It is not just a nuisance, but it’s usually slow down the Windows context menu (right-click menu) over time to become very efficient and even if there is. That’s not the case for a context menu that always stutter, but you don’T have to settle on. For example, let’s look at how to remove the bloat and make your right-click feel instantaneous again.
Clear File Explorer History to Get Rid of Bloated Cache
It may seem unrelated, but it is actually possible that your File Explorer history can add delay to your context menu. When you right-click, Windows doesn’t just display a set of commands; it asks file history to find “Open with” suggestions, “Recent” metadata and other dynamic information. If your File Explorer history is corrupted or bloated, it can slow down a context menu.
Thankfully, you can easily fix this by clearing the File Explorer history. Open File Explorer to do so, click on the three dots menu at the top and select Options. In theGeneral ** Tab tab, click on **Clear at this point (above) to the ** Clea File Explorer history** option. This will immediately reset your recent file activity and speed up your context menu, if that was the reason for slow performance.
Remove Unnecessary Context Menu Items
Most third party apps add their function entries in the context menu for quick access, such as Dropbox (as well antivirus software), secure file deleters and etc. It can slow down the context menu if you have many such entries or an app that is not working. If you disable these items, you can speed up the context menu.
The free tools include**ShellExView, which allows both the display of third party entries in the context menu and disable them. Using the tool, click on Options & select Hide All Microsoft Extensions. It means that this will disable all Windows built-in extensions, and display third-party ones. ** **
Now, select all entries here, right-click on them and select Disable Selected Items. If this is done, all items will be removed from the context menu. Changes to take effect will require you to restart the File Explorer or restart PC.
When it makes a faster context menu, this means that either the context was bloated or an app’s entry is making its way to be late. When using ShellExView, open ShellEditView again and allow one by one entry (restart File Explorer in between) to see which entry is causing the problem.
Alternatively, you can also give these third-party context menu editors a try.
Check for “Ghost” Network Drives Slowing Context Menu
If the context menu is taking a strangely long time to open (like 5 sec+), then it’s often cited as causing – and sometimes even, if not always – ghost” network drive. A network drive (such as a NAS-like) that your PC cannot reach will slow down the context menu when Windows attempts to find all locations for storage. The context menu will be displayed by windows that try to enter the network drive, and then wait until after timeout period before displaying the system’s message.
Best bet is to make sure the drive is working and the connection with it stable. For example, when you have a drive that you don’t need anymore, you can just open This PC, right-click on the drive and select Disconnect.
Disable Visual Effects to Make Context Menu Snappier
When you dislike the context menu of Windows 11 with its slower opening/closing animations, and if you hate them, then turn off Animations to snappier. Furthermore, in older computers disabling visual effects may speed up PC performance (including the context menu) as well.
In Windows Search type “adjust performance” and open Assume the look/performance of windows. If you uncheck the following visual effects to make the context menu snappier Here, re-update the next visual effect.
- Fade or slide menus into view
- Fade or slide ToolTips into view
- Fade out menu items after clicking
- Animate controls and elements inside windows
Remember, however, that such effects will also be removed from other parts of Windows as well. If you have an old PC, you may also want to turn off transparency effects in Windows.
Use the Classic Context Menu
This new context menu, which is more visually appealing than Windows 10’s context Menu, has been a contrast to the one that was introduced in October 2011. It’s also generally slower than the classic context menu, though. You can test that right now hold the Shift key and right-click an item. The classic menu will open, which should be faster than the default one and is a quicker option.
If you want a faster context menu, either hold the key of Shift while right-clicking or permanently switch to classic context Menu with re Registry hack. Please see our guide for restoring the classic context menu in Windows 11 with step by step.
Your Windows context menu should open almost instantaneously after making these changes. A third-party context menu may be the most suitable alternative for replacing a completely, if it’s still slow.
Thanks for reading How to Fix Slow Right-click Context Menu in Windows
