How to Disable the Show More Options in Windows 11
You can disable how to disable the show more options in windows 11 behavior by restoring the classic right-click context menu through a registry change. Windows 11 does not offer a normal Settings toggle for this, but the change is reversible, and you can also make the full classic menu appear automatically instead of clicking Show more options.
What “Show more options” does in Windows 11
Windows 11 introduced a shorter right-click menu in File Explorer, on the desktop, and in many app folders. The Show more options command opens the older, full context menu that many people remember from Windows 10.
In practice, there are two ways people use this feature:
- Default Windows 11 menu, which shows a compact set of actions first.
- Classic menu, which shows the full list of right-click commands immediately.
If your goal is to stop needing that extra click, you are really looking for a way to automatically show more options in Windows 11, which means restoring the classic context menu.
Can you disable it permanently?
Yes, in most cases you can make Windows 11 open the classic context menu by default. That removes the need to click Show more options every time. However, Microsoft does not provide a simple built-in switch in the Settings app for this, so the common method is a registry edit or a command that applies the same change.
Important limitation: this changes the menu style system-wide for the current user profile, but Microsoft can change context menu behavior in future updates.
Before you change the registry
Registry edits are usually safe when you follow the steps carefully, but mistakes can affect how Windows behaves. Before making changes:
- Close open File Explorer windows if possible.
- Create a restore point if you want an easy rollback path.
- Make sure you are signed in with an account that can edit the registry.
- Back up any registry key you plan to modify.
If you want broader guidance on Windows customization and system changes, it helps to review related Windows settings articles before editing system values.
How to restore the classic context menu in Windows 11
The most common method is to create or edit a registry key that tells Explorer to use the classic context menu layout.
Use Registry Editor
- Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
- If User Account Control appears, select Yes.
- In Registry Editor, go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID
- Right-click CLSID, choose New, then Key.
- Name the new key exactly:
{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}
- Select that new key, then create another new key inside it named:
InprocServer32
- Select InprocServer32.
- In the right pane, open the default value.
- Leave the value data blank, then click OK.
- Close Registry Editor.
This change is what makes Windows 11 open the older menu automatically instead of hiding it behind Show more options.
Use a command instead
If you prefer a faster copy-and-paste method, you can use Command Prompt or Windows Terminal with admin rights.
- Open Windows Terminal or Command Prompt.
- Run the following command:
reg add “HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32” /f /ve
This creates the same registry entry without manually browsing through Registry Editor.
Restart Explorer to apply the change
The menu change usually takes effect after Windows Explorer restarts. You can do that in one of these ways:
- Sign out and sign back in
- Restart your PC
- Restart Explorer from Task Manager
To restart Explorer manually:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Find Windows Explorer in the list.
- Right-click it and select Restart.
After that, right-click a file or folder again. The full classic menu should appear without needing Show more options.
How to turn it back on
If you want the default Windows 11 compact menu again, delete the registry key you created.
Remove the Registry Editor change
- Open Registry Editor.
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\CLSID.
- Delete the key named {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}.
- Restart Windows Explorer or restart your PC.
Undo the command-based change
You can also remove it with a command:
reg delete “HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}” /f
Again, restart Explorer or sign out so the change takes effect.
Comparison: default Windows 11 menu vs classic menu
| Menu type | What you see | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Default Windows 11 menu | A shorter list of common actions, with Show more options for the full menu | Cleaner look, fewer items on screen |
| Classic context menu | The full right-click menu appears immediately | Faster access to older tools and extensions |
If you often use legacy apps, compression tools, third-party utilities, or older shell extensions, the classic menu is usually more convenient.
Troubleshooting if nothing changes
If Show more options still appears after the registry change, try these checks:
- Restart Explorer rather than only closing Registry Editor.
- Sign out and back in if Explorer restart does not refresh the menu.
- Confirm the key name is exact, including the braces and hyphens.
- Make sure the InprocServer32 default value is blank.
- Check for policy restrictions if the device is managed by work or school settings.
- Reboot the PC if the change seems delayed.
On some systems, File Explorer may not refresh every shell component immediately, so a full restart is sometimes the quickest fix.
Is it safe to edit the registry for this?
Yes, this particular change is widely used and straightforward, but you should still be careful. The main risk is entering the wrong key path or deleting the wrong registry item. If you follow the steps exactly, the change is simple to undo.
If you are uncomfortable editing the registry directly, the command-based method is often easier because it reduces typing mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions About how to disable the show more options in windows 11
Can you disable the Show more options menu in Windows 11?
Yes. The common way is to restore the classic context menu with a registry change, which makes the full menu open automatically.
How do I make Windows 11 always show the full right-click menu?
Create the CLSID registry key change under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes, then restart Windows Explorer or sign out and back in.
Is it safe to edit the registry to change the context menu?
Usually yes, if you follow the instructions carefully. It is still smart to back up the registry key or create a restore point first.
How do I undo the registry change in Windows 11?
Delete the {86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2} key and restart Explorer or your PC.
Why does Show more options still appear after I change the registry?
Explorer may need to restart, or the key may have been entered incorrectly. A full sign-out or reboot usually resolves it.
Does this change affect all users?
The instructions above apply to the current user profile. If another account on the same PC wants the same behavior, the change may need to be repeated for that account.
Conclusion
If you want to disable how to disable the show more options in windows 11 and go straight to the full right-click menu, the registry method is the most direct solution. It is reversible, does not require third-party tools, and usually takes effect after restarting Explorer. If you only need the classic menu occasionally, you can keep using Show more options, but if you prefer the older workflow, restoring the classic context menu is the simplest fix.