Speeding up and enhancing the usability of File Explorer on Windows 11 through 8 crucial registry modifications

Speeding up and enhancing the usability of File Explorer on Windows 11 through 8 crucial registry modifications

File Explorer in Windows 11 offers a lot of customization options, allowing users to tailor the file manager to their preferences. In this article, we'll explore how to remove specific context menu items and speed up folder browsing.

Removing Context Menu Items

To remove certain context menu items from File Explorer, you generally need to edit the Windows Registry to block or delete the keys associated with those context menu handlers. Here's a common approach:

1. Open the Registry Editor by pressing Win + R, typing , and pressing Enter.
2. Navigate to a relevant context menu handler location, for example:

If the Blocked key does not exist under Shell Extensions, you create it.

1. Under this key, create a new String Value (REG_SZ) with the name being the CLSID of the context menu item you want to remove. For instance, to remove the "Edit with Clipchamp" menu item, you add a string named [5].
2. Restart your computer or restart the Windows Explorer process for changes to take effect.

Some examples of context menu items you can remove include "Edit with Paint" () and "Edit with Notepad" ().

Speeding Up Folder Browsing

To speed up folder browsing in File Explorer, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Registry Editor as mentioned above.
2. Navigate to the following key:

1. Set the DWORD value of to . This disables the check for hidden and system files, improving browsing speed.
2. Set the DWORD value of to . This disables the check for removable drives, further improving browsing speed.

After you complete the steps, when browsing folders with a lot of files and folders, File Explorer should load these locations noticeably faster.

Word of Caution

Editing the Registry is risky and can cause irreversible damage to your installation if not done correctly. It is recommended to make a full backup of your PC before proceeding.

On Windows 11, File Explorer can be customized through the Registry to remove unnecessary menu items, hide pages, bring back classic features, improve browsing speed, and personalize the file manager. However, always proceed with caution and be aware of the potential risks involved.

[1]: To enable the legacy context menu:

[3]: To disable all context menus in File Explorer:

[5]: To remove the "Edit with Clipchamp" option:

1. In Windows Registry Editor, you can remove specific context menu items from File Explorer, such as "Edit with Paint" or "Edit with Notepad", by navigating to the relevant context menu handler location, creating a new String Value with the CLSID of the item, and setting it to the associated key.
2. To speed up folder browsing in File Explorer on Windows 11, navigate to the Registry key for this purpose and set the DWORD values of and to 1, which will disable the checks for hidden and system files, and removable drives respectively.
3. Always be cautious when editing the Windows Registry as improper changes could potentially cause damage to your PC.
4. On Windows 11, File Explorer customization is possible through the Registry, allowing for the removal of unnecessary menu items, the hiding of pages, the bringing back of classic features, improvements to browsing speed, and personalization of the file manager.
5. Before making any changes to the Windows Registry, it is recommended to create a full backup of your PC to ensure potential data loss can be recovered.

Read also: