--- title: "Improving File Explorer & Context Menu: faster, simpler, and more customizable" url: https://daily.dev/posts/improving-file-explorer-context-menu-faster-simpler-and-more-customizable-kqiza5j2i source_url: https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2026/08/17/improving-file-explorer-context-menu-faster-simpler-and-more-customizable type: article source: "Windows Blogs" published: 2026-08-17T21:32:38.273Z updated: 2026-08-17T21:32:58.852Z tags: ["windows", "ui-ux"] reading_time: 6 upvotes: 1 comments: 1 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Improving File Explorer & Context Menu: faster, simpler, and more customizable **[Windows Blogs](https://daily.dev/sources/windows)** · 6 min read · 1 upvotes · 1 comments ## Summary Microsoft is rolling out performance and reliability improvements to File Explorer, including faster launch times and fewer freezes during renaming, browsing, and multi-select operations. The Address Bar now supports quotation marks and double backslashes, and middle-click tab opening has been expanded. A redesigned context menu is also rolling out to Windows Insiders, opening faster due to reduced clutter and offering a new Settings page to customize built-in commands, app extensions, and layout, including options to restore a Windows 10-style muscle-memory feel. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Questions this post answers ### What changed in the new Windows 11 context menu for File Explorer? The Windows 11 context menu was redesigned to open faster, reduce top-level clutter, and add a new Settings page for customization. Users can toggle built-in commands like Send to, Create shortcut, and Print, control which app extensions appear in the main menu or submenu, and choose to list Cut, Copy, Paste, Rename, Delete, and Share inline instead of as icons, or move Properties to the bottom. _Track how Windows Insider features evolve before they hit general release by following updates on daily.dev._ ### How is Microsoft improving File Explorer performance and reliability in Windows 11? Microsoft eliminated dozens of potential freezes, hangs, and delays affecting browsing, renaming, navigating, and multi-selecting files, and made File Explorer launch faster. File renames no longer get interrupted by background sync, case-only filename changes appear immediately, and the Address Bar now supports paths with quotation marks and double backslashes. _Developers watching platform stability fixes can follow Windows Insider progress on daily.dev._ ## Community discussion Top comments from developers on daily.dev. **@markozakrajsekgeozs** · 0 upvotes > Bringing back oldish Win-10? I think it’s a smart move, especially because Microsoft is making it optional rather than forcing a full rollback. > > Windows 11’s icon-only commands look cleaner, but Cut/Copy/Paste/Rename/Delete/Share as text commands are faster to recognize for many users, especially those with years of Windows 10 muscle memory. Moving Properties back to the bottom also reduces friction for people who rely on that layout. The best part is that users can choose between the modern layout and familiar behavior, improving usability without sacrificing the Windows 11 design direction. ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [Microsoft tests faster Windows File Explorer, new context menu](https://daily.dev/posts/microsoft-tests-faster-windows-file-explorer-new-context-menu-fng7h5kcm) · BleepingComputer · 0 upvotes · 0 comments - [Microsoft tests Windows Explorer speed, performance improvements](https://daily.dev/posts/microsoft-tests-windows-explorer-speed-performance-improvements-rorlq9ojl) · BleepingComputer · 0 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#windows](https://daily.dev/tags/windows), [#ui-ux](https://daily.dev/tags/ui-ux) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/improving-file-explorer-context-menu-faster-simpler-and-more-customizable-kqiza5j2i)