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Microsoft acknowledged on August 17, 2026, that the Windows 11 context menu had become “cluttered and sluggish.” Its announced redesign adds controls for simplifying and customizing the menu, but it is rolling out to Windows Insiders—not confirmed as available to every Windows 11 user. To reach the legacy menu now, select Show more options after right-clicking, or press Shift+F10 or the keyboard menu key.

What Microsoft admitted about the Windows 11 context menu

In its August 17, 2026, Windows Insider announcement, Microsoft said: “Over time, though, the menu became cluttered and sluggish, and we recognized the need to dramatically reduce the time between right-clicking and having a menu that’s fully ready to use.”

Microsoft described a redesign intended to make the menu ready faster and reduce clutter at the top level. The company also said app-added options can make the menu do extra work when it opens. These are stated goals and explanations, not a published benchmark: the announcement gives no measured speedup or performance figures.

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How to open the legacy menu right now

If a command or app extension is missing from the compact Windows 11 menu, use the built-in legacy-menu route Microsoft documented:

  • Right-click the file, folder, or other item, then select Show more options.
  • With the item selected, press Shift+F10.
  • Press the keyboard menu key, if your keyboard has one.

Microsoft’s design explainer says these actions load the Windows 10 context menu. This is a way to reveal legacy commands and app extensions; it is not a switch to make that menu the default or the new customization page. The 2021 explainer does not establish that a permanent legacy-by-default setting is available on every current Windows 11 build. Microsoft’s Windows 11 context-menu design explainer

What the new Context Menu settings are meant to do

Microsoft says the redesigned experience includes a settings page at Settings > Personalization > Context Menu. The available controls described in the announcement include:

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  • Choose built-in commands: Turn commands such as Send to and Create shortcut on or off; Microsoft specifically says Print can be enabled.
  • Manage app extensions: Choose which app extensions appear in the main menu or a submenu, and hide the submenu.
  • Change common actions: Show Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete, and Share inline as text instead of in the icon row.
  • Reposition Properties: Move Properties to the bottom of the menu.

The feature is rolling out to Windows Insiders and may be refined based on their feedback. Microsoft’s announcement does not establish general availability. Microsoft’s August 17, 2026 Windows Insider announcement

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Which option fits your situation?

What you need Use Availability
Find a command or app extension that is not in the compact menu Show more options, Shift+F10, or the keyboard menu key Microsoft documented this legacy-menu access route in its 2021 design explainer.
Choose which commands and app extensions appear, or change how common actions are displayed Settings > Personalization > Context Menu Part of the Insider rollout described by Microsoft on August 17, 2026; availability depends on the Windows build and channel.

If the Settings page is absent, the announced controls may not have reached your build. The legacy-menu shortcuts remain the documented built-in route for accessing the older menu.

Quick Recap

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Dell Latitude 5420 14' FHD Business Laptop Computer, Intel Quad-Core i5-1145G7, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, Camera, HDMI, Windows 11 Pro (Renewed)
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