How To Add or Remove Options from Win+X Menu (WinX or Power User Menu)

Learn how to add custom options to the Win + X menu, also known as the WinX or Power User menu, on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

On both Windows 10 and Windows 11, pressing the “Windows key + X” shortcut or right-clicking the Windows icon on the taskbar opens the WinX or Power User menu. This menu allows you to launch some of the most important tools, including shutdown and restart, Terminal/PowerShell, Device Manager, Computer Management, Power Options, Task Manager, Settings, and more.

While the default options are pretty good, what if you want to add or remove options from the WinX menu? That is where this guide comes into play. It shows you the steps to add custom shortcuts/options to the WinX menu. That way, you can open your favorite tool using the Win+X menu. Let’s get started.

Before You Start

To add a new option to the Win+X menu, you must modify an existing shortcut in the Power User menu that you don’t need or use. You cannot add a completely new shortcut or remove the default ones. Windows internally uses a hashing system that blocks any unauthorized changes. As of recent updates, this is so restrictive that even popular third-party tools like Win+X Menu Editor no longer work.

Before proceeding, make sure to have the path to the program you want to add to the power user menu. If you don’t copy the path and then proceed. If you want to open a specific control panel tool, copy its command from here: run commands to open Control Panel tools.

Add a New Option to the Win+X Menu

1. Open the Run dialog by pressing the “Windows key + R” shortcut.
2. Type “%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX“.
3. Click “OK“.
4. Open the “Group3” folder.
5. Find and right-click on an existing shortcut that you don’t need or use.
6. Enter the path to the program you want to open in the “Target” field.
7. Click “OK“.
8. Restart your computer.
9. With that, you’ve added a new option to the Win + X menu.
10. To use it, press “Windows key + X” to open the Power User menu and select the modified shortcut.

Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)

First, we must open the “WinX” folder. To do that, open the Run dialog by pressing the “Windows key + R” shortcut. Next, type “%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX” in the Run dialog and click “OK“. Once it opens, open the “Group3” folder by double-clicking on it.

Next, find the shortcut you don’t need or use, right-click on it, and select the “Properties” option. In my case, I’m choosing the “Event Viewer” shortcut.

Type the path to the app you want to open in the “Target” field and click the “OK” button.

That is it. With that, you’ve modified the path. To make sure the changes apply, restart your computer. After restarting, press the “Windows key + X” shortcut and select the modified shortcut, in my case, that is the “Event Viewer” shortcut, to open the app.

Remove an Option From the Win + X menu

Unfortunately, due to the recent changes to Windows 11, you cannot remove any shortcut or option from the “Win + X” menu. Even using third-party applications. If you delete a shortcut from one of the Group folders in the “WinX” folder, even then, it won’t remove the option from the menu.

Wrapping Up — Modifying the Win + X menu

As you can see, while not straightforward, you can add new options or shortcuts to the WinX menu by modifying the existing shortcut. Also, you cannot remove the existing default shortcuts. If you are still using Windows 10, you can use the “Win + X Menu Editor” application to add or remove options in the WinX menu. However, there is no guarantee how long it will work.

If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.

Update: This guide has been updated to reflect the changes in Windows 11.