple of commands or a quick tweak in the Registry.

📌 Here’s the whole process in a nutshell:

Step Action
1 Open Command Prompt as administrator
2 Run the registry commands to enable classic menu
3 Restart Explorer or reboot PC
✅ Enjoy the full context menu instantly!

You can always revert if you change your mind — no risk at all.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1️⃣ Will this tweak harm my PC?

No — it simply restores the classic menu layout. You can revert anytime.

2️⃣ Does this work on all versions of Windows 11?

Yes — Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education.

3️⃣ Do I need a third-party program?

No tools needed — everything is built into Windows.

4️⃣ Why does Windows 11 hide advanced options?

To simplify the interface and align with modern app design.

5️⃣ Will updates undo this change?

Some major updates may reset the menu, but you can re-apply the same steps.

🔍 Quick Summary — Key Takeaways

  • Windows 11 hides the classic right-click menu behind “Show more options”

  • You can restore the old menu permanently using registry tweaks

  • The changes are safe and reversible

  • This improves workflow for most users, especially professionals

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