Microsoft Is Preparing the Biggest Update Yet for Windows 11’s Context Menu

The main goal of the update is to remove the clutter that has built up in the context menu over the years. At the moment, it combines built-in Windows features with a growing number of third-party app integrations, making the menu not only overcrowded but also noticeably slower.

To address this, Microsoft is developing a redesigned context menu that will display only the most essential commands by default. Since it will no longer have to load every third-party extension each time it opens, the menu is expected to respond much faster.

The update will also give users more control over the interface. They will be able to show or hide individual actions, rearrange their order, and manage everything through a dedicated Customize option built into the context menu.

Microsoft has not announced a release date yet, although reports suggest the feature could arrive later this year. News of the redesigned menu quickly sparked discussion among Windows users. While many welcomed the changes, others questioned how long it is taking Microsoft to deliver them.

“Make it instant like it was in Windows 10. Windows 11 still has a slight delay every time you right-click a file,” one user wrote.

Another commented:

“Why is it so hard to make a fast context menu? macOS and Linux figured this out years ago. Microsoft already had it right before Windows 11.”

Many users also criticized the slow pace of development.

“Eight months of hearing about Windows fixing this and adding that, yet almost nothing changes in the stable release,” one Reddit user wrote.

Microsoft plans to fix Windows 11's slow context menus with major overhaul designed to improve performance and reliability: New compact menu design will be faster and user customizable
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Another added:

“It’s always plans, plans, plans. I’ve been hearing for three years that the taskbar would become fully customizable. Where’s the update? A single independent developer could build and release that feature in a week, while Microsoft has been working on it for years.”

The frustration goes beyond the context menu. Windows 11 has repeatedly been criticized for small performance hiccups and Microsoft’s aggressive push toward AI-powered features.

Following user backlash, Microsoft has already reduced the number of AI features in Notepad, Photos, Snipping Tool, and Widgets. More recently, the company also fixed a Windows 11 bug that caused disk space issues due to the Capability Access Manager service, which handles application permissions.

Despite Microsoft’s efforts to encourage upgrades, many people continue using Windows 10. Some users are unwilling to upgrade because Windows 11 requires newer hardware, while others simply do not want the AI features that have become part of the operating system.

As a result, Microsoft extended Windows 10 support for another year, allowing users to continue receiving critical security updates even after the operating system reached the end of its mainstream lifecycle.