In the realm of user-interface design, Windows offers a bevy of features to streamline tasks and enhance the overall experience. A paramount tool in this regard is the context menu, better known to many as the right-click menu. Acting as an immediate gateway to a spectrum of actions, the context menu materializes when users right-click on the desktop, files, or folders, offering actions tailored to the object in focus. As versatile as this tool is, its efficiency can be overshadowed by the accumulation of commands, especially ones added by various software installations. As programs integrate their functionalities into this menu, the aftermath can often be a cluttered and sluggish context menu. More frustratingly, even after uninstalling certain programs, their residue often lingers in the form of persistent context menu items.
For users keen on decluttering and regaining the crisp efficiency of their context menu, multiple avenues are available. While many software solutions offer built-in settings for disabling Explorer integration, sometimes it’s not straightforward. In instances where in-built solutions fall short, diving into the Windows registry or resorting to specialized third-party utilities becomes essential. Tailored to navigate you through this process, this risewindows guide is geared towards helping you embed a “Permanently Delete” option in the Windows context menu, ensuring seamless file management and a clutter-free right-click experience.
How to Add a “Permanently Delete” Option to the Context Menu?
To include a “Permanently Delete” option in the Windows 11 or 10 context menu, follow these steps:-
Step 1. Firstly, open Registry Editor.
Step 2. Now, navigate to the following key in the left sidebar:-
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell
Step 3. Then, right-click on the shell and select New > Key.
Step 4. After that, name this new key Windows.PermanentDelete.
Step 5. Next, right-click on Windows.PermanentDelete key and choose New > String Value.
Step 6. Here, set the name to CommandStateSync.
Step 7. So, right-click on Windows.PermanentDelete key and select New > String Value.
Step 8. Then, set the name to ExplorerCommandHandler.
Step 9. Now, double-click on the ExplorerCommandHandler REG_SZ and set its “Value data” to the following:-
{E9571AB2-AD92-4ec6-8924-4E5AD33790F5}
Step 10. Then, click the OK button.
Step 11. After that, right-click on Windows.PermanentDelete key and select New > String Value.
Step 12. Next, set the name to Icon.
Step 13. Now, double-click on the Icon REG_SZ and set its “Value data” to the following:-
shell32.dll,-240
Step 14. Then, click the OK button.
Step 15. So, again, right-click on Windows.PermanentDelete key and select New > String Value.
Step 16. Name the newly created REG_SZ to Position.
Step 17. After that, double-click on the Position REG_SZ and set its “Value data” to the following:-
- Top: Set the “Permanently Delete” location at the context menu’s top.
- Bottom: Set the “Permanently Delete” location at the context menu’s bottom.
Step 18. Finally, click the OK button.
The changes are immediate, meaning there is no computer restart.
Right-click on a file or folder you want to delete permanently to test that everything is working fine and click on the Permanently delete option. Of course, if you use Windows 11, you need to select Show more options to appear the Permanently delete option.
Here, it may prompt you to confirm whether you want to delete the file or folder permanently, depending on your Recycle Bin configuration.
Conclusion
Windows has always prioritized customization and user convenience, and the context menu exemplifies this. Over time, this vital tool can become bloated due to software integrations. But with the right tweaks, as we’ve detailed above, users can regain control, decluttering the menu and even adding powerful options like the “Permanently Delete” feature. This enhancement not only optimizes the right-click experience but also adds a layer of efficiency in file management, underscoring Windows’ commitment to a seamless user interface.
