- Microsoft is working on streamlining Windows 11’s right-click menus
- This is just for the context-sensitive options available to apps, though
- However, the hope is that it might be applied more broadly across Windows 11 in File Explorer eventually
There’s a hint that Microsoft might at least be thinking about addressing one of the bigger complaints about Windows 11’s interface: the long list of options presented when you right-click a file.
As Windows Latest reports, this is a change to the right-click menu that offers a bunch of context-sensitive options, and it’s coming for certain apps – plus there’s a chance it could be applied to File Explorer (universally across Windows 11).
The concept was shown off in a WinUI Community call on YouTube (see the video below with the relevant section starting at the 21-minute mark).
The work means developers of WinUI 3-based apps can leverage a ‘Split Context Menu’ feature that does pretty much what it says on the tin, allowing them to split certain options into a secondary menu.
This means the primary right-click menu for an app can have fewer options and be more streamlined, with some of the other options tucked into secondary fly-out menus off that primary list.
An example right-click on an image file shows a context-sensitive option to ‘Open in Photos’ and then, off that, the ability to use other apps (Paint, Snipping Tool) is tucked away in a secondary menu – rather than having those listed in the primary menu, cluttering it up more.
Furthermore, a bunch of other options are cut from the top-level right-click menu, such as the ability to rotate the image (left or right), the choice to copy, and OneDrive is shown as being stripped out of the context menu too.
Analysis: get right-click right – alright?
Before you get too excited, this is just a change being worked on for developers of WinUI 3 apps for now (present in the Windows App Software Development Kit or SDK). As Windows Latest points out, it’s not clear if this concept will be applied to the whole of Windows 11 or remain limited to those specific apps.
We can hope for the former scenario, certainly, as Windows 11’s right-click menu has become clunkier as time has progressed. The idea was for Windows 11 to offer something more streamlined than Windows 10 in this department, and there are indeed fewer right-click options in the newer OS – albeit because some choices are hidden behind a ‘Show more options’ button. However, the right-click menu is still too busy for my liking, and more unnecessary bloat has crept in recently relating to Copilot, quick actions for AI, and the like (not to mention multiple choices for editors, especially with images).
In short, Microsoft could apply the concept outlined for apps here more widely, addressing general complaints about Windows 11’s right-click menu being too cluttered. (And also moans about it being sluggish, which is also a long-held complaint).
Really, though, what’d be nice is for Microsoft to provide a Settings panel for the right-click menu in Windows 11 where you could drop certain options for system-wide usage (to get rid of all mentions of OneDrive, say, or Copilot – though the prospect of banishing AI is perhaps one reason Microsoft wouldn’t go this route).
It’s a shame, as you can use Registry hacks, or third-party software, to tinker with the right-click menu – but that can be finicky and risky, so why isn’t this ability available as a native piece of desktop customization in Windows 11?
If Microsoft is worried about less techy types accidentally breaking functionality and turning off core interface elements while not realizing what they’re doing, it could always limit customization options somewhat. Alternatively, consign these abilities to PowerToys and at least give us an official add-on solution for modding the right-click menu.
Still, this work for WinUI 3 apps is at least a hint that Microsoft is considering debloating some of the clunkier aspects of this context-sensitive functionality, and perhaps it will end up being applied more broadly across Windows 11.
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