Windows 11 Right-Click Menu Will Become Faster and Customizable, Microsoft Says

Microsoft is preparing another quality-of-life improvement for Windows 11, this time targeting one of the operating system’s most criticized interface elements: the right-click context menu.

The company has confirmed that it’s working on changes that will make the Windows 11 context menu faster, simpler by default, and customizable based on how people actually use their PCs. The update is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to refine the core Windows experience rather than focusing only on new AI-powered features.

A smarter and more personalized context menu

The plans were revealed by Marcus Ash, Corporate Vice President leading Design and Research for Windows and Devices at Microsoft, who confirmed on X that improvements are on the way. While Microsoft hasn’t yet shared technical details or screenshots of the redesign, Ash indicated that the company intends to provide more information soon.

Since Windows 11 launched in 2021, the redesigned context menu has been a frequent source of criticism among users. Many complained that common actions became less accessible, while others disliked having to click “Show more options” to access legacy commands from older applications.

Microsoft now appears ready to address some of those concerns. According to the company, future versions of the context menu will focus on three key areas: faster performance, a simpler default layout, and user customization options.

The customization aspect could be particularly significant. Instead of presenting the same set of commands to every user, Windows may allow people to prioritize actions they use most often and remove options they rarely need.

Such a change could reduce clutter and make right-click actions more efficient, especially for power users who rely heavily on File Explorer and desktop workflows.

Part of a larger Windows 11 usability push

The context menu improvements are not happening in isolation. Microsoft has recently increased its focus on refining core Windows experiences and responding to long-standing user feedback.

Several highly requested features are currently in testing, including the ability to move the Taskbar, a new option to make the Start menu smaller, a modular Start menu design, File Explorer performance improvements, and additional interface refinements across Windows 11.

These changes suggest Microsoft is investing more effort into everyday usability improvements that affect millions of users on a daily basis.

Via Windows Latest