how to add an option in windows 11 main context menu , not in ShowMoreOption submenu

Followed these directions exactly and it didn't work. I tried putting the "Position" key in as sibling to "command" and also in as child of "command". Neither worked.

I had same question. After an hour of googling random stuff I found an app in microsoft store called Custom Context Menu. It costs some money but it has unlimited trial. You are free to choose whether to buy it or use free trial, buy it to support author.

With this program you are getting endless possibilities to mess with new context menu. You can select between matching folder or matching specific file extension (I've selected .png files), also you are able to match multi-file, and select any desired icon for context menu option.

I added new option that I wanted for a long time on both of my PCs already.

Github: https://github.com/ikas-mc/ContextMenuForWindows11

Github page has links to MS Store.

I hope my answer stops you from googling more. (since google has no really good answers for what I and TS wanted to achieve)

This doesn't help when using a work PC with such features locked.

Hi indu,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

I'm Hahn and I'm here to help you with your concern.

You can add apps to the context menu in Windows 11 by editing the registry or using third-party tools.

Here are some steps you can try:

If you don't want to use third-party software, you can add options by editing the registry. However, be careful when editing the registry as incorrect changes can cause system problems. Make sure to back up the registry before making any changes.

Here are the steps to add an option to the Windows 11 main context menu:

1. Open the registry editor. You can do this by pressing the Win + R key combination to open the Run dialog, then type "regedit" and press Enter to open the registry editor.
2. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell
3. Right-click on the "shell" key, select "New" > "Key".
4. Name the new key, which will be the name of the new option you're adding.
5. Right-click on the new key, select "New" > "Key".
6. Name the new subkey "command".
7. Right-click on the "command" key, select "Modify".
8. In the "Value data" field, enter the full path of the command you want to run. For example, if you want to run a program called "myprogram.exe", you can enter "C:\Program Files\MyProgram\myprogram.exe".
9. Click "OK" to save the changes.
10. Close the registry editor.

You should now see your new option in the Windows 11 main context menu.

To ensure that your new option appears in the main context menu instead of "Show More Options", try following these steps:

1. Follow the above steps to create a new subkey and command value data in the registry.
2. Right-click on the new key you created and select "New" > "Key".
3. Name the new subkey "Position".
4. Right-click on the "Position" key and select "Modify".
5. In the "Value data" field, enter "Top", and then click "OK" to save the changes.
6. Close the registry editor.
7. Log out or restart your computer to apply the changes.

At this point, your new option should appear in the main context menu. If it still appears under "Show More Options", make sure the "Position" subkey is set to "Top".

Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support to view the article. 

If there is anything not clear, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Your Sincerely

Hahn - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

I followed the instructions but using a key named Position with the value Top only moved the item to the top of the ShowMoreOption submenu. It did not move the item to the main context menu.