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Windows 11: Microsoft wants to fundamentally revise the context menu

Microsoft is planning a comprehensive overhaul of the context menu in Windows 11. After years of criticism, users should soon be able to customize the right click. In this way, unimportant entries can be hidden and loading times can be significantly shortened.

Changes to the Windows 11 menu

Microsoft is planning a fundamental overhaul of the context menu in Windows 11. Marcus Ash, Vice President of Design and Research at Microsoft, announced on Users have been demanding such an adjustment since the original release. The most important innovation concerns personalization.

According to Ash, the development team is working on allowing users to customize the menu to their own needs. In this way, frequently used functions can be prioritized while unused entries are hidden. What exactly the configuration will look like in practice still remains to be seen. As Windows Latest reports, the current design has long been a thorn in the side of many users. The entries often appear confusing and inconsistent. One reason for this is the support of numerous older programs. They bring their own orders with them, which leads to a completely untidy appearance.

The history of the right click

The disorder has been growing for over two decades. The basis of the menu, the so-called IContextMenu, originally comes from the time of Windows XP. At the time, the concept of a centralized quick action list was a huge relief. However, because Microsoft hardly regulated the system for a long time, countless entries from third-party software accumulated until Windows 10. Each newly installed program, such as a file manager or virus scanner, often added its own lines to the menu without being asked. This resulted in some users receiving a list that spanned the entire screen when they right-clicked. Loading times increased noticeably because the operating system had to query all linked applications with every click. The company wanted to finally solve the problem with Windows 11. The menu received a reduced design with rounded corners and core functions such as copy or paste grouped at the top. The downside is the space required, as the layout has additional spacing for better finger operation. In addition, many common commands require an additional click on Show more options.

Further adjustments to the interface

In addition to the context menu, Microsoft is working on additional adjustments to the user interface. Recent developer testing versions show a modular launch bar. If you wish, unpopular areas such as app recommendations can be completely deactivated. The position of the taskbar can also be made more flexible, which is particularly beneficial for users of wide monitors. If Microsoft were to implement the announcements, it would certainly be a benefit for usability. Users could remove unwanted shortcuts to pre-installed programs and replace them with preferred tools. It remains to be seen whether the group will soon standardize the sometimes different submenus within its own system apps. What do you think about the planned changes to the context menu? Is the current design enough for you or do you want more control? Feel free to write your opinion in the comments! See also:

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