Microsoft is testing a redesigned context menu in Windows 11 to reduce clutter and make common actions easier to access. The company says the menu became crowded over time as apps added their own commands and extensions.

The new design aims to simplify the menu’s layout and improve responsiveness. Microsoft says a cleaner starting layout can reduce the work Windows performs whenever users open the menu.

Windows 11 Context Menu Gets More Customization Options

The redesigned menu introduces a Customize shortcut at the bottom. Clicking it opens a new page under Settings > Personalization > Context menu.

Users can manage several aspects of the menu from this page.

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The first section lets users enable or disable built-in commands, including Send to and Create shortcut. It also allows users to enable commands such as Print.

A second section controls app extensions. Users can choose which extensions appear in the main menu and which sit inside a submenu. They can also hide the submenu entirely.

Move Common Commands Back Into the Menu

The third section gives users more control over the placement of frequently used commands. Options include Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete and Share.

Instead of relying on the familiar row of icons, users can display these commands directly in the menu, similar to the traditional Windows 10 layout.

The update also lets users move Properties to the bottom of the menu. These options offer more flexibility for people who prefer a traditional layout over Windows 11’s current design.

Settings Page Performance Improvements

Microsoft has also included performance improvements for the Settings home page in Build 26220.9757.

The company says these changes should reduce loading times in some situations. However, Microsoft has not published specific performance figures, so the size of the improvement remains unclear.

Gradual Rollout for Beta Channel Testers

Microsoft is distributing the new features gradually through the Windows Insider Beta Channel. As a result, not every user running the same build will see the changes immediately.

Testers on the separate 26H1 track will receive Build 28020.3292 instead of Build 26220.9757.

Microsoft also warns that experimental features may change or disappear before a public release. Users can explore the redesigned context menu during testing, but should not assume that every option will reach the final version of Windows 11.