Microsoft will simplify the context menu of Windows 11

Since its launch, the context menu of Windows 11 — the one that appears when you right-click — has divided users. Some appreciate its modern design, while others find it too complex, lengthy, or even confusing.

And now, Microsoft seems ready to restore some order.

Windows 11: A Menu That Has Become Overcrowded

With each update, the context menu of Windows 11 has become longer: basic options, shortcuts to applications, AI features, and various integrations…

The result: an endless menu that is sometimes redundant and difficult to navigate — particularly for users coming from Windows 10, where the structure was simpler.

Some have even sought methods to revert to the old menu, deemed clearer and faster.

Microsoft Prepares a “Split Context Menu”

During a recent WinUI Community Call, Microsoft acknowledged the issue and announced it is working on a new “smart” context menu system.

The principle: Instead of displaying a long list of actions with each right-click, the system will analyze the selected content (file, folder, image, text, etc.) and only suggest relevant options. Some of these options will then open a secondary submenu, allowing access to more specific functions without cluttering the main list.

These dynamic submenus will vary according to the type of file or application used — a context-aware approach.

Goal: Menus 38% Shorter

According to Microsoft’s developers, this new approach could reduce the average menu length by around 38%.
Gone will be the endless lists of irrelevant options: the menu will become more readable, consistent, and quicker to navigate.

Initially, this new feature will be tested in WinUI-based applications before being rolled out across the entire Windows 11 system if the results are promising.

No Deployment Date Yet

For now, this redesigned context menu is still in the development phase. Microsoft has not provided a specific timeline, but this overhaul aligns with the company’s broader goal of modernizing and simplifying the user experience in Windows 11.

In short: Microsoft aims to restore the simplicity of the right-click function. Fewer irrelevant options, more clarity — and perhaps finally a menu that will please both Windows 10 fans and modern Windows 11 users.