Windows 11 Beta Channel pushes a new preview update, bringing a streamlined and deeply customizable right-click menu.
The most notable change in this update is that File Explorer's right-click menu finally introduces deep customization features. Long-standing user complaints about cluttered menus and slow response times are expected to be fundamentally resolved in future stable releases.
It is reported that the Microsoft File Explorer team admitted during internal testing in August this year that the Windows 11 right-click menu has become increasingly bloated over time.
Whenever third-party applications add their own extension plugins to the menu, the system needs to perform additional loading tasks each time the menu is opened, directly causing operational delays.
In the latest test version, users can simply click the "Customize menu" link at the bottom of the right-click menu to jump to a dedicated settings page.
On this page, users can freely enable or disable various built-in commands, such as the traditional "Send to," "Create shortcut," and "Print."
For users accustomed to the old Windows style, Microsoft also provides a key option: the six most common functions—Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete, and Share—can be restored from a row of small icons to the traditional text label mode.
Furthermore, plugin management for third-party applications has become more flexible. Users can choose to keep specific app extensions in the main menu, categorize them into secondary submenus, or even hide them completely.
Microsoft has also thoughtfully added a tutorial prompt feature to guide first-time users of the new system in discovering these customization options. This allows users to create a streamlined menu containing only core, high-frequency options based on their work habits.
Although it is unclear when this feature will be rolled out to all Windows 11 stable users, given the depth of customization currently shown, this is already one of the most practical UI improvements to the Windows system in recent years.
