If you have no use for the previous versions option, you can remove it. Here are the steps to remove restore previous versions option from the right-click context menu in Windows.
When you right-click on a file or folder, you will see a new option called “Restore previous versions” in the context menu. This option lets you restore a previous version of the target file or folder. To restore the previous version, Windows uses the Shadow Copy functionality of the System Restore feature. As long as a shadow copy is available, Windows can restore the previous version of the said file or folder.
However, though the feature itself is really useful it has some serious limitations. First, the drive should be in NTFS format and the system restore feature should be enabled for that particular drive(s). For example, if you want to restore a file in the D drive, the drive should be in NTFS format with System Restore enabled. Otherwise, you cannot use the Restore Previous Versions feature via the right-click menu.
If you are not using the Restore Previous Versions option, it is better to remove it from the right-click menu. That way, you can reduce the context menu clutter. In this quick guide, let me show the process of removing the option in the context menu.
Important note: Before making any changes, I highly recommend you back up the registry to be safe.
Steps to Remove ‘Restore Previous Versions’ Option
Follow steps shown below to completely remove the Restore Previous Versions option from the File Explorer context menu.
- Open Run dialog box with “Windows Key + R” shortcut.
- Type “regedit” and click “Ok” to open Registry Editor.
- Copy the below path.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions
- Paste it in the Registry Editor’s address bar and press Enter.
- Right-click on the “Shell Extensions” folder. Select “New → Key“.
- Type “Blocked” as the new folder name.
- Right-click on the Blocked folder and select “New → String Value“.
- Set “{596AB062-B4D2-4215-9F74-E9109B0A8153}” as the name for the new String Value.
- Close the Registry Editor.
Restart Explorer
- Right-click on the Taskbar. Select “Task Manager“.
- Go to the “Process” tab in the Task Manager.
- Select the “Windows Explorer” process and click “Restart“.
- Close “Task Manager”.
That is all, the process is a success. As soon as the restart explorer.exe (Windows Explorer), the changes will be instantly applied. You will no longer see the “Restore previous versions” option when you right-click on a file or folder in the File Explorer.
Restore the Delete Option
To restore the ‘Restore Previous Versions’ option, all you have to do is, delete the String value.
Open the Registry Editor, go to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Shell Extensions\Blocked”, right-click on the “{596AB062-B4D2-4215-9F74-E9109B0A8153}” value, and select “Delete”. Click “Yes” in the confirmation window and restart Windows Explorer. You should again see the Restore option in the right-click menu on every file and folder.
I hope that helps. If you are stuck or need some help, comment below and I will try to help as much as possible. If you like this article, check out how to remove the right-click Share option in Windows 10.