Windows 11’s right-click menu may finally get the redesign users have been waiting for

• Microsoft confirmed it is working on a faster, simpler, and customizable context menu for Windows 11.
• The announcement follows renewed user complaints about menu size, clutter, and performance.
• Customization could allow users to prioritize frequently used commands and reduce visual noise.

Microsoft has confirmed that changes are coming to the Windows 11 context menu after users once again complained about its size, clutter, and performance on social media this week. The acknowledgment came on June 4, when Microsoft engineer Marcus Ash responded publicly on X, saying the company is working on making right-click menus faster, simpler by default, configurable to what you use most.

Windows 11’s modern menu may be getting a rethink

When the company redesigned the context menu for Windows 11, the goal was to clean up decades of accumulated clutter. Instead, many users ended up with a different problem, which was a menu that often feels larger, slower, and more crowded than the one it replaced.

The latest discussion started after a user posted a screenshot asking Windows, This right-click menu is kinda big, isn’t it? The post quickly attracted replies from users frustrated by long menus, duplicated actions, and the infamous “Show more options” button that still sends people back to the classic context menu.

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Ash’s response is important because it suggests the software giant is no longer treating the current design as finished. 

Working on making context menus faster, simpler by default, configurable to what you use most. More will be shared on our approach soon, Ash noted.

Why this could improve the experience

The context menu is one of the most frequently used parts of Windows 11. Users get access to it when managing files, opening applications, sharing content, or performing basic tasks in File Explorer.

If the company finally succeeds in making the menu customizable, it could solve one of Windows 11’s longest-running usability complaints. Power users could prioritize the commands they use every day, while casual users would see fewer options and less visual noise.

And more importantly, a faster menu would address complaints that some context menus feel sluggish, particularly when third-party applications add their own entries.

How Microsoft could fix it

Microsoft has not revealed its plans yet, but Ash’s comments point to three likely improvements, including faster loading times, a cleaner default layout, and user-controlled customization.

It’s worth noting that Microsoft has already experimented with customization options, including the ability to add or remove AI actions from the context menu through the Settings app.

That would represent a significant evolution of the Windows 11 context menu, which has largely remained unchanged since the operating system launched in 2021. For a feature users interact with hundreds of times each week, even small improvements could have an outsized impact on the overall Windows experience.

Pureinfotech’s Take

I think customization is the most important part of this announcement. The size of the menu and even its design are subjective, but giving users control over what appears when they right-click could solve one of the biggest frustrations with Windows 11.

This also doesn’t appear to be a new idea inside Microsoft. In 2025, the company was already testing concepts to better organize context menu entries, including a split layout designed to reduce clutter. Ash’s comments suggest those efforts are evolving into a broader rethink of the experience.

I’ve never had a major issue with the modern context menu itself, but I do have a problem with seeing options I never use while the commands I need most aren’t prioritized. If the company allows users to tailor the menu to their workflow, that would be a much bigger improvement than simply making it smaller or changing the layout.