Learn how to enable or disable the App Extensions right-click context menu feature in Windows 11 using Settings and the Registry.
Quick steps: Open the Settings app, go to “Personalization” > “Context menu“, and turn ON or OFF the “Show app extensions submenu” toggle.
One of the newest features in Windows 11 is App Extensions in the right-click context menu. When enabled, it displays specific apps and app actions under the new App Extensions submenu. The good thing is, you can control which extension/app/app-action appears under the App Extensions submenu. For example, I recently showed you how to remove the Print option from the right-click menu.
If needed, rather than controlling which apps appear in the submenu, you can also simply remove the entire App Extension submenu from the right-click context menu if you don’t need it. Of course, when you want it, you can just as easily show the App Extension submenu in the right-click menu. You can do both of these things using the Settings app or the Registry Editor. In this quick and easy guide, I will show both of these methods, follow the one you like. Let’s get started.
Before You Start
- The ‘App Extensions’ feature is only available in build 26340.9212 (v26H2) or higher.
Enable or Disable ‘App Extensions’ in the Right-Click Menu Using Settings
Since the “App Extensions” option is in the Settings app, open it first. To do that, you can either press the “Windows key + I” or click the “Settings” icon in the Quick Settings panel (click the network icon on the taskbar).
Go to the “Personalization” tab in the sidebar of the Settings app and then click the “Context menu” option in the right panel.
Now, click “App Extension” to expand the section. Next, simply turn ON or OFF the “Show app extensions submenu” toggle to enable or disable the “App Extensions” submenu in the right-click context menu.
With that, the App Extensions submenu will be shown or hidden depending on the toggle position in the Settings app.
Enable or Disable ‘App Extensions’ in the Right-Click Menu Using the Registry Editor
Important note: While editing the Registry is a simple task, it is better to back it up before making changes. It helps you restore the registry if you make a mistake.
Since we need to make changes to the registry, we first need to open it. To do that, search for “Registry Editor” in the Start menu and click the top result or the “Open” option in the right panel.
Copy and paste the following path into the address bar of the Registry Editor and press “Enter”. This takes you to the target registry key. You can also go to it manually using the left sidebar.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ContextMenu\Preferences\ShowExtensions
Note: If you don’t find the “ShowExtensions” folder under “Preferences”, simply right-click the “Preferences” folder, select “New”, then “Key”, and name the new subkey “ShowExtensions”.
Now, right-click the “ShowExtensions” folder and select “New“, then “DWORD (32-bit) Value“. Name the new value “Enabled“.
Next, double-click the “Enabled” value in the right panel. In the Edit Value window, set the Value Data as follows and click “OK“.
- Add and enable the App Extensions submenu: Set the Value Data to “1“.
- Remove and disable the App Extensions submenu: Set the Value Data to “0“.
Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. After restarting, the App Extensions submenu will be shown or hidden according to your registry setting.
Write down below any questions or comments you have. I’ll respond as quickly as possible.
Thank you,
Vamsi.
