One of the most frequent complaints from Windows 11 users since the operating system’s release is the slow and cluttered right-click menu. Microsoft is preparing to take a significant step to solve this long-standing problem.

According to a new report shared by Windows Central, the company is completely redesigning Windows 11’s context menu. This new design aims to offer faster loading times and a structure that users can customize according to their preferences.

A faster and more organized menu experience

The current Windows 11 right-click menu has become quite crowded over time due to both Microsoft’s own shortcuts and items added by third-party applications. This causes a noticeable delay in opening the menu when right-clicking within File Explorer.

The newly developed compact menu design prioritizes frequently used actions, preventing third-party plugins from loading each time. This aims to make the menu much faster and more responsive.

Users will be able to choose which applications or actions appear in the menu, hide items they do not use, and change the order of items.

A new “Customize” option at the bottom of the menu will offer users much more flexibility than the current uniform approach.

Microsoft’s Vice President of Design and Research for Windows and Devices, Marcus Ash, previously stated that they are working to make context menus faster, easier by default, and more customizable.

Improvements under the Windows K2 Initiative

This innovation is part of Microsoft’s Windows K2 initiative, which focuses on improving the performance, consistency, and overall user experience of the operating system. The company is also moving more of Windows to the WinUI infrastructure to improve consistency and responsiveness across the operating system.

According to Windows Central, the new context menu is already functional internally. However, Microsoft has not yet shared an official date for when this feature will be available to Windows Insider users or general users.

The right-click menu is a fundamental interface element that millions of users interact with every day. Therefore, speeding it up and customizing it has the potential to address one of the biggest frustrations experienced by Windows 11 users.

What other changes do you think should be made to the Windows 11 right-click menu?