Windows 11’s desktop context menu is a place where you can add many software shortcuts even though the platform doesn’t include built-in customization settings for that menu. Many users add shortcuts to that menu with third-party software, but you can manually customize it with Registry Editor.
If you add many shortcuts to that menu, organizing them into submenus is a good idea. Doing so will enable you to add more shortcuts without greatly extending the length of the classic context menu. This is how you can add new submenus to the Windows 11’s desktop context menu.
How to Add a Submenu to the Context Menu by Manually Editing the Registry
You can manually create a context menu submenu that includes any number of software shortcuts with the Registry Editor. For the sake of example, here we’ll create a submenu that includes shortcuts for opening the Notepad and Remote Desktop Connection apps. Then you can add more shortcuts for software on your PC. First, you’ll need to lay the foundation for the submenu as follows:
Now a newAppsubmenu will be visible on Windows 11’s classic context menu. However, it won’t include any shortcuts. So, you will need to do some further editing of a differentshellkey to add functionality to the submenu. Edit the registry like this to complete the submenu:
Now the new context menu submenu is complete. Right-click within an area of the Windows 11 desktop and selectShow more optionsto view the secondary classic context menu. Move the cursor over the newAppssubmenu from which you can select to open Notepad and Remote Desktop Connection.
You can add more software shortcuts to that submenu. Note that the values you input for theSubCommandsstring must match the names of the registry keys created for the software shortcuts. In the example above, theNotepadandRemote Desktop Connectionregistry keys matched values input for theSubCommandsstring.
You must also input the exact and full paths for whatever software you want the shortcuts to open within the(Default)strings of the command subkeys. In the example above, the(Default)strings of thecommandsubkeys within theRemote Desktop ConnectionandNotepadkeys include the paths for opening those apps.
If you ever want to remove the submenu from the context menu, delete the key that created it. To do so, return to the registry location that includes theMenu1key. Right-click theMenu1key to selectDeleteandYesfor confirmation.
How to Add a Submenu to the Context Menu With Easy Context Menu
Easy Context Menu is a freely available context menu customization desktop app. That software enables you to add custom software shortcut submenus to the right-click menu withoutmanually editing the registry.
You can create a custom software shortcuts submenu with Easy Context Menu like this:
Now check out the newSoftware Shortcutssubmenu on Windows 11’s classic desktop context menu. That cascading menu will include all the programs you selected to add to it. It will also include program icons, so long as you leave theShow icon in the Context Menucheckboxes selected.
Another advantage of utilizing Easy Context Menu is that it includes options for positing the submenu. You can configure the approximate position of that submenu by selecting one of the threeShow atoptions for it within the List Editor window. You can also reposition the submenu or items in it by selecting them and clicking theMove UporMove Downbuttons.
Easy Context Menu also includesTools,System Tools, andTurn Off Optionssubmenus for you to add to the right-click menu. To add those submenus, select theSystem Tools,Turn Off Options, andToolscheckboxes for the desktop context menu and clickApply Changes. You can also deselect some of the checkboxes for those submenus to remove certain shortcuts from them.
Organize Your Windows Desktop Context Menu Shortcuts With Submenus
Adding one or more submenus to Windows 11’s desktop context menu will enable you to organize the software shortcuts added to it.
You could create multiple submenus on the context menu that include shortcuts for opening different software categories, such as web browsers, media players, productivity apps, etc. Or you can add a new desktop context menu submenu for accessing Windows tools and turn off options with Easy Context Menu.
